The TOP 3 PARKS you HAVE to visit in Flagler County

Flagler County is home to three Florida State Parks — an extraordinary concentration of protected natural land for a county of its size, and a reflection of just how exceptional this stretch of Florida's northeast coast truly is. Between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, the county's parks encompass formal gardens, ancient coquina rock shorelines, 19th-century plantation ruins, freshwater kayak trails, maritime hammocks, and over 1,500 acres of pristine coastal wilderness. Most people driving through on I-95 have no idea any of it exists. That's what makes these three parks Flagler County's greatest outdoor secret.

Denise Fernandes explores all three in this video — not as a tourist passing through, but as a local who genuinely loves this land and wants others to experience it the same way. Here is her guide to the top three parks in Flagler County that every resident and visitor absolutely has to see.

01 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Formal gardens, a coquina rock coastline, and one of Florida's most photographed trees — all on 425 acres along A1A

Washington Oaks Gardens State Park occupies a special place in the landscape of Northeast Florida — and once you have been there, it is impossible to forget. The park's 425 acres sit between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River along A1A in Palm Coast, and they offer two distinct and equally extraordinary experiences: the formal gardens and the coquina rock beach. Together, they make Washington Oaks unlike any other park in Florida.

The gardens were cultivated by Louise Powis Clark Young, wife of Owen D. Young — chairman of the boards of both General Electric and RCA — who built their winter estate here in 1938. Mrs. Young tended the rose gardens, ornamental ponds, and tropical plantings for decades before gifting the property to the State of Florida in 1965. Today, 20 acres of manicured brick pathways lead through azaleas, camellias, bromeliads, bird-of-paradise flowers, and centuries-old live oaks heavy with Spanish moss. The grand Washington Oak at the heart of the gardens is estimated to be 200 to 300 years old and is one of the most photographed trees in the state. The Atlantic beach, just across A1A, features a rare outcropping of coquina rock formations — one of the largest on the entire East Coast — creating a boulder-strewn shoreline that looks nothing like a typical Florida beach. Tidal pools, wildlife, and extraordinary photography opportunities fill every visit.

Address: 6400 N Ocean Shore Blvd (A1A), Palm Coast, FL 32137

Phone: (386) 446-6780

Website: floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/washington-oaks-gardens-state-park

Instagram: @floridastateparks

Facebook: facebook.com/washington.oaks

02 Princess Place Preserve

1,500 pristine acres, Flagler County's oldest intact structure, and a kayak trail through some of Florida's most beautiful waterways

Princess Place Preserve is Flagler County's outdoor crown jewel — a 1,500-acre wilderness preserve at the confluence of Pellicer Creek, Moody Creek, and the Matanzas River, offering a depth of natural and historical experience that rewards every kind of visitor. Named after Princess Angela Mills Cutting Worden, who lived on the property after her first husband Henry Cutting purchased the land in 1886, the preserve carries both extraordinary natural beauty and a genuinely compelling history that stretches across nearly two centuries.

The historic coquina lodge on the property — built in 1888 and designed by William Wright — is the oldest intact structure in all of Flagler County, and free public tours are offered every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 2:00 PM. Beyond the lodge, the preserve provides hiking and equestrian trails through coastal hammock and tidal marsh, canoe and kayak launch access to Pellicer Creek (a designated Florida State Canoe Trail), primitive camping sites, fishing, and some of the finest birdwatching in the region. Painted buntings, ospreys, bald eagles, and wood storks are regularly spotted along the waterways and trail corridors. The day use is free, the trails are gentle, the waterways are spectacular, and the sense of genuine Florida wilderness is unmatched.

Address: 2500 Princess Place Rd, Palm Coast, FL 32137

Phone: (386) 313-4020

Website: flaglercounty.gov/Things-to-Do/Find-a-Park/Princess-Place-Preserve

Facebook: facebook.com/FlaglerCountyParks

03 Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area

Oceanfront camping, nature trails, and beach access on one of Flagler Beach's most beautiful stretches of A1A

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area sits directly on A1A in Flagler Beach and offers something the other parks in this list do not: the ability to camp right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The park stretches across both sides of A1A — the ocean side provides direct beach access and the only legal oceanfront camping in Flagler County, while the freshwater lake side features a nature trail, fishing, picnic facilities, and a canoe and kayak launch into Smith Creek with access to the Intracoastal Waterway. Together, the two sides make Gamble Rogers one of the most versatile and beloved parks in the county.

Named in honor of folk singer and Florida native James Gamble Rogers IV, who died in 1991 while attempting to rescue a drowning swimmer near this very spot, the park has a warmth and character that goes beyond its natural beauty. The campground's 34 sites are split between the ocean side and the freshwater lake side — both are extraordinarily popular and book up weeks in advance during peak season. For residents who simply want to visit without camping, the park offers day-use beach access, a swimming area, and access to an elevated boardwalk through a coastal scrub habitat that is home to gopher tortoises and a surprising variety of native plant life. On any given weekend morning, watching the sunrise over the Atlantic from the Gamble Rogers beach is as good as Florida gets.

Address: 3100 S Ocean Shore Blvd (A1A), Flagler Beach, FL 32136

Hours: Daily 8:00 AM until sundown|Campground: check-in at sunset for advance arrivals

Phone: (386) 517-2086

Website: floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/gamble-rogers-memorial-state-recreation-area

Instagram: @floridastateparks

Facebook: facebook.com/GambleRogersStatePark

Flagler County's Parks Are Why People Stay

Ask any long-time Flagler County resident what they love most about living here, and the outdoor spaces come up immediately. Having three Florida State Parks — each one completely different, each one extraordinary in its own way — within a 20-minute drive of most Palm Coast neighborhoods is an asset that most Florida communities simply cannot match. Whether you want a formal garden stroll, a kayak paddle through ancient coastal wilderness, or a morning surf session with a campfire waiting for you at the end of it, Flagler County's parks make it possible.

These are not just nice places to visit. They are part of what makes life in Flagler County genuinely worth living — and a meaningful part of why so many people who discover this county decide to stay. Denise Fernandes is here to help you find your place in it. Reach out anytime to start the conversation about making Flagler County home.