6 Fun Things to Do in Palm Coast, Florida: Local Company Guide

August 22, 2025 -

If you’re planning a trip, here are 6 must-try things to do in Palm Coast, Florida. This Local Company Guide covers coquina rock beaches, oak-shaded gardens, historic preserves, bike trails, local markets, and even dolphin adventures. Whether you’re here for a day or a weekend, you’ll find the perfect balance of outdoor fun, family-friendly activities, and local charm without the bustle of nearby tourist hubs.

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1) Washington Oaks Gardens State Park: The coquina-rock shoreline you’ll remember

If you Google photos of Palm Coast, the dramatic rock formations you’ll see are Washington Oaks’ coquina ledges—fossilized shellstone carved by surf into tide pools and honeycombed platforms. On calm mornings, it’s a photographer’s dream. Across A1A, stroll formal gardens shaded by sprawling live oaks, with roses, camellias, and quiet ponds. The park is open daily 8 a.m. to sundown; day use is typically $5 per vehicle. (St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL, Florida State Parks, Washington Oaks)

Do this: sunrise on the rocks → garden walk → picnic by the Matanzas River.

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2) Princess Place Preserve: Old Florida, wide skies, and water trails

Just inland, Princess Place Preserve protects ~1,500 acres at the confluence of Pellicer and Moody Creeks and the Matanzas River. You’ll find miles of trails, primitive riverside campsites, and the historic 1880s lodge with broad porches and rocking chairs—“Old Florida” at its most peaceful. Kayakers love the sheltered creeks; campers book quickly in cool months. (Flagler County, Visit Flagler)

Do this: morning hike → kayak Pellicer Creek → sunset from the lodge lawn.

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3) Graham Swamp: Singletrack thrills & ridgetop hiking

Graham Swamp is where Palm Coast gets gritty. The Graham Swamp Trail threads a surprising ridge with technical singletrack, features, and fast berms—locals consider it one of NE Florida’s punchiest loops. There’s also a short, rugged hiking track that shares the trailhead area on the east side. (Hikers: go counter-clockwise and yield to bikes.) (Flagler County, Florida Hikes, AllTrails.com)

Do this: ride the 6-ish mile MTB loop or hike the ridgetop for swamp views.

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4) Flagler Beach & Gamble Rogers: Surf, sand, and camping by the sea

Ten minutes south of Palm Coast, Flagler Beach delivers classic A1A charm. The Flagler Beach Pier is being demolished and rebuilt into a new concrete structure with work underway; the surrounding beachfront and restaurants remain staples. If you want the closest-to-the-surf camping around, book Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area—a small park nestled between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal, with beach access, birding, and a boardwalk. (FlaglerLive, cityofflaglerbeach.com, Florida State Parks, floridastateparksfoundation.org)

Do this: beach day + sunrise shelling → lunch in Flagler Beach → golden-hour walk on the dune crossover at Gamble Rogers.

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5) European Village: Eat, linger, and shop local (don’t miss Sunday market)

Palm Coast’s European Village is a courtyard of restaurants, bars, and boutiques that’s buzzy at night and mellow by day. On Sundays, a farmers market typically runs 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m., with produce, baked goods, and crafts (always check current updates). (Visit Flagler, Instagram)

Do this: tapas crawl under the string lights → market browsing on Sunday.

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6) Marineland Dolphin Adventure: A short hop for big smiles

A few minutes north along scenic A1A, Marineland Dolphin Adventure offers general admission to see dolphins, sea turtles, and more, plus interactive swim and encounter programs you can book in advance. It’s the world’s first oceanarium, now focused on education and conservation. (Check hours and pricing before you go.) (marineland.net)

Do this: morning at Washington Oaks → afternoon Marineland visit → dinner on the coast.

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Perfect itineraries

One perfect day (no rushing)

• Sunrise: Washington Oaks coquina beach. (St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL)
• Late morning: Coffee + garden loop at Washington Oaks. (Florida State Parks)
• Lunch: Head to Flagler Beach (casual oceanfront spots abound).
• Afternoon: Gamble Rogers beach time or boardwalk stroll. (Florida State Parks)
• Evening: Dinner and a post-meal stroll at European Village. (Visit Flagler)

Weekend warrior (outdoors + family)

• Day 1: Princess Place hikes and kayaking; set up a riverside campsite if you snagged a reservation. (Flagler County)
• Day 2: Marineland Dolphin Adventure + lazy afternoon at the beach; close with the European Village farmers market (Sunday). (marineland.net, Instagram)

Bikes & views (MTB focus)

• Morning: Ride Graham Swamp loop. (Flagler County)
• Refuel: Head up A1A for a coastal lunch.
• Sunset: Back to Washington Oaks’ riverside seawall. (St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL)

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Best time to visit & quick tips

• Sunrise & low tide make Washington Oaks’ tide pools pop—bring reef-safe sunscreen and sturdy sandals. (St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL)
• Bikes & hikes: Summers are hot; start early, carry water, and yield on shared segments at Graham Swamp. (Florida Hikes)
• Pier note: The Flagler Beach Pier is under construction; beaches and nearby dining are open. (cityofflaglerbeach.com, Spectrum News 13)
• Reservations: Princess Place primitive campsites and Marineland programs book out in peak months—plan ahead. (Flagler County, marineland.net)

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The Zevonix spin: When IT is a “thing to do”

Around here, we don’t just provide IT Support for Local Businesses, we live the Palm Coast lifestyle. A few of us at Zevonix greet sunrise on the coquina rocks, hit a lunch-break in Flagler Beach, or wander the Sunday market before diving into client tickets. For some of us, IT really is a hobby: tuning homelabs, testing AI workflows, automating the boring stuff so we can get back outside faster.

If you run a clinic, firm, or nonprofit in Palm Coast, Daytona Beach, St. Augustine, or Jacksonville, we’ll keep your systems secure and your people productive so your “things to do in Palm Coast” are beaches, bikes, and family time… and not firefighting tech. (No 24/7 promises here just responsive, professional care during the support windows you choose.)

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Frequently Asked Questions