New Kingsminster School Rising Near Nocatee, Ponte Vedra

A New Private School Is Rising in Ponte Vedra: What to Know About Kingsminster

If you've driven along Palm Valley Road recently, you may have noticed activity on the grounds of St. Francis-in-the-Field Episcopal Church, just north of Nocatee. That's the future home of Kingsminster Ponte Vedra, a new independent Christian school that broke ground this year and is set to open its doors in August 2027.

 Photo Credit:  Ponte Vedra Recorder

From County Plans to Groundbreaking

The project first appeared in St. Johns County planning documents under the working name Episcopal School of Ponte Vedra. In mid-2026, the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved a special use permit for the campus, clearing the way for…

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World's Biggest Beach Bike Ride Hits Jax Beach Aug 14

One Thousand Riders, One Beach, One Shot At A Guinness World Record Title, Right Here In Jacksonville Beach.

The sun is dropping low over Seawalk Pavilion, string lights are glowing against the dunes, and somewhere in the crowd someone is checking their tires one more time before the ride of a lifetime. On Friday, August 14, Jacksonville Beach becomes the site of a Guinness World Records attempt: the Largest E-Bike Party, with 1,000 riders lined up on the sand and ready to make history together.

This isn't a race and it isn't a workout. It's a community showing up, wheels and all, to be part of something Jacksonville has never done before.

The Evening, Mile by Mile

Doors open, so to speak, at 5:00 p.m. with beachside festivities at Seawalk…

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Super Girl Surf Festival Returns to Jax Beach Nov. 7-8

Two days of surfing, live music, and female athletes taking over the sand at Jacksonville Beach.

The sound of a World Surf League horn will echo off the Jacksonville Beach Pier again this November, calling more than 2,000 female athletes into the water for one of the largest women's sports and music festivals in the country. On November 7 and 8, the Super Girl Surf Festival presented by Jersey Mike's takes over the Pier and SeaWalk Pavilion for its sixth year in Jacksonville Beach, and its twentieth year as an organization overall. For two full days, the beach becomes a stage for elite surfing, free concerts, and a festival village built entirely around lifting up women and girls.

This is not a niche surf meet tucked away for die-hard fans. It is a…

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Back to School St. Johns & Duval County 2026-2027

Key dates, calendar differences, and how local families can get ready for the new school year.

Summer's winding down, and for families across St. Johns County and Duval County, that means backpacks, school supply lists, and the return of morning carpool lines. Here's what local families need to know to head into the 2026-2027 school year prepared.

Key Dates for Both Districts

Both St. Johns County School District (SJCSD) and Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) kick off the 2026-2027 school year on Monday, August 10, 2026, and both wrap up on Friday, May 28, 2027. Beyond that shared start and end date, the calendars diverge a bit.

St. Johns County School District

• First day of school: August 10, 2026
• Thanksgiving Break: November…

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A Sweet Slice of History: Why Rita's of Ponte Vedra Beach is Our Family's Favorite Treat

by Jennifer Walker

A local look at why Rita's Italian Ice on A1A has become a multigenerational favorite in Ponte Vedra Beach.

There is something undeniably special about finding a taste of your past in your present. For me, that comes alive at 840 A1A North in Ponte Vedra Beach, where a local spot serves up far more than frozen treats. It serves up nostalgia, joy, and what they call "Ice Custard Happiness." I'm talking about Rita's Italian Ice, and our neighborhood location has become a genuine favorite across every generation of our family.

From a Front Porch in Pennsylvania to the Sunshine State

My first visit to a Rita's was back in my twenties, and I was instantly won over by the vivid flavors and smooth texture of the Italian ice.…

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DogBeach Ponte Vedra: Luxury Dog Boarding, Daycare & Grooming

Inside DogBeach: The Ultimate Guide to Ponte Vedra's Luxury Dog Resort

If you've driven down A1A near Ponte Vedra Beach and spotted a building with a beach mural and a line of happy pups being walked in, you've seen DogBeach. It's part daycare, part boarding resort, part spa, and it's become the go-to spot for local pet parents who want more for their dog than a kennel and a leash walk.

Here's what's actually inside, what it costs, and what to know before you book.

What the facility looks like

DogBeach is a 15,000+ square foot indoor facility at 830 A1A N, fully climate-controlled, so there's no rain, mud, heat, or bee stings interrupting playtime. The beach theme runs through the whole building: a lobby with beach-scene murals, a…

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Le Petit Paris: A Taste of France in Ponte Vedra Beach

by Jennifer Walker

A charming French café bringing Parisian warmth and gluten-free options to Ponte Vedra Beach.

Step through the door at Le Petit Paris and the Florida coastline seems to fall away for a moment, replaced by the warmth of a true Parisian café. I stopped in recently with my mom for lunch, and the visit turned into one of those small, memorable outings that stays with you.

The room does the transporting before the menu ever does. Soft decor, the scent of something freshly baked drifting from the kitchen, and a welcome that felt personal from the first minute. At the counter, a familiar face greeted us: my friend's daughter, Harper, who guided me toward her mom's favorite, the Raspberry Nectar Herbal Iced Tea. It arrived…

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The Hub at Nocatee: A New Gathering Place Is Coming to Town

A 63,000 square foot open-air marketplace is about to give Nocatee residents a whole new reason to walk instead of drive. 

Picture a Saturday evening with live music drifting across an open courtyard, string lights overhead, and neighbors pulling up in golf carts instead of cars. That is the scene Nocatee is building just west of Valley Ridge Boulevard South, right next to the Publix at Marketplace at Nocatee. It is called The Hub at Nocatee, and it is set to become the community's newest walkable destination when it opens in 2028.

 It is the kind of announcement that gets people talking, and once you see the plans, it is easy to understand why.

Photo Source: Nocatee.com

What The Hub at Nocatee actually is

At just over 63,000 square…

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A Summer Road Trip Worth Taking: Kennedy Space Center's 60th Anniversary Is Happening Now

by Collette Strickland

As a little girl, one of my favorite summer memories was our family's trip to the Kennedy Space Center a few years after it opened.  We rode the bus for a tour, posed for pictures in front of rocket ships, and got so excited to see a “pretend” launch countdown.  We still talk about it.

If you've lived in the Jacksonville area for any amount of time and haven't made the drive down to Kennedy Space Center yourself, this summer is the nudge you've been waiting for. It's just about two hours south — an easy morning departure, a full day of something genuinely extraordinary, and home in time for dinner. And this July, there's a reason to go that won't come around again for another sixty years.

Sixty Years of Looking Up

On…

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