by Ashton Monk,

The Jacksonville area has its fair share of wonderful golf culture and courses. With THE PLAYERS Championship held every year in Ponte Vedra Beach and the World Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine, the area is a hub for golf enthusiasts from all around the world. However, the prices to play the courses in TPC Sawgrass or World Golf Village can be quite steep. For many younger golfers who cannot afford to shell out triple digits on a weekend round, it can be hard to experience the great golf in the area. However, I have mastered the art of finding golf rounds for an affordable price for these golfers. 

golf course

Finding the Right Course

The first and most important step to getting a round that your wallet will thank you for is finding…

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By Anna Grace Keller

Service over self. This is a phrase I honestly never heard much before this school year, where I started exploring the possibility of furthering my academics through ROTC in college, which is a program that places service in high regard. Being native Ponte Vedrans and parishioners at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, my family has always emphasized the importance of community service from both a religious sense and as just a way to give back to the community that we have grown up in. One thing I always admired about my parents is that they would just randomly sign us up to do acts of service around the Jacksonville area as a family, whether it be making and serving dinner at the St. Francis House or beautifying the yard of…

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By Gwinn Volen

Should buyers hold off in this crazy market? The two most important questions to ask are: a) will homes continue to appreciate and b) are mortgage rates going to rise. If the answer is yes to both of these questions, then purchasing now, even in this competitive space, is the smarter move.

Multiple offers are the new normal here in Northeast Florida and in other highly desirable areas. Buyers need to understand that they will likely pay more than they want to, and that it's an incredibly competitive landscape where acting quickly is critical, as is a clean, well-executed offer with as few contingencies as possible.

As painful as that feels as a buyer, it is the new real estate reality. But, there is good news.

Everything points…

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by Jenn Heller

In a world full of playgrounds for kids to let off steam, it's fun to see more options of playgrounds for dogs popping up all over town where dog mom's and dad's can now bring their four legged kids to escape the couch, unleash some energy and have the "ultimutt" fun.  Each one offers something paw-sitively unique to the other so whatever you're looking for in your dog park experience, there's one out there for you.  Has your dog been going through a rough pooch lately? Why not raise the woof to these awesome dog parks around town and find out what's in store.  Get ready to have a howling good time you will never fur-get and have a fur-bulous day (or night) out on the town at one of these options!

brewhound dog park

BrewHound Dog Park + Bar

…

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by Willow Logue

Do you dream about hummus? Crave chips? Then you have probably been lucky enough to dine at McFlamingo.

Their delicious and healthy menu includes signature salads, sandwiches, snacks, and beach boxes. Almost every item has a unique flavor combination: grapes with sweet potatoes or blueberries with salmon and avocado to name a few.  Those willing to trust the chef will be rewarded with a tasty mix of savory and sweet that will have you licking the bottom of the eco-friendly plate.

For larger parties, McFlamingo also offers catering. Pro-tip: get the pickled tomatoes as part of the crudite platter. Your guests will be raving for months if they can manage to walk away from the dish. Another winner is the beach boxes. These are…

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by Jenn Heller

Every year on January 1st people flock to the coldest of waterways (or even swimming pools) to bring in the new year with a chilly polar plunge.   This tradition dates back to 1904 in Boston where the first recorded plunge into icy water took place on New Year’s Day.

polar plunge with friends in Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Here on the First Coast, residents from the Beaches and surrounding Jacksonville area run out into the frigid Atlantic Ocean off
Jacksonville Beach to continue this tradition at the annual Polar Plunge hosted by Wavemaster Society at the SeaWalk Pavilion.  Unfortunately, COVID-19 has forced Wavemasters to cancel this annual event that normally sees about 2,500 people run into the numbing water hovering at a wintry 65 degrees. 

Why Plunge?

Many love to start the…

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by Jenn Heller


2020 launched with great anticipation, with many thinking, “this is my year.”  Then COVID-19 hit and changed lives for many, leaving 6.8% of Americans without jobs and creating great needs across the US.   The pandemic has potentially left more than 50 million people hungry, including 17 million children, and there has been a rise in the homeless community throughout the country. This need exists right here in our corner of the world, the greater Jacksonville area.

We know many are looking to give back during the holidays and giving can mean more than just gifts.  

Interested in doing your part to help change lives this holiday?  Set aside some time with your friends, family, small group or co-workers to make a difference in…

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by Gwinn Volen

The Ponte Vedra Community Association has come up with a creative way to bring in the holiday season with COVID-safety in mind.

For years, PVCA has held a tree-lighting event on the driving range of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. This annual event is fondly etched into the memories of neighborhood families who remember greeting Santa by the tree as little ones, throwing the football in the dark with friends and sharing hot chocolate and holiday cheer. Annually, it has always been a loved time to mingle with neighbors and collect toys for our local Fire Station 10.

Due to the pandemic, PVCA strategized on new ways to celebrate the holiday while still building a sense of community, finally deciding on a COVID-cautious…

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By Sarah Strickland

St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce opened a new Visitors Center in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Located at 200 Solana Road, Suite B, it is the perfect place to discover more about Ponte Vedra Beach and Nocatee. They offer a fully staffed office that can answer questions about the community, attractions, and places to shop and dine. 

aerial view of old ponte vedra in ponte vedra beach, florida

Not only is the Visitors Center worth checking out for newcomers to the community, providing an array of guides and pamphlets that can help people to familiarize themselves with the area, but there are also many resources such as zoning guides, public school information, and statistics which residents will find helpful as well. 

If going to the Center is not an option, the website is a…

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by Sadie Pichelmann

I’m not a native of Ponte Vedra Beach, or even of Florida. Before moving here seven years ago, I was more familiar with snow than sand. One of the first memories I have of living in Ponte Vedra is of looking for treasures buried in the sand or being washed over by the ocean. I loved collecting pink-and-white seashells, shark eyes, sea glass, and encountering interesting creatures like crabs, seagulls, and sometimes even jellyfish. My family had heard that shark teeth could be found on the beach too, but that particular prize eluded me for a long time. A friend of mine told me that once you find one, you will start seeing them everywhere, which is something I now find true as a shark tooth searching aficionado.

Shark teeth…

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