Atlantic Beach has so much to offer locals as well as tourists. From beautiful beaches to shops and restaurants. And bonus, you can walk to most everything in 10 minutes or less. Recently, I had brunch, and then we hit up several shops on First Street. So many options, a book store, several unique boutiques and a reasonably priced souvenir shop. And many restaurants choices, seafood, Italian, Asian, plus a few taverns. You can usually catch live music at a few spots on the weekend. If you are not hungry and do not want to shop, you can try the cigar bar, or stop in for a drink at the oldest bar at the beach, Pete's, established in 1933. Lemon Bar is beside the beach and offers light fair and drinks. There is one high end hotel, One Ocean. Even if you're not staying there, I suggest stopping by their lounge for a drink. It is gorgeous and they offer unique cocktails, plus a nice patio. Or for a little less, stay at the Seahorse Inn, which has access to the Lemon Bar near the pool. I'm a huge fan of Atlantic Beach. But the one downside is parking. There used to be free street parking but now you must pay the parking machine for nearly every spot. There is one parking lot in the heart of it all, but be prepared to pay between $10-$20, depending on the time of year. There is one other city owned lot between First and Second Street. read more

DO NOT LET YOUR DOG SWIM IN THE DOG PARK!!!! It is dangerous and the city will not rectify or compensate for your vet bills! My dog was injured while swimming in the dog water park. He sliced his foot open, causing an emergency vet visit and a follow up visit to remove a pad from his foot. The city manager, Kevin Hogencamp and the mayor, Curtis Ford, will not return a phone call or an email to confirm that the pond has been cleared of dangerous debris. Nor will they pay for the vet bills, despite having multiple witnesses, documentation, and photos. They will not even have a conversation about it even though they promised to open an investigation and follow up. The place is dangerous and they do not care about your dog! Stay away!!!! read more

One of my favorite beaches when visiting Jax. Plenty of parking beach is always clean and feel secure.

Huge deep beach! Big waves too! I really liked this beach as it's so big and clean. The parking near main marketplace was reasonable and close. However, I didn't see any rest/change rooms anywhere on his beach. If you get lucky, you may find a free parking spot located at 10th and Ocean. read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Atlantic Beach is beautiful, and the intercostal as well as the inland areas have endless hidden gems as well. read more

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The waves are calling! I love coming out to Atlantic beach just to unwind! Blocks from my hubby's work~ it's an excuse to pop in and see him and a better excuse to get my feet sandy! I have been heartbroken when storms roll through and destroy the dunes and boardwalks out and then the city revamps and restores and makes it perfect again! Great public parking~ I rarely have trouble finding a spot. Plenty of trash cans to not litter on our beaches! And just a great sense of community when you go here! I see the locals walking dogs, running on the beach, bike riding, surfing the waves and families out enjoying the day! Coolest thing I have ever seen on this beach? A tiny shrimp flopping around at the surfs edge! read more

If I were to live at the beach, Atlantic Beach is where I'd like to be. You get a two for one deal in this part of the town. You get the beauty and pacing of the beach-life, as well as an in-town neighborhood feel,.... with bellowing trees, lots of shade, green lawns, parks, and community centers. It's quiet and mellow but yet only blocks away from the hustle and bustle of shops, bars, and restaurants. Yes, enforcement of rules such as parking, lawn care, speed limits, etc.. does seem to be more strictly enforced within this area of the beach but it's what separates this area from Jax Beach and others to help maintain the neighborhood, family friendly, nostalgic feel. I'm lucky and have friends who live in this area, so parking isn't a hassle. However, don't be dissuaded by the rumors. There is a lot of parking available and plenty of public access points. I'd go through many of them but I think if you want to visit this area of the beach, it's worth the slow drive through the neighborhoods and cool findings along the water. Note: If you don't have a parking space reserved and you are not already parked by 7 am on July 4th, don't bother going anywhere near Atlantic Beach. Better to park at a Publix or someplace outside the prime beach area and then uber to your friend's house. read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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I would rate it #1 for a family vacation. Lots of Free museums close by. Lots of outdoor activities such as kayaking, hiking, fishing and biking. Good restaurants and grocery shopping close by. read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Atlantic and Neptune Beach sponsor the North Atlantic Artwalk the third Thursday of every month! There is a process local artists can apply through... it is a juried show. There are many creative people in our area and they bring unique/unusual art work! The times are 5pm to 9 pm. There are paintings, jewelry, pottery, purses, Gourds, wood items, etc. Lots of friendly vendors and customers.,, read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

I really enjoy this area of the beaches. There's plenty of places to park, eat and then head to the sand without too much hassle if there's not an event going on that particular day/weekend. You can find free parking if you're patient enough and even on crowded days, there seems to always be enough room to spread out a blanket in the sand & share the beach. On the weekends, you will see the lifeguards go up and down the beach making sure visitors are safe. And this is one of the many places you can go without having to drop a ton of money while enjoying the sun and water. Great place to take your out-of-town guests, too! read more

Atlantic Beach - May 14th, 2016 - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

This is my second time at this beach. Last time was a handful of years ago. I love this area because of not only the dog friendly beach, but the cute outside patio cafes and restaurants. They also have cute little stores to shop through, and parking is not too bad. We parked in the residential area and walked right to the beach. The beach may have been high tide so the water was pretty high and not too much sand space. My dog Mocha Coconut loved it because the sand was soft and loose so he could dig and dig. If I could find a cute little beach town like this on the Gulf side of Florida that I could live at, it would be oh so perfect. I think the closest I could think of on the Gulf side by Clearwater beach That like this is Dunedin and Tarpon Springs, FL! read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Open beaches with lots of space, clean sand and nice waves to enjoy. Parking is limited, but can usually find a place within a few blocks of the water. We found a couple access points which had showers to rinse but no changing facilities. read more

They take advantage of the limited parking and try and charge people 20-30 dollars for space, and also if you don't have cash upfront they tell you they are full, then let the next person get in, very disappointed in how money hungry this place has gotten, read more

Excellent beach with great stretches of sand and very clean. We visited in April and it was not crowded at all. Parking can be found on 18th st, there are no public restrooms, however there is a shower you can use to rinse off which is nice. We found the water to be really clear and clean, we saw dolphins which was great. Lots of shells wash up on the shore and we had a blast combing through them. Alcoholic beverages are prohibited so be discreet and you should be fine. Definitely a dog friendly beach so bring your pup if you please. read more

This beach is incredibly clean and not too crowded compared to Neptune Beach. There are some really great shells on his beach! It's a great place to go with your family. My family was in town visiting so we decided to try out a new beach. The only downfall of this beach is the lack of public parking. It is nearly impossible to find a public parking spot. We went during the week so we had no issue finding a spot. However, if you're trying to go here on the weekend you won't find parking. read more

Atlantic Beach - Shells - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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This beach was beautiful, clean, secluded, and relaxing. I liked it a lot.

This is a great quiet place for a family day at the beach. Love it here! My son and I got to see the sun rising during our service project for the Great Visit Florida Beach Walk back in October. That made me appreciate the area even more, walking a mile along the beautiful coastline watching the birds wandering the sand in the morning sun. Caution: There are no bathrooms or businesses along the beach, but there is a shower to rinse off sand before you get back into the car. read more

Beautiful white, powder soft sand. Amazing million dollar homes behind you A skyline that goes on and on. Great tidal pools at low tide. Absolutely love the town itself. read more

This was our first time at Atlantic Beach. We were attracted to this beach because it is pet friendly all day. On the trip there, it was tricky to find any public parking. The GPS doesn't take you to correct spots, as well as, falsely thinks there are public parking spaces. After finding a parking space, we were easily able to walk to the beach. It was amazing! Not crowded, beautiful white sand, and allows dogs! read more

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Stopped by to kill some time before driving back home to Orlando. It was cold out, so the beach was empty. The beach was clean, the sand was soft, and there weren't really big shell pieces in the sand. I feel like if I were to have walked around barefoot, I wouldn't have to worry about stabbing myself or it being painful. There were a couple of people jogging, or walking their dogs along the beach too. Definitely seems like a good place to have a nice run with the ocean next to you. Not sure how busy this beach gets, but it's definitely something to think about if you're a local. The beach is located right next to a neighborhood, and I didn't see any beachfront bars/restaurants, so if you didn't bring any food on your beach day, you may need to pack up and travel for some grub! read more

Beautiful beach with a boardwalk. Actually it appears that Jacksonville, Neptune and Atlantic Beach all seem to run into one another so perhaps they share boardwalks. The sand here is sugary white and the water was kind of cool. We found a good deal of cute and lovely seashells. I just assumed some of those shells had to be bought and placed out there because they were too perfect looking. I personally like the all inclusive aspect of having waterfront dining, shopping along the beach for convenience purposes. I'll be back for another beach day here in the near future. read more

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Anyone living on the East Coast doesn't need to fly all the way to the Caribbean or Hawaii, just head to Jacksonville and drive over to Atlantic Beach. I recommend this beach over the more crowded Jacksonville Beach a few miles south. Atlantic Beach is lined along a residential area between Mayport and Jacksonville Beach, giving it the same laid back style as Catalina Island near San Diego. There has always been ample parking whenever we go. Our feet always melts into the white sand. Go here to read a book and just decompress while listening to the ocean waves. The ocean water seems more blue here. You feel you can just relax. This is a dog friendly beach which is great for dog owners. The downside is sometimes dogs run up to you when you least expect it. Even then, all the dogs have been friendly and I've never come across doggie poo the multiple times I've been here. This gem of a beach is arguably nicer than any beach on Oahu! read more

Love the freedom of Atlantic Beach. There's always space to meditate and contemplate and avoid the crowds. Plus the restaurants and parking and little shops make Atlantic Beach great for Solitude and great for socializing. read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

This is our favorite beach in JAX. Along Florida's first coast, you find what you might expect. Miles and miles of beach and ocean. What you didn't expect was to find the little gem that is Atlantic beach, nestled between Mayport and Jacksonville Beach. White sand, no sky rises (save one just on the border of Neptune and Atlantic Beach), and beautiful houses lining the ocean. This beach is our favorite because of three key points: 1. The fact that it is a dog-friendly beach all day 2. The lack of sky rises, and thus the flood of tourists that comes with them 3. The residential neighborhood and small town feel of the streets and strip of restaurants/shops on the border of Neptune and Atlantic We love that we can bring our Golden here and expect a great day with *almost* no judgement for having him off leash on the beach. The leash law here is that if the dogs are in the water, they aren't required to be leashed, but if just sitting or walking on the sand, leash must be on. Very reasonable, and great fun playing fetch in the water. The trouble comes when your playful pooch wants to continue running past you to greet the passerby when retrieving. Most pedestrians are welcoming, because they know this is a dog beach and there will be dogs crossing their paths. Alas, there are always those few individuals who are repelled by the fun loving creatures and remind you forcefully of the leash law as they cringe away. I understand there are unfortunate run ins with canines which spoil their reputation, and do try to set a positive example so that this beach will remain dog friendly. Please do the same! We also love to admire the astounding architecture of some of the structures lining the First coast. We (I mean mostly me) have our potential future residence selected amount the palms here at Atlantic Beach, and dream about one day living in this little piece of paradise. I've read, but not yet seen for myself, of the existence of a "dune house" that has a place among the ocean front estates - if you own this house and are reading this review, we'd love a private tour of your home if you're willing! Amenities are at a minimum here, as this is after all a residential and not a tourist beach. You won't find public restrooms or plentiful parking, but you will have plenty of public beach accesses, most having showers/water spickets for rinsing off after a day in the sand. Walking a few blocks toward Neptune beach will land you in an island-like culture of sun, drinks, ice cream, and good food. Check out MShack for some of the best burgers, North Beach Fish Camp for seafood cuisine, or for the sweet tooth, try Whitt's Frozen Custard. There are a few more interesting finds that we've yet to experience, such as Poe's Tavern, The Flying Iguana, Ragtime, and a pizza place. And of course, a Starbucks greets you at the corner of 1 and Atlantic Blvd. If I haven't convinced you already that this is one of the best beaches on the first coast, fantastic! I'm happy to have it occupied as minimally as possible :). Thanks for sharing your coastline, residents of Atlantic Beach! read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

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Atlantic Beach is pretty much the residential beach of Jacksonville's many different beaches. Most of it's access points are tucked back into the beautiful ocean front neighborhood, and most of the people who use this beach are actual residents. This means that Atlantic Beach is quiet, peaceful, relaxing... calm. This is the calm beach. Kids wander through the streets with surf boards tucked under their arms. People young and old ride around on bikes in bikinis. Families sit under tents in the white sand, building sand castles, reading, enjoying life. There are access points available for the public, so you don't have to live there to use it. But, it can be a little intimidating to get back there and find them if you don't know what you are looking for. It is a neighborhood, after all. If you want a calm day at the beach, though, this is where you should head. Just suck it up, act like you know what you are doing, and you will be fine. It's such a nice place. It's relaxing. It's soothing. It's beautiful. Just what a beach should be. read more

This beach is amazing. It's so quiet and so beautiful. There aren't many whole shells here but that's ok I don't mind. It's the perfect place for a perfect beach day and the town also has a bunch of little nice shops. I'm not sure as far as parking but I know that there is some public beach access there. read more

My favorite place to walk- just no bathrooms. I love taking my dogs on morning walks or going without them. I never miss finding interesting things to take photos of. The beach is usually clean and the people are friendly. Love it! Just needs a potty! read more

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This beach is my favorite place to be. Not only is it frequented sparsely by mostly locals, but I can also enjoy the beach with my dog! Sometimes it may be hard to find parking, but patience pays off most of the time. Just make sure you don't park in someone's yard, or trap someone in one of the public access parking and you'll be fine. Beach traffic is for the most part moderate. Since this beach shares a border with a residential area, there are few tourists and lots of friendly faces. Several residents bring their dogs to this beach, and it's not unusual to see a doggie play group in the water. There is a leash law, but if your dog is in the water no leash is required. However, most people don't mind well behaved dogs having a round of frisbee on the sand. There are also several really great places to eat in the area if you're hungry. Check out Witt's Frozen Custard, North Beach Fish Camp, and MShack for a tour of my favorites! Sure there's Neptune Beach and Jax Beach, but my heart lies on Atlantic Beach. read more

BEAUTIFUL BEACH! I was in town for business and decided to stop for a few hours before my flight back. It was so peaceful and beautiful. It was also very clean!! Probably one of the nicest beaches I have been in Florida and I have been to quite a few. I took some time to relax and catch a tan. There was some people by themselves reading books and families. It was not crowded but I did go on a Tuesday afternoon. Regardless, to me it was a small piece of paradise. I will be back when I am back in Jacksonville. read more

Atlantic Beach - Gorgeous Atlantic Beach! - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

I love Atlantic Beach I go out there at least 3 times a week to take sunrise pictures. It's much calmer traffic wise than Jax Beach is. read more

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Atlantic Beach is my favorite beach. It's much cleaner and quieter than Jacksonville Beach. AB also has some adorable little places like Lillie's and M Shack. I'll drive the extra five minutes any day to avoid the JAX Beach crowd. read more

Atlantic Beach - Beaches Near Me - Atlantic Beach, Florida

Loved this cute little beach town. Reminded me of Laguna Beach California. Great to walk around, eat drink and great places for tea and coffee. read more

5 star maybe because it was the perfect day and of lots of traffic. Great location and we got free parking only 2 blocks from the beach. 2 hours which was perfect for us. We wanted a little beach time and a nice lunch and was able to get both here. The beach had beautiful white sand and was long and not overcrowded on this Sunny Friday. Water too cold for my southern blood but we walked the beach and laid out for a short while and bid the beach goodbye. Walked a couple blocks to a nice Tequila Bar and had a light lunch and a quick Tequila. Super nice place to go and really nice beach. Will be back next year around same time. read more

Excellent Atmosphere! It was delicious! We had the sliced brisket, smoked sausage, potato casserole, and Mac and cheese. It was all amazing! We can't wait to try the other meats and sides. We also had a Fountain of youth drink from the bar. Definitely recommend as a dessert drink. read more

Was just trying to enjoy the day at the beach today when we were harassed by an asshole cop to get our pup off the beach (she was just laying sunbathing) while there were 7 other dog owners he didn't say a word to! We just moved from PA and didn't know they were trying to change the law with dogs being on the beach down here. He wasn't even nice about it and then followed us to make sure we left the beach. read more

Love how this beach has such a wide uninterrupted view of the ocean and is also great for little kids to play in the shallow water and tide pools. read more

Now Atlantic Beach is just a part of the 4 or so beaches in the area. I love this one almost the best. It's quiet and peaceful and did make a really good place to live. Now the town center or the area with all the restaurant and the cop shop in it. That's where to go for some really good food on the north end of the beach. read more

Great place to visit and beautiful scenery. The only complaint I have is the police. They profile and harass everyone. You don't even have to look sketchy for them to stop and harass you. My suggestion is don't come here unless you want to be harassed. read more

This is a great local beach with lots of places to set up camp!! FYI, if you go north of Atlantic the beach is less crowded....

Love spending time here.