Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and the World-Class Golf Next Door

Jax Beach gets all the attention in this guide because it's where the house is, but the three towns next door are worth your time too, and none of them are more than about 20 minutes away.

Head a few minutes north and Jax Beach quietly turns into Neptune Beach and then Atlantic Beach, which share a genuinely charming stretch called Beaches Town Center, brick-lined sidewalks, courtyards, and a dense little cluster of good restaurants right where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean. Go to Hawkers Asian Street Food for tapas-style small plates, Flying Iguana Taqueria & Tequila Bar for tacos and margaritas, or Coop 303 for Southern food and rooftop cocktails. For breakfast, Eggboy made Michelin Guide's 2026 list of recommended Florida restaurants, which is a big deal for a breakfast sandwich shop.

On Sundays, the Atlantic Beach Farmers Market takes over Jack Russell Park from 10am to 2pm: local produce, handmade goods, food trucks, and live music. And if your trip lines up with mid-May, keep an eye out for Dancin' in the Street, the annual street festival that's been running for 40 years and takes over the whole town center for a day.

Jax Beach throws its own parties too, and they're worth planning a trip around if the timing works. The Community First Seawalk Music Festival hits the Seawalk Pavilion every February, Springing the Blues takes over in April, and Jax Beach Country Fest closes out early summer in June. All three are free and family-friendly, right on the oceanfront, a short walk from the house.

Now, the golf. If anyone in your group plays, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, about 25 minutes south, is genuinely world-class: the Stadium Course is home to THE PLAYERS Championship and the famous par-3 island green on 17, and it's open to the public, not members-only. Sawgrass Country Club next door has 27 holes and an oceanfront beach club if you want to make a day of it. For something less serious, The Yards is a fun, social 12-hole course a few minutes from TPC Sawgrass that's built for people who just want to hit some balls and have a beer, not shoot par.

None of this requires giving up a beach day. Most of it is a half-day trip at most, and you'll be back at the pool before dinner. Check the calendar and see what fits your dates.