Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Florida Vacation: Carefree Days on Vilano Beach

[shareaholic app=”share_buttons” id=”20872686″]

I’ve long been trying to convince Jade to join me in Nashville. Oh the fun we’d have drinking all the whiskey, eating all the biscuits, seeing all the shows. And while I’ve been pretty close to swaying her and Bob in the past, she always tells me: “I just can’t imagine being so far from the beach.” After I joined her for a romp around her childhood stomping grounds in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, I can see why.

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

I’ve spent decades visiting the beaches of the Florida Panhandle, but the Atlantic side is relatively new territory to me. And while the water may not be as clear, there’s still such a charm to this coastal area that other beach towns simply don’t have.

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Though it was cold while I was visiting in early March—low-60s, which is pretty much Arctic temps for Floridians—we still moseyed on down to the coast in Vilano Beach, where Jade’s parents live, and spent some time soaking up the fresh air, thick with moisture and heavy from the salt.

I’m pretty sure this kid has a larger collection of swimsuits than I do, and she’s only been on this Earth for four months! I say this out of total jealous, of course. Who doesn’t want a flamingo rash guard with ruffles on the bottom?!
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano-Beach-6-min

Jade was so worried about me being entertained while in her care; little does she know as much as I’m always on the go, sitting on a picnic blanket on the beach with zero plans is actually my favorite way to spend any day.

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Even though it was a weekend in March—and Vilano Beach is not even 10 minutes from downtown St. Augustine—it was pretty deserted nonetheless. We had long stretches of shell-scattered coastline all to ourselves. It was perfect.

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

I’m working my hardest to get a return invite to her family vacation next year, because who wouldn’t want a lazy weekend in Florida with this squad?

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Maybe if I continue to offer my photographic services as the family documentarian, they’ll oblige me.

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem
Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Vilano Beach: Northern Florida's Hidden Gem

Looking for other trip ideas to Florida? I’ve got a few:


 

PIN IT HERE

Family Vacation to Vilano Beach, Florida

COMMENTS
  • March 18, 2016

    You know you are welcome anytime- and not just for the photos! 🙂 Next time, bring Scott and we’re going to try all the cute outdoor restaurants and Hippo pops we can fit in our bellies. xo

    • March 24, 2016

      I think we still have about 497 Hyppo flavors to try!

  • March 18, 2016

    Haha I was about to say that you took such amazing family photos, you could make them a photo album; until you said it yourself 🙂 I’m loving the sea shell photos the would look gorgeous on a wall in a beach house somewhere!

    • March 24, 2016

      They’re an adorable family to shoot! I’m drawing up the adoption papers and going to trick them into letting me join their clan 😉

  • March 18, 2016

    Baby bathing suits FTW! That seriously warmed my heart. Looks like the perfect way to spend a chill(y) day at the beach.

    • March 24, 2016

      Right?! My bathing suit collection pales in comparison to the four month old’s.

  • March 21, 2016
    Audrey

    Awesome pics! Only downside to that weird, wonderful, peach-colored sand Vilano Beach has in common with Bermuda: it is rather hard on my sensitive feet to walk in. Ouch! Haha!

    • March 24, 2016

      Right?? Our feet were a bit sore after padding across the shells. I’ve never been to Bermuda, but would LOVE to go!

  • March 23, 2016
    Angela Seager

    I love your posts, and I particularly love the photos accompanying this post…
    I don’t know whether it’s yours or your hubbies, may I ask how you post-process them..
    I tend to saturate my images and yours are just perfect…
    Maybe you just boost exposure or brightness but the blue skies are gorgeous…
    Many thanks in advance
    Angela Seager

    • March 24, 2016

      Hi Angela! I take most of the photos. Lately, I’ve been shooting in manual (I use a Canon 6D) and try to get the exposure as close to perfect that it doesn’t need any post-processing; obviously, that’s a tall order. I use Lightroom for post and usually just bump up the shadows a bit when they’re too dark and play with the contrast, highlights and blacks. Occasionally, I will use a preset but not always, and I rarely touch saturation much as it can really give a natural-looking photo an overly fake quality to it. Hope that helps! For my iPhone, I use Snapseed mostly but occasionally ColorStory, too.

  • March 24, 2016

    GREAT photos, as always!! You could totally rock taking family photos as (one of your) profession. 🙂

  • March 29, 2016

    oooh looks like a lovely day!! i am stuck with horrible rainy weather!

    X Malena
    http://www.FashionContainer.com

Leave a Comment