St. Augustine is roughly one hour from Jacksonville Beach. It is the oldest city in the U.S. and is known for its Spanish colonial architecture and Atlantic Ocean beaches like sandy St. Augustine Beach and tranquil Crescent Beach. Anastasia State Park is a protected wildlife sanctuary. There are a lot of good restaurants and live music in the area. It is Peter and Andrea Jackson's favorite hangout place.
Cradle Creek Preserve, the newest of Jacksonville Beach's parks, is 43.3 acres of primarily undisturbed land along the Intracoastal Waterway. You can explore this special place by walking nature trails and elevated boardwalks. Pause and enjoy the panoramic views from the observation platform overlooking Pablo Creek Estuary or the canoe and kayak landing pier. You can learn about the preserve's natural surroundings and rich history through a series of educational signs.