Spotlight Series | Ponte Vedra Beach
As locals, we're often asked what the best things to do in Ponte Vedra Beach are and what the upscale enclave's best hotels, restaurants, shops, and places for culture and nature are. Part of Florida's Historic Coast, the unincorporated community on San Pablo Island in St. Johns County rests between the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway and the Jacksonville Beaches to the north and Vilano Beach to the south. Aside from a brief mining period in the early 20th century, the serene area counts tourism as its primary industry, especially regarding the game of golf as the home of the PGA Tour and The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Locals and tourists alike appreciate miles of pristine beaches, some with pink sand, to bike and fish along the surf, among numerous fishing holes to cast a line, as well as paved roads and nature preserve trails for cruising to long-distance cycling. Less than a 40-mile drive from Jacksonville International Airport, the area is also served by Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport and Northeast Florida Regional Airport. The latter will soon be renamed St. Augustine Airport and undergo upgrades. One of the fastest-growing counties in Florida, St. Johns County has an estimated 2024 population of approximately 331,500, according to Florida's Office of Economic and Demographic Research. Growth is also being addressed by the construction of the First Coast Expressway, a toll road through Duval, Clay, and St. Johns counties, with a new four-lane bridge over the St. Johns River slated for completion in 2031. With increased access to everyday services and residential developments, many families are relocating here. They can send children to private schools like Palmer Catholic Academy (grades pre-K to 8) and The Bolles School's Ponte Vedra lower campus (grades pre-K to 5), after which students continue their education at Jacksonville's middle and upper school campuses.
Ponte Vedra Beach Hotels
Nearly a century ago, Ponte Vedra Beach's hospitality became part of the fabric of the small island community. Its association with its famous resorts began when the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club opened in 1928. Generations of families continue the tradition at its historic inn and low-rise complexes, totaling 262 rooms. Multiple restaurants include the Inn Dining Room (Florida Waldorf salad, Dover sole) and The Tavern (sashimi, beef tenderloin sliders). Days are filled with treatments (The Florida Ritual exfoliation and massage with orange honey, Sea C spa facial with vitamin C) at the 30,000 square-foot Spa, playing tennis at The Racquet Club with 12 lit Har-Tru Hydro courts, and golfing 36 holes at the Lagoon and Ocean courses, both of which have been redesigned by Bobby Weed within the last five years. Following a multimillion-dollar renovation with modern amenities to enhance pool and fitness experiences, new Sports and Surf Clubs debut in Winter 2027. The Boutique at The Historic Inn received a makeover last year to shop beachy brands (Poupette St Barth, Lemlem, Melissa Odabash, eyewear from Tom Ford and Gucci). Constructed in 1989, sister property The Lodge & Club Ponte Vedra Beach also made Travel + Leisure Magazine Readers Choice Awards World's 100 Best List. Guests of its 66 rooms and suites with private terraces and ocean views, some of which offer in-room fireplaces, can enjoy multiple pools and restaurants, including Sea View Grille and the al fresco Oasis as well as Ponte Vedra Inn & Club's amenities. Linked to neighboring TPC Sawgrass through Stay & Play packages, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa offers golfers direct access to tee times and lessons with pros. But there's still plenty to do here for non-golfers, from working out in the 24-hour fitness center with Peloton bikes and various classes to biking 65 acres of Audubon-certified grounds. They can lounge around four pools for downtime and visit the 25,000-square-foot Sawgrass Spa. Among eight dining options, the newest addition is 1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop in the private Cabana Beach Club with dinner dishes (empanadas, she-crab soup, seared scallops with middlins sourced from local farm Congaree and Penn) and Sunday brunch (avocado tartine, 1912 Benedict with porchetta and arepas). Vernon's First Coast Kitchen & Bar (white Atlantic shrimp, corn chowder, charcuterie, fish, and chips) draws locals, too.
Ponte Vedra Beach Restaurants
Dining presents a balanced mix of beloved standbys and new energy. Located within Sawgrass Players Club, the public is invited past the guard gate to dine at Argyle. Beyond its diverse menu (grilled artichoke with Lea & Perrins aioli, chorizo and octopus skewer) that extends to old-fashioned weekly dinners specials (catch of the day, chicken pot pie), the lively patio and fire pits overlooking the golf course add to the appeal. Japanese-Italian fusion fare seems like an odd combination, but Black Pearl plans to introduce diners to Itameshi cuisine. Follow its soon-to-launch space with a large restaurant and cozy speakeasy (@blackpearljax). Nearby, slurp ramen and dumplings at I Noodle and eat healthy with McFlamingo’s bowls. Regional concepts are expanding here. Timoti's Seafood Shak, Foxtail Coffee/Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, and V Pizza & Julep for Neapolitan pizzas and 1,200 whiskeys alone within the beverage selection have already opened, with neighborhood bistro The Local and Tillman’s Meats and Country Store due in spring. After winning over patrons with an extensive menu (fried green tomatoes, sushi, Southern oysters Rockefeller, lobster dinners, truffle fries) The Boathouse added weekend brunch (build-your-own “bennies” and “somethin’ n’ grits”). Multigenerational family-owned JJ’s Liberty Bistro imports a piece of Paris (croque-monsieur, bouillabaisse, steak au poivre with frites); visit its shop next door for ice cream, fine chocolates and French macarons. Restaurant Medure is another classic establishment (caviar, pistachio Dijon-crusted rack of lamb, the house meatloaf with buttermilk onion rings) known for continental cooking and a large wine list. Sawgrass Village’s dining options include Aqua Grill, Blue Nona modern tavern and Caffe Andiamo, or drive west for scenic suppers along the Intracoastal Waterway at Valley Smoke BBQ and Palm Valley Fish Camp from the same owners.
Ponte Vedra Beach Culture & Events
Golf is part of the culture here, especially in March when The Players Championship comes to TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course with its signature “Island Green” 17th hole. The annual tournament celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, with Scottie Scheffler scoring the biggest prize from its $25M total purse. Nearby, the PGA Tour’s Foster + Partners-designed national headquarters expanded its campus with the brand-new PGA Tour Studios by the same architecture firm. Tiger Woods strolled down memory lane to show off the state-of-the-art media production facility’s digital prowess. In November, the attention turns to car collectors when Ponte Vedra Auto Show’s 200 entries are displayed in Nocatee Station Field. Music fans are counting down the days for the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall to reopen. Premiering in Summer 2025, the cultural landmark that draws famous musicians gains several slick amenities from a second-floor balcony to outdoor terraces to high-tech audio and lighting systems. The First Coast Cultural Center, which relocated to its new, much larger home in 2023, hosts its 30th anniversary party in April. All ages visit the treasured community spot for concerts (UNF Jazz Duo, March 15), art and cooking classes, and exhibits (“Where We Stand: Photography by Lenny Foster” on view through March 27). A popular venue for private events, The Barn Palm Valley offers public experiences such as holiday concerts and twilight fitness dance parties.
Ponte Vedra Beach Outdoors & Wellness
Playing TPC Sawgrass, home of The Players Championship, is on many golfers’ bucket lists. Luckily, the PGA tournament’s Pete Dye-designed Stadium Course welcomes the public but reserve far in advance for in-demand tee times. When you’ve finished, stick around for the club’s second championship course called Dye’s Valley. Both are just as majestic as when they debuted in the 1980s. To brush up on your game, book a lesson with top instructors at the PGA Tour’s Performance Center. Described as Topgolf meets TPC Sawgrass, The Yards is forging the path for golf’s modern reinvention through a 12-hole course for quicker games and experiences like glow golf. Non-members may play golf as well as pickleball on 12 lit courts, but the private tennis center’s 10 lit Har-Tru courts are off limits. For everyday workouts, many fitness chains have locations here, including Pure Barre, Club Pilates, and D1 Training known for five-star training programs used by professional athletes. The area is also a big destination for cyclists, who have their pick of scenic routes such as Guana Peninsula and AIA to St. Augustine. Many people bike the surf on beach cruisers, too. No matter your practice, train with a goal like competing in May’s annual Game On! Ponte Vedra Olympic & Sprint Triathlon at Mickler's Landing; the iconic beach is known for pink sand to hunt for fossilized shark teeth. Anglers visit the nearby Guana River Wildlife Management Area, or cast lines from the surf to catch dinner. The river is among the namesake trio forming the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, a diverse habitat for all types of outdoor activities topped off with exquisite beaches. Birders further flock to Bird Island Park’s wetland trails and hedged maze shaped like a sea turtle.
Ponte Vedra Beach Shopping & Beauty Services
Due to Ponte Vedra Beach’s wealthy demographics, its robust retail scene offers a sampling of big city shopping. Model Citizen boutique carries women’s labels like Ulla Johnson, Hevron, Oliphant, Citizens of Humanity and L’Agence. The cases at Underwood’s fine jewelers sparkle with Rolex watches (the regional chain is an official dealer) and pieces by David Yurman and Monica Rich Kosann. Commission custom looks in an array of geometric-shaped gemstones from local jewelry designer Cresta Bledsoe, whose Ponte Vedra collection incorporates fossilized shark teeth. John Craig Clothier dresses men in luxury clothing from Canali, Kiton and Etro as well as accessories and casual items from a slew of brands. Shop Lemon Twist’s coastal chic assortment including Lorna Murray sun hats, Petit Ami children’s wear and Lilla P women’s wear. Purchased from A’propos, Trisha Paterson’s glam maxi dresses in Italian silk prints are worn to many events around town. Bluemercury beauty products, Carla Shoes & Accessories and hair salons such as Bellezza, Trompe L’oeil and Ten, among others, complete outfits. Home and design sources are equally prominent. Opulence of Southern Pines focuses on everything related to bed and bath from Duxiana furniture to Matouk and Sferra linens to lingerie and loungewear. Full-service interior design firms J Turner & Co. and Oca Studio curate showrooms to browse beach-friendly furnishings, home accessories, art and natural objects crafted in-house as well as from other premier brands. For bikes, visit Pedego Electric Bikes and Bicycles, Etc.
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