Came down to Jacksonville Beach with my KY family and had one of those days that somehow turns into…read morea full on memory whether you planned it or not. First off, the free parking deserves its own standing ovation. Pull in, park, no stress, no drama, no circling like you are hunting for buried treasure. That alone already put everyone in a good mood. But the real star of the day was the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean was doing its thing like it always does, loud, endless, and a little dramatic in the best way. The waves would roll in all calm and pretty, and then suddenly act like they had something to prove when they hit the shore. My family spent half the time just watching the water like it was a live show we all agreed to attend. The kids were running in and out of the surf like the ocean was a game level they were trying to beat. Meanwhile the adults were pretending to be chill but really just trying not to get knocked over by surprise waves or lose a sandal to the sea forever. There was something about standing there with salt air, wind blowing, and that huge stretch of ocean in front of us that made everything feel simple in the best way. No schedules, no rush, just waves, laughs, and somebody always saying "don't go too far!" We ate, we laughed, we got sandy in places we will not discuss in public, and we loved every minute of it. Five stars. Great KY family day, perfect Atlantic Ocean views, and free parking that should honestly be illegal for how convenient it was.

There was a lifeguard competitions when I happened to visit for a few days and they took up a large…read moreportion of the beach shore. There are also many groups of surfer students. The water looks dark blue from afar when the sky is very cerulean blue but it's murky when you are inside the water. You literally cannot see your own hands when you're inside the water. The water looks black when it's overcast. The boardwalk is not full and or very long. Also, there are lots of homeless people living under the fishing pier. I was on the 5th floor of the beach front hotel when I witnessed a brawl between some of them. A group of homeless were kicking out a homeless man and woman because they had gone to their "terf" and complained about the bags of feces. And the group of homeless kicked them out and said that it was their "terf" and threw fist up and followed them all the way to the boardwalk and made sure that they left their "terf." They were ready to go to blows. This problem has been for many years; I remember coming when I was a little kid and the homeless making a ruckus about people going under the pier or using the pier for shade. Also, the homeless take a bath in the public fresh water showers and it's disturbing. I saw two of them bathing with the shower and they were using paper as a scrub and leaving the papers there; it's disgusting. What I didn't see at the boardwalk and beach was a police presence. Also, the homeless walk the beach the whole night with flashlights and in mass. In my opinion it's dangerous for tourist, especially for women to walk in the dark of the night in this public space. I would have loved to take a night stroll by the beach shore but I opted out of that after seeing these homeless men walking up and down the beach shore all night.

We love Ponte Vedra beach area. Our favorite quiet place south of Jacksonville. We have been there…read moreall times of year and live the atmosphere.

This was another beautiful beach that we recently visited last month. This beach is in a very…read morewealthy suburb community, approximately 18 miles southeast of downtown Jacksonville, Florida. On the day that we visited this beach, it was not very crowded compared to some of the other surrounding beaches. Overall we had a great time and just enjoyed the beautiful weather.

It was an overcast day when we went to this beach, but it was still very nice! The sand was nice,…read moreand fine - perfect for digging holes and making shapes (my son and his cousins had a great time!) The water was cold, which would have been great for a sunny day, but we posted along the shore and just let the kids have fun. It's a beautiful beach, lots of shells to find, and big beach houses to admire! Once you're done, there are showers and dressing areas to rinse the sand and get into drier and warm clothes. It was my son's first beach experience, and I think he liked it!

Mickler's Beach is a must-visit when in the area. This is…read morethe beach where everyone finds super cool sharks teeth. I love how there are a few yoga instructors who have regularly occurring classes on the sand too! @BeyondBreathWellness offers yoga on Sundays when they are in town, and more recently @yoga_with_alisa has been offering yoga too! (follow them on instagram to find a yoga class) Parking is limited at the main Mickler's lot so I recommend arriving early in the morning or in the evening. When there is a full moon, the light from the moon is more than enough to see through the dark on the sand. A great spot for laying out, swimming, or picnicing.

Perfect little spot to go swimming with your family on a hot summer day…read more There is an area to walk along the water that reaches your ankle where the sand is white and the water is bright blue. There's a parking lot that's never packed and it's a quick walk to bring you canopy, tailgate chairs and coolers.

This was a paved path that is closed off to vehicles. It is wide, asphalt paved, and accessible for…read morestrollers, bicycles, walkers, and runners. You can't see the beach but you can hear the waves crashing, the birds chirping, and you can see tortoises and turtles. It connects from Little Talbot Island to the Timucuan Trail. It was a flat but pleasant walk with a breeze. Parking is available near the trail, and there are picnic tables, covered pavilions, porta potties, and access to the beach via boardwalk. It is $4 to enter the park, and there are other trails to walk as well.

Absolutely beautiful so much fun! I love it so much and good for all ages and amazing fun and…read moreincredible memories and incredible the staff is fantastic and nice and kind and amazing knowledge unbelievable remarkable unbelievable I love it so much! Brilliant and so smart unbelievable safe remarkable so beautiful! From Lauren

Overpriced, lacking in maintenance, events are lame, food is terrible, drinks are terrible and…read moreoverpriced... used to be a whole lot better maybe 4-5 years ago...

We went yesterday while it was raining. We compared it to our normal stop in Texas, where we would…read moretake our kiddo to play. This park hands-down beats that one. We got to walk on the dock and saw soft turtles we also saw a terrapin and a fish a few actually. My kiddo did not want to leave and was so excited to be there and out and playing. I for one was really excited to share that section of my childhood that I vividly remember with my kiddo. The first of many amazing memories to be made

Nice, quiet scenery. Small parking lot and people are constantly exiting/parking the wrong way.read more

Beautiful, clean and not busy. We enjoyed this beach very much and the free parking. Go check it…read moreout.

One of my favorite beaches when visiting Jax. Plenty of parking beach is always clean and feel…read moresecure.

I've been going to Oceanfront Park for many years. The first time I went to the park I met friends…read morefor lunch as they have several picnic pavilions. My last several visits I practiced beginners Tai Chi at sunset. The park is on the beach and offers a free private parking lot. This is a great place to practice Tai Chi as the ocean noizes help you relax. The grass in the center of the park is soft so I'm sure it's also good for yoga. There were a couple of public restrooms open from daylight to dusk. You will also find lots of dogs being walked in the area. If you're looking for a beachfront park look no further.

This park has everything you need, and/or looking for, and then some!…read more First and foremost, there is a large parking lot. Considering how busy the beach can get at times I'm not going to say there will always be a space open, but your chances of finding a parking space are much better than other beachfront parks...and it's free. The park not only has a large parking lot, but it has restrooms and beach showers. There are boardwalks going out to the beach as well for ease and protection of the dunes. If you are in the park a little after dusk and/or before the first light, please know the parking lot has lighting for safety. Aside from the above, there are sheltered picnic areas, a large grassy area for just chillin' or playin' around, a sand volleyball court, and educational information signs about the area/Jacksonville Beach. Plus, there are concrete figures for you to enjoy, take pictures of or selfies, kids to play on, or whatever. In the center of the park, there is a bronze statue which is considered the focal point of the park. It is meant to symbolize the dedication to preserving public access to the beach for generations to come. If you are local or a tourist and haven't been to this beach...put it on your list to check out. Even if you just want to enjoy an early evening walk on the beach instead of a day at the beach...this beach is perfect for a little something different. There is handicapped parking, handicapped access to the beach, and to the grassy area. (Please note: Across the street from the grassy area is UNF's Seaside Sculpture Park--another good place to check out if you have time.)