A Bike Friendly Florida City

A Bike Friendly Florida City

Marineland, FL is a tiny gem 18 miles south of St Augustine – on a slim slice of land between the ICW and the Atlantic Ocean.  Originally the draw here was the first Oceanarium built as movie studio under water in the 1930s.  It has evolved into a dolphin research and immersion center with major associations like the University of Florida Whitney Lab and the Georgia Aquarium.  Our stay in the marina included general admission to the dolphin center with an up close look at the bottle nose dolphins.

After a walk in the neighboring HAMMOCK, we also took advantage of a sunset kayak trip on the Matanzas River. Our guides explained why this is a very rich ecosystem – it is the only small area where the grasses and mangrove ecosystems co-exist.  The mangroves dominate to the south and the grasses to the north – it only here in a narrow band where they overlap. From the tandem kayaks we had a good look at the grasses and mangroves as well as the oyster beds since we made our trip at low tide. 

But, one of the best features of this stopover is the protected bike path that links Marineland with Flagler Beach.  We traveled a little over 5 miles of the path making several stops. At the Washington Oaks Gardens we walked the paths created by Louise Young when she developed the property with her husband in the late 1930s.  The small winter home that they built contrasts with the opulent mansions of Palm Beach, yet retains a livable design with cozy appeal.  It also is oriented to the view of the river and the extensive gardens designed by Mrs. Young. Although the roses were in bloom, sadly the famous koi ponds were mostly dry and under renovation.  Just a good reason to visit here again!

Further south we stopped for lunch at the Captains BBQ at Bing’s Landing.  The delicious ribs were followed by a tour of the Mala Campra archeological dig that is protected under a pavilion in the park. The site preserves remnants of the Mala Campra plantation structures – early settlers to North Florida.

On south we made a stop at the Hammock Hardware store – a family run business with deep roots in the community.  This is not a big store but they have a little bit of everything and of course, Steve found a few “must haves.”

From there we went on to Publix all on a shaded, protected bike path with stop signs at several intersections.  Most of the time we bike with traffic noise, pollution, and danger, so it was delightful to enjoy a ride with scenic stops free from hazards.

 The Sunday Farmers Market was another bonus - fresh fish, veggies and baked goods - all just steps from our boat.

Finally,  Marineland Marina was a great place to meet other cruisers.  We were inspired to meet Carl and Gail - octogenarians still actively cruising.  It was also great to get their tips for Bahamas travel mining some 30+ years of crossing the Gulf Stream.