Just south of Jacksonville’s beaches along A1A is Ponte Vedra Beach, a community with a distinctly resort-style atmosphere. Five miles of unspoiled oceanfront lined with luxury estates, marshfront executive communities and upscale apartments and condominiums offer a range of lifestyle choices. Nature is part of the attraction as well, with carefully preserved wetlands, unspoiled marshlands and protected sand dunes. When it comes to recreation, golf takes center stage. In fact, the PGA TOUR national headquarters is in Ponte Vedra Beach, where the annual The Players Championship tournament at the country club at Sawgrass draws the sport’s biggest names. Ponte Vedra Beach is also home to the international headquarters of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). Private country clubs, first-class hotel accommodations and luxury spas complete the upscale ambience of Ponte Vedra Beach.

For those in search of a quieter area without compromising on an oceanfront lifestyle, south on A1A lies South Ponte Vedra Beach, known for its magnificent oceanfront homes that line the highway leading into Vilano Beach.