By Alissa Cassidy
With 13 parks, 100+ miles of trails, campsites, golf courses, and beaches galore, Palm Coast has all the outdoor activities you could want. Whether you want to stay dry or get wet, we’ve compiled a list of the best ways to connect with nature and have fun doing it here in Palm Coast.
Land Activities
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Parks
James F. Holland Memorial Park is one of the most popular parks here and with good reason. There’s a dog park for your four-legged friends, a playground and splash pad for the kids, plus all the athletic courts you can ask for, including bocce ball, pickleball, tennis, shuffleboard, basketball, and sand volleyball. Want to fly a kite, play catch, and have a picnic? There are open fields to play in where the kids can run around and you can soak up some sunshine. Bring your binoculars and check out the birds nesting nearby. There’s also a ¾ mile trail around the park’s perimeter when you’re ready to stretch your legs.
Palm Coast’s parks also include a sports complex, an aquatics center, a skate park, picnic tables, and fishing piers.
Camping
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Florida is one the best states for camping. Whether you’re pitching a tent or parking the RV, camping on the Flagler beaches is an awesome experience. Bull Creek Campground offers fishing on Crescent Lake along with public grills to cook your fresh catch. Flagler-by-the-Sea Campground lets you sleep right on the sand with easy access to food trucks and a pub when you’re ready for a drink.
Hiking and Biking
The MalaCompra Greenway Trail is both a mountain biking trail and a walking trail. The 5.5-mile biking trail is great for everyone, from beginners to experts, with technical features that range from easy to very difficult. If you prefer to walk, the 1.5-mile trail is unpaved and natural, so if you want to see wildlife, this is a great place for you.
Palm Coast has several other connected trails where you can take in the beautiful sights and sounds of nature on foot or on wheels.
Golf
The Palm Harbor Golf Club allows you to golf without requiring an expensive membership. Just pay the daily fee and you can practice putting, chipping, and swinging on the driving range. Once you’re warmed up, head out to the 18-hole course that is just challenging enough for those of us who like to golf but aren’t pros! After your round of golf, grab a bite to eat and cool down with a drink at Loopers Par & Grill.
Not sure you’re up for 18 holes of golf in the heat? There’s always mini golf and go-karting!
Garden
If you want to get outside but stay home at the same time, plant a garden. Whether it’s flowers, fruits, or veggies, gardening is good for the mind, body, and soul. Not only will you have fresh-cut flowers on the table with your garden-grown tomatoes, but you’ll also reap the benefits of healthy food, physical activity, fresh air, and vitamin D. Plus, how nice is it to pull into your driveway and see your beautiful handiwork? Your curb appeal will skyrocket by adding colorful plants in pots, in the ground, or in hanging planters. Here in Palm Coast, we’re in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b, so when choosing your plants, make sure you get ones that will survive our temperatures.
Water Activities
Fishing
From intracoastal waterways to lakes to the Atlantic, there’s no shortage of places to fish here in Palm Coast. Freshwater and saltwater fishing do require a license, so be sure to take care of that before you drop your line.
Freshwater fishing is available at Lake Disston, Haw Creek Preserve, Crescent Lake, St. Johns River, and Lake George, to name a few. You’ll find lots of bass, bluegill, perch, and crappies in these waters. Be sure to research the area before you go to determine whether or not you need a boat for access.
Saltwater fishing can be done on the shore of the Matanzas River, at Waterfront Park, and at many of the Flagler County Parks that have access to the intracoastal waterways.
If you don’t want to deal with getting a license, bait, poles, and all the other equipment, but want to have the time of your life, charter fishing is the way to go! A pro will take you out into the Atlantic or stay in the intracoastals to find the perfect spot for catching all kinds of fish. Whether you want to go deep sea fishing and battle marlin, sailfish, and tuna, or you want a more low-key family-friendly experience, there are plenty of options available.
Surfing, Boarding, and Boating
Rent a surf board from one of the local surf shops and catch some waves. Flagler Beach is known for its excellent waves, so even if you’ve never ridden before, you have to experience this at least once! Many surf shops offer private, group, and family lessons as well as camps during the summer to get you on your feet and hanging ten in no time.
Paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing are very popular here. The intracoastal waters are usually pretty calm, so it’s a great way to see some dolphins, turtles, and manatees. We have many local outfitters that rent boards and boats, offer lessons, and also provide guided tours.
Skimboarding and boogie boarding are two other ways to get wet and have fun without needing any lessons (although it does require some skill). The best part about these two adventures is that when you need a break, you can plop onto the beach chair and recharge in the sun.
Snorkel and Scuba
Get up close and personal with the fish and sea life –– go snorkeling or scuba diving. Snorkeling doesn’t require much equipment or skill…you just need some fins, a dive mask, a snorkel, and a life jacket and you’re off. You can snorkel just off the beach or out in the ocean from a boat. While it isn’t difficult, it does take some getting used to. If you’ve never snorkeled, prepare yourself before you head out.
Scuba diving requires some training and a lot of equipment, so you’ll need a guided tour for this, but it’s something everyone should experience at least once in their life. Sea Hunt Scuba offers classes and tours for diving, and then when you fall in love with the experience, you can get certified there too! They also have camps for certification for ages 10 and up.
Beaches
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Shelling
All of the Flagler Beaches have tons of shells, but Varn Park is one of the best places for shelling here in Palm Coast. You can rinse them off and take them home to display (pro tip: paint them with clear nail polish to give them a high shine) or use them to make a mural on the sand.
Bonfires
From November 1- April 30, stay at the beach past sunset and have a bonfire. You’ll need a permit, but they’re free to obtain from the fire department.
Dog Beach
Does your pooch need some beach time? We have six dog-friendly beaches where they can splash, dig, run, and play. Remember to bring a leash for walking to and from the beach and always clean up after yourself and your dog.
Living here in Paradise, you may think you have it all just lounging by the pool and walking the coastline from time to time, but there is so much more to Palm Coast. Get out and explore, be a tourist in your own town, and enjoy all Palm Coast has to offer!
Thinking about moving here? Why wait? We have homes for all budgets and family sizes, and our real estate agents are ready to help you find the perfect abode.
Alissa is a writer who grew up in Southwest Florida and now lives in the Atlanta area. She’s married with three sons, is a grad student, and is an amateur photographer. When she’s not writing or studying, she enjoys working out, listening to music, and watching true crime stories.