Northeast Florida

Journey to the nation’s first coast to see the oldest lighthouse in Florida at Amelia Island, or visit the oldest U.S. city of St. Augustine and admire Spanish-influenced architecture. Straight across St. Johns County from St. Augustine, drift by kayak up the lazy St. Johns River, which flows North from Blue Cypress Lake for 310 miles - where it reaches the coast east of Jacksonville. 

Known as “The Bold New City of the South,” Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city by population and size. The city thrives in healthcare, finance and insurance industries, with names like Baptist Health, Mayo Clinic, Florida Blue (a subsidiary of Blue Cross), Bank of America and JP Morgan among the largest employers in the area. 

Several Naval operations are within the Jacksonville area, including Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and the Kings Bay Submarine Base; likewise, St. Augustine is the state headquarters for the Florida National Guard. 

The Northeast region of Florida further benefits from strong manufacturing and tech industries. Palm Coast claims the fourth largest hub for tech jobs in the U.S. and also caters to area manufacturers like Aveo Engineering- which produces LED lights for aerospace uses. 

Other manufacturers in the region work in paper, packaging, concrete, ship building and steel products, encouraging Veritas Steel and Georgia Pacific to conduct business here. 

Business isn’t all the region has to offer. Aside from the Atlantic coast beaches, Northeast Florida boasts the natural charm of the land by providing a variety of outdoor activities at state parks like Ravine Gardens and Dunns Creek. Take a leisurely stroll or pack a family picnic to enjoy the natural scenery, but be sure to save time to visit one of the region's golf and tennis resorts, like World Golf Village, or see a PGA tour at Ponte Vedra Beach. 

Lastly, learn about the rich history of the First Coast at one of the many historical attractions, ranging from defensive forts to museums and Basilicas, or find family fun at the Jacksonville Zoo or Ripley’s Believe It or Not! experience.