Discover Flagler: Atlantic Coast, Nature and History
Accommodation in Flagler
Flagler County combines 18 miles of Atlantic coastline with extensive natural areas, historic sites and a variety of trails. Those looking to combine beaches, landscapes and discovery on a trip will find different ways to enjoy both active and more relaxed vacation days here. When choosing a vacation rental or holiday home, it is therefore worth first organizing the experiences you want: coastal landscapes, hiking trails, cycling routes, history or water activities each lead to different excursion destinations.
Between the Atlantic, protected areas and extensive trails
Flagler County’s public parks and trails network includes more than three dozen parks, protected areas and trailheads. A total of 125 miles of paths and trails are available. This allows you to plan your stay in different ways: More than 2,500 acres of Graham Swamp Preserve consist of wooded wetlands, where you can hike and cycle. The MalaCompra Greenway Trail additionally offers a 1.5-mile hiking trail and a 5.5-mile mountain biking trail. The hiking trail begins at the intersection of Mala Compra Road and State Road A1A.
The coastal landscape also reveals different sides. Washington Oaks Gardens State Park encompasses 425 acres of coastal landscape and 20 acres of formal gardens. It includes a 0.75-mile Atlantic beach with areas lined by coquina rock formations; there are also hiking and cycling trails. At Betty Steflik Memorial Preserve, 320 acres are home to salt marshes, maritime hammock vegetation and black mangrove communities. From a pier, visitors can watch birds and fish there.
Experience nature and get out on the water
The 90-acre River to Sea Preserve lies on both sides of Highway A1A near Marineland. It provides public beach access as well as a canoe and kayak launch with access to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Matanzas River. Another type of landscape can be found at the 505-acre Pellicer Creek Aquatic Preserve, with its unspoiled salt marsh. Pellicer Creek offers a 6.7-mile out-and-back paddling route that is considered easy and suitable for beginners.
At Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park, nature and history come together. The 150-acre park commemorates the rise and decline of sugar plantations in eastern Florida. A scenic hiking trail leads to the ruins of the sugar mill. Bulow Creek, a designated state canoe trail, also has a launch ramp for canoes and small motorboats. Bings Landing is home to an archaeological excavation site of Mala Compra Plantation, adding to the historic impressions along the waterways.
History, museums and special excursions
Princess Place Preserve is a 1,500-acre protected area at the confluence of Pellicer Creek, Moody Creek and the Matanzas River. The original lodge is considered the oldest surviving structure in Flagler County. Florida’s first in-ground swimming pool is also located there. At the Florida Agricultural Museum, you can take a Historic Buildings Tour through 11 historic buildings. The museum has been located since 1997 on a 460-acre site in Flagler County; an Animal Tour includes a hayride across the grounds. The museum is also committed to preserving rare Florida Cracker cattle, horses and sheep.
For other special activities, Marineland Dolphin Adventure offers interactive programs in which visitors can swim with, touch and play with dolphins. The offerings also include dolphin training demonstrations, daily feedings of sand tiger sharks and sea turtles, as well as a visit to the historic museum. Those wishing to learn more about the region’s history can find information about the history of Flagler Beach and the surrounding community at the Flagler Beach Historical Museum.
Choose a suitable base for your trip
The A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Byway ends in Flagler County at Gamble Rogers Memorial Park in Flagler Beach. Along the byway are state parks, beaches, nature trails, opportunities for boating and fishing, protected areas and estuarine areas. This makes the route a useful guide for planning a trip without limiting excursions to a single type of vacation. For further orientation within the area, you can also compare Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and Marineland. Depending on whether you want to focus on the coast, nature trails, culture or water activities, you can make your search for a vacation rental or holiday home more targeted to your preferred travel style.
Smaller culinary and recreational experiences are also part of the region’s character. The Flagler Beach Farmers Market offers fresh produce, sourdough bread, baked goods, cheese, smoothies and honey. At low tide, Equestrian Adventures of Florida leads guided horseback rides on the beach. This allows you to plan varied days combining landscapes, history, exercise and local offerings.
For the overarching travel overview: Florida.
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