Flagler Beach - A Hidden Gem

Situated on the northeast coast of Florida is a quaint and quiet beachside town that is a hidden gem. Flagler Beach - once you have experienced this town and its people, you will return again and again.

With A1A as the 'main street' of the city, Flagler Beach is a town that Jimmy Buffet would describe in a ballad. The side streets are full of charming beach shops, bookstores, bistros and coffee houses. There are a wide variety of restaurants and pubs featuring just the sort of music Jimmy himself would enjoy sitting in on. Beginning early every Friday and Saturday morning a two-block square next to Veteran's Park is the site of the Flagler Beach Farmer's Market where local farmer, growers, vendors and artists sell everything from honey and herbs, fresh bread and vegetables to handcrafted jewelry and artwork.

The main attraction here is, of course, the 6 miles of cinnamon-colored beach that brings in visitors year round to enjoy surfing, fishing, sunbathing and relaxing on the coquina-enhanced shoreline. Surfers enjoy waves with the third largest break within the state and the fishing, whether offshore or in the Intracoastal Waterway, is second to none. If cycling is your sport, you are in luck! The A1A Scenic Loop (Highway) affords a dedicated paved lane running parallel to the Atlantic Ocean for a 22 mile stretch between north and south county lines within Flagler County. The 'centerpiece' of Flagler Beach would have to be the Flagler Beach Municipal Pier. Built in 1927, the pier has been a popular gathering spot for tourists, fishermen and photographers throughout the years. Originally 1000 feet in length, the pier has lost approximately 200 feet to hurricanes and "nor'easters" but still reaches out 806 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

At the southern edge of the city, nestled between the ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, you will find a windswept State Park bearing the name of folk singer Gamble Rogers. The Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area enjoys the best of both worlds - fantastic beaches and the more rustic Intracoastal side where a nature trail will take visitors through a shady coastal forest of scrub oaks and saw palmettos. The park is one of six locations within Flagler County that are on the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Boaters and paddlers have access to a boat launch and the park's full-facility campground makes it so you never had to leave this seaside paradise.

Lodging accommodations to fit everyone's tastes and budget are available within the Flagler Beach area. For more information on Flagler Beach as well as deals and discounts available, visit www.VisitFlagler.org. Come see what Flagler Beach has to offer on 'the quiet side of Florida'.....we guarantee you will return again and again!