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New Routes and Easy Arrival Itinerary
Come join us as we head to the historic First Coast of Florida. We have made this tour super easy to get to for an early Spring Break for the whole family in February of 2024 or a pre-holiday getaway in November 2023 or 2024. Our starting point is a short drive from the Jacksonville International Airport to the hip town of Jacksonville Beach.
There are so many things to enjoy in this area of Florida; Tons of history in the heart of St Augustine, beautiful state park riding in Fernandina Beach, kayaking near Amelia Island, great flat roads, upscale resorts for a little pampering, and some “Me time” to ready yourself from the hectic holiday season. Enjoy this southern adventure while having the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterways at your side.
This adventure begins in Jacksonville/Atlantic Beach with a warmup local ride if you arrive early. We venture north passing through Little Talbot Island State Park and the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve to Fernandina Beach. There is a layover day in Fernandina, so plenty of time to cycle the Fort Clinch State Park, Amelia Island or kayak the estuaries of the Amelia and St Mary’s Rivers. We pass the many marshlands and State Parks where there is a great deal of bird watching. After two wonderful evenings in Fernandina area, we head south for three days of cycling and sightseeing in the beautiful town of St. Augustine. There are lighthouses, intown historic routes and beautiful loop routes which take us to a lovely ride along the St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean.
Arrive early or stay after and play golf on numerous courses or fish along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Minimum Group Size
6 guests
Travel
Flight arrangements should be made in and out of Jacksonville International Airport. Airport pick up time on your arrival date of November 13 (2022) or February 20 or 27 (2023) is 2PM. Drop off time is at 6PM on the final tour date. A shuttle ride will be offered for those who left their cars at our starting hotel in the Jacksonville Beach area.
Accommodations
All lodging is included.
Lodging Highlights:
- Night 1: One Ocean Resort & Spa – Atlantic Beach
- Nights 2 & 3: Hampton Inn – Historic Fernandina Beach
- Nights 4 & 5: Bayfront Marin Inn or Best Western Historical Inn – St Augustine
Travel Insurance
Available though a variety of providers. Please read your policy thoroughly.
Special Note
This tour is e-Bike friendly.
Driving Time
Approximate travel distance to Palm Coast, which is easy travel for those on the east coast.
- Atlanta, GA: 410 miles
- Charlotte, NC: 446 miles
- Richmond, VA: 660 miles
- Jacksonville, FL: 82 miles
- Miami, FL: 288 miles
- Orlando, FL: 84 miles
- Tampa, FL: 168 miles
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Itineraries
Day 1
Atlantic Beach to Fernandina Beach (32.0 miles, 260’ elevation)
Our first day of riding- We will try to get an early start to beat the commuting traffic wanting to catch the Mayport Ferry across the St. John’s River. Wonderful barrier islands and nature reserves lie ahead on and around Big and Little Talbot Islands. There are beautiful smooth surfaces all the way to Amelia Island.
Day 2
Fernandina Beach / Amelia Island Local Rides (28.6 miles, 281’ elevation)
On our second day – Today is a more leisurely day. You may ride as much or as little or not at all as you like. We have numerous local routes in The Fort Clinch State Park and Amelia Island Plantation area. We will have a kayaking adventure scheduled for the group once we know the tide schedules for your tour dates. Fernandina offers a wonderful variety of upscale restaurants and lots of site seeing and shopping opportunities. Boat excursions to Cumberland Island are available, weather permitting.
Day 3
Fernandina to St. Augustine (62.8 miles, 456’ elevation)
Day three is south bound, doubling back over that beautiful road on The Talbot Islands and along the Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve. Mayport Ferry is part of our route before we ride the beautiful shores of Ponte Vedra, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Shoreline. Our arrival time to beautiful, historic, downtown St. Augustine should leave us a little time on our own to walk the Historic District before a casual dinner in St. Augustine Beach .
Day 4
St. Augustine / St. Johns River Loop (57.0 miles, 398’ of elevation)
Day four takes us inland where we ride alongside the St. John’s River, through some open farmlands on country roads and paved bikeways including rails to trails options. You will be listening to almost nothing but the sounds of nature most of the day. We arrive back to St. Augustine in the downtown area to walk the famous property of the original Flagler College. Tonight, we will enjoy a final group dinner at the delightful Floridian restaurant.
Day 5
St. Augustine Historic District / Lighthouse to Fort Matanzas (38.8 miles, 147’ elevation)
You have options for your riding distance today, particularly if you are a strong rider. Our final day is beach day and scenic A1A with ocean views and a stop at the St. Augustine lighthouse. St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city, dates back to the 1500’s and has a wealth of options to visit and enjoy, including fun and funky shops, the Castillo de San Marcos, operated by the National Park Service, and Ponce de Leon’s infamous Fountain of Youth. We always like to check that out, taste the water and look in the mirror to see what a difference there is – it could be the cycling that is keeping us young. We will do a light lunch while en-route today before we prepare to say our goodbyes and shuttle back to the Jacksonville starting point.
Included
- Transportation to and from the airport
- 2 Guides
- Van Support
- Maps
- GPS mapping
- Mechanics
- If you are looking to lengthen your tour, you may easily drive over to the Disney complex.
Not Included
- Airfare
- Meals on off days
- Souvenirs
- 12% gratuity for guides, mechanics, volunteers and tour staff is not included, but greatly appreciated
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