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Ponte Vedra Beach is an upscale coastal community in northeastern St. Johns County, Florida, on the Atlantic between Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine. Originally a mining town called Mineral City, it was renamed in the late 1920s and developed as a resort around the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Today it is known worldwide as a golf destination and the home of the PGA Tour.
The TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, with its famous island green on the 17th hole, hosts THE PLAYERS Championship every March, and visitors can play the course or tour the clubhouse. Long, quiet beaches line the shore, with Mickler's Landing popular for shark-tooth hunting and sea turtle nesting in summer. Sawgrass Village has shops and restaurants, and the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall brings touring bands to an intimate venue.
South of town, the Guana Tolomato Matanzas Research Reserve protects dunes, maritime forest and estuary, with trails and an education center. Jacksonville's beaches and downtown and historic St. Augustine are each about a half-hour drive.
The golf resort whose Stadium Course, designed by Pete Dye, is famous for its island-green 17th hole and hosts THE PLAYERS Championship. Public tee times are available but costly, and the clubhouse welcomes visitors for dining and the shop. Book well ahead in spring.
An oceanfront resort that opened in 1928 and helped turn the old mining settlement into a beach destination, with classic buildings, golf, a spa and dining. Non-guests can visit its restaurants with reservations. It is a good place for a special dinner or drink by the ocean.
One of the PGA Tour's most important events, held every March on the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, drawing the world's top golfers and large crowds to the island green. Buy tickets early, use the shuttle lots, and wear comfortable shoes, since the course is large.
A popular public beach access on Ponte Vedra Boulevard with a boardwalk over the dunes to a wide, quiet beach known for fossil shark teeth in the coarse sand. Sea turtles nest here in summer, so follow lighting rules at night. The small lot fills early, especially on weekends.
A protected reserve south of Ponte Vedra Beach with miles of trails through maritime hammock and along Guana Lake, a wild beach and an education center with exhibits on local ecosystems. It is excellent for birding and paddling. There is a small parking fee, and bring bug spray.
A mid-size concert venue that hosts touring rock, folk, country and comedy acts in a setting much smaller than an arena, so every seat is close to the stage. Many shows sell out, so buy tickets early, and arrive in time to find parking nearby.
An open-air shopping center near TPC Sawgrass with boutiques, galleries, salons and a range of restaurants and cafes around landscaped walkways. It hosts outdoor events and live music on some evenings. It is a relaxed stop for lunch or dinner after the beach or golf.
A community arts center with galleries showing changing exhibitions of regional artists and studios offering classes in painting, pottery and other crafts for adults and children. Gallery visits are usually free. Check the calendar for exhibition openings and workshops.
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