The Buccaneer Trail

The following itinerary can be conducted during three days, utilizing Jacksonville as "home base".

Day One

Begin the journey on the Buccaneer Trail-A1A (in Nassau County) at the northern most point of Amelia Island at Fort Clinch State Park. This 1847 Civil War fort has been thoughtfully preserved and offers visitors exposure to Florida's natural and historic resources. Park rangers, dressed in Union uniforms, carry out the daily chores of the 1864 garrison soldiers.

Continue south on the Buccaneer Trail-A1A, crossing over Nassau River to Big Talbot Island State Park. This unattended park offers a boat ramp, 8 miles of hiking trails, a picnic area and a magnificent mile of eroding sand cliffs called The Bluffs. A set of wooden steps takes you down to the beach, where dozens of huge oak trees have toppled along the shore due to constant storm erosion.

Leaving the park, turn left heading south on A1A to Houston Street, home of BEAKS (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary) where injured wildlife, especially Florida's wild birds, are cared for and rehabilitated.

Day Two

Begin the second day with a visit to Little Talbot Island State Park, one of the barrier islands off the coast of northeast Florida. The island was named in 1735 by General James Oglethorpe in honor of Charles Baron Talbot, the Lord High Chancellor of England. The island has five miles of wide sandy beaches as well as undisturbed salt marshes on the inland side. In addition to fishing, the park offers an observation deck, picnic pavilion with grilles, two nature trails, bathhouses and boardwalks to the beach.

Return to Buccaneer Trail-A1A and head south, crossing over Fort George River. The entrance to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve (managed by the National Park Service and the Fort George Island Cultural Site, and maintained by the State Park Service) will be on your right. This island and the area were discovered by Jean Ribault and his band of French Huguenots on May 1, 1562.

Follow the signs directing you to Kingsley Plantation, turn left on Palmetto Avenue. To the left are the crumbling ruins of a tabby structure whose history has yet to be determined by island archaeologists. Tabby was a concrete mixture of shell, sand, water and lime derived from oyster shell. The earliest inhabitants of the island were the Saturiwa tribe of the Timucuan Indians. They discarded tremendous amounts of oyster shells, which over time became Indian shell middens. It was from these middens that the oyster shells were gathered for use in tabby construction.

Traveling toward the plantation along Palmetto Avenue, or Avenue of Palms, imagine large fields stretching back from the road, with only occasional large live oak trees for shade. Today, the sabal palms which line the road are slowly being overrun by the pine trees and forest vegetation which now occupy the old fields. Sabal palmettos have a life span of about 120 years; therefore, most of the trees alive today were planted after the Civil War. Along the unpaved road, marvel at the beautiful vistas of marshlands and undisturbed wildlife. The modern day industrial skyline includes the cooling towers and coal burning smokestacks of St. Johns Electrical Park.

Enter the grounds of the Kingsley Plantation, the oldest standing plantation in Florida. Zephaniah Kingsley, lived on the plantation with Anna Madgigine Jai, the daughter of African Royalty, who was sold to Kingsley as a slave from Senegal, West Africa. Under Spanish law, Kingsley married Anna and she bore him four children. Anna actively participated in plantation management, acquiring her own land and slaves when she was freed by Kingsley in 1811. From 1813 to 1829, Kingsley's slaves grew Sea Island cotton, citrus, sugar cane and corn on Fort George Island.

On the grounds of the plantation are the ruins of 23 tabby slave cabins (originally there were 32), the Planter's Residence, (built in 1798 and believed to be the oldest residence in Duval County), the kitchen house, the garden, and barn.

At the exit of Fort George Island, the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Residence appears on the right (built in 1878 and purchased by Broward in 1897). Born in 1857 in Duval County, Broward served as sheriff of Duval County, as a Florida State Representative, and as Florida's governor in 1905. He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1910 but died before assuming office.

Resume the route of the Buccaneer Trail-A1A traveling south to the St. Johns River Ferry boat landing. Drive aboard (buses are welcome!) the Jean Ribault Ferry Boat and take the short but spectacular ride across the St. Johns River to the quaint fishing village Mayport. Mayport is the home of shrimp and deep sea fishing charters, seafood restaurants and La Cruise, a casino ship sailing daily into international waters.

When public school is in session, don't miss the Marine Science Education Center and Museum housed in the historic Ribault Elementary School building on Palmer Street. Wander through exhibits of life-size sharks and other saltwater marine life. See the wet lab and the tanks of living marine creatures as close as your nose. Also on Palmer Street is Mayport Presbyterian Church, a "Carpenter Gothic" style church built in 1892. Rounding the curve, catch a glimpse of the Mayport Lighthouse located behind the fence on the grounds of the Mayport Naval Station. Leaving Mayport via Ocean Street, notice the 1913 Captain Joe King residence that harbors a reputation of having a ghostly presence - to date unnamed. The Victorian gingerbread structure is currently an attorney's office.

The Buccaneer Trail continues south on A1A (also known as Old Mayport Road). Detour to the left on Wonderwood Drive to visit Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park that was once part of the 375-acre estate of Elizabeth Philip Stark, who established the local Girl Scouts.

Continue south and then east on A1A through Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach. These seaside communities offer dining and shopping experiences combined with family-oriented, unspoiled beaches.

Day Three

Venture into St. Johns County for the final day of exploring the Buccaneer Trail. A detour onto Ponte Vedra Beach Boulevard offers views of some exclusive beachside homes. Located in Ponte Vedra, the The Tournament Players Club (TPC) is home to the annual golf tournament, The Players Championship, that draws the largest field of golfers from around the world and offers pro golf's biggest purse. The ATP Tour, Association of Tennis Professionals, is also headquartered in Ponte Vedra.

Ponte Vedra Beach Boulevard again joins the Buccaneer Trail-A1A right before Guana River State Park. The park provides opportunities for saltwater and freshwater fishing, hiking and biking trails, nature study and swimming and surfing in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Buccaneer Trail-A1A heads into St. Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in the continental United States. Plan to visit the numerous sites that St. Augustine has to offer.

The trail concludes at Ft. Matanzas National Park and Monument. The park provides a sunbathing beach and a locale for water activities. The stone-tower fort, built in 1740-1742 is located on Rattlesnake Island and is only accessible by ferry boat.