We have some beautiful and historic state parks in Flagler County + within a close driving distance of Flagler! Here are some of my favorites that are definitely worth seeing!
Bulow Plantation Ruins Historic State Park
Bulow Plantation is a beautiful spot to spend the day! 150 acres of gorgeous Florida land that is meticulously maintained. You can see the ruins of a sugar mill plantation from the 1800's, walk nature trails, rent kayaks, and read all about Florida history.
This is a spot that my toddlers enjoy visiting. The walking trails through the woods are cleared out nicely and make for an easy, fun nature walk. (Make sure to take the scenic walking trail that starts near the visitor center. It is a short walk and brings you right back to the ruins. Definitely enjoyed the walk so much more than driving back there.)
This state park charges $4 per car for entry. It is a fun, cheap way to spend the day. Lots. of shade and picnic areas available. The entrance to the park can be quite difficult to spot! But it is a long, single-vehicle dirt road located off of Old Kings Rd. You might feel like you'v taken a wrong turn finding this place!
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
Washington Oaks is a popular spot in Flagler County! It is located right off of A1A between the ocean and the intracoastal waterway. It is 425 acres of preserve, with a 20 acre formal garden that makes a beautiful landscape for family portraits.
The garden is a peaceful spot to relax. This lush hammock is home to huge live oaks, magnolia trees, and many coastal plants & flowers. During the spring and summer months, the rose garden is in full bloom and it is quite stunning! But not only is the garden beautiful to visit...you can also view the Matanzas River (intracoastal waterway) and there are several spots to fish along the river.
Washington Oaks also has a beachfront area! If you cross over A1A you will find the gorgeous oceanfront side of the state park. This spot on the Atlantic ocean is unique for its beautiful rocks. Again, if you're looking for a spot to have family photos taken, this is it! *Note that it is $5 per vehicle entry fee into Washington Oaks.
Princess Place Preserve
If you're looking for a spot in Flagler County to go camping...this is a great location! 1,500 acres of beautiful Florida land with equestrian campsites available for rent. There is also fully furnished cabins along Pellicer Creek waterfront that can be rented.
Princess Place Preserve is home to the historic Princess Place Estate, Flagler County's oldest intact structure built in the 1800's. This historic house is old Florida, creek-front living, and is so neat to visit! It is just a small part of this huge preserve. Hiking trails galore, canoeing, kayaking, and salt marsh fishing are on the list of activities for PPP.
This preserve is also a great option for family photos, as there are endless spots to explore. But it is most widely used for equestrian camping.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Last on my list is Fort Matanzas! Technically, this monument is just north of Flagler Country, but it needs to be on your list of local places to visit!
This fort is special because you can only visit by boat! Each day there are 6 different time slots available for reservation. I would suggest arriving to the monument at 9am when the park opens and reserve your time slot because they fill up quickly for the day! (You can only do this IN PERSON, there is no online or phone options for reservation.)
The ferry boat launches 6 times daily and carries about 25 guests over to the monument for roughly an hour round trip. You will have a tour guide explain the history of the fort and then take you up in it! It is really cool and a much more personal experience compared to the large fort up in St. Augustine. You can also reserve a nature walk with a park ranger before or after you fort tour! And best of all, this is completely FREE.
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