July 18th, 2010

Atlantic Beach, Florida, North Florida, First Coast, North Florida Beaches

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I have been moving around a bit this summer; Delaware Beaches, Boulder, Colorado, Puerto Rico, South Florida and for the past few days I have visited Atlantic Beach, Florida. 

Atlantic Beach is the first town in the First Coast.  It is located in Duval County, next to Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach.  Around 13,500 people reside in this unique beach town. 

The city of Jacksonville has the esteemed honor of having the largest urban park system (over 80,000 acres) in the U.S.  Approximately 50,000 acres have been acquired and placed into conservation parklands.  Local communities, like Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville Beach have partnered in order to secure the acquisition of vital salt marshes that meander through the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Atlantic Beach exudes small town charm and intimate seaside tranquility.  The beach is unbelievable; wide and gorgeous, never ending.

Throughout that northern coast I could not believe how accessible the beaches were to the public.

 Atlantic Beach is really small; the center of town is just a few blocks long.  Restaurants, shops and bars welcome its visitors. Guess what? No parking meters.

As I walked around the streets of this beach village I could not help to think of the term I hear people mention that have resided in all these coastal towns of Florida; “it was like old Florida used to be”.  I finally saw what they meant.

The towns is simple and attractive.  The ocean front homes on Atlantic Beach are classic beach homes.  Life along the coast; “laissez faire” kind of living. Breathing that salt air, early morning walks, riding bikes, getting a suntan; just thinking about it puts me in that kind mood.

I met Sophie on the beach.  She was just strolling with not a care in the world.  Sophie was a ferret.  She was so friendly and definitely, cute.

I am back in Delaware now, but cannot forget the feeling that Atlantic Beach gave me.

Talk to you later…..you know I will…

Note:  Some information for my post was taken from www.preserveflorida.org.