Palm Valley - Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

Palm Valley was originally an Indian village, long before Spanish settlers arrived. After the War of Jenkins' Ear in 1739, the rural farming community began to grow and develop quickly. When Oglethorpe failed to overtake St. Augustine, the Spanish abandoned Fort San Diego, moving to the Palm Valley, where they could live off the land.

The prohibition provided the valley residents with another form of income, moonshine, with an endless water supply and deep wooded areas to for concealment. Once the Volstead Act was repealed, the rising price of sugar ended the illegal whiskey industry.

The development and urbanization of this former farmland transformed Palm Valley into a quiet area with tranquil beaches with luxurious residences overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.

Food lovers appreciate the culinary selection offered in the Palm Valley and St. Augustine areas. Traveling along A1A and Ponte Vedra Boulevard puts foodies in the heart of the central restaurant locations, offering classic American food, fresh seafood, Caribbean food, southern-style BBQ, and vegetarian, French and Thai cuisines.

Palm Valley Fish Camp caters to locals with a natural, serene setting and its menu featuring well-seasoned seafood. This popular fish camp serves fresh, seasonal seafood dishes cooked and seasoned to perfection. Locals rave about the creamy, rich shrimp and grits. If you plan to dine at the Palm Valley Fish Camp, you should make a reservation to avoid a waiting period. Stop by the delightful locally owned and operated upscale LuLu’s Waterfront Grille to experience seafood like never before. This hidden gem offers a “culturally eclectic” menu. Whether you are in the mood for seafood, steak or pasta, this quiet little waterfront restaurant offers something for everyone. On Wednesday nights, stop in for $3 Jose Cuervo margaritas and all you can eat snow crab legs.

For the best barbecue down south and a good laugh, locals recommend Down South Barbecue Restaurant. This little mom and pop style BBQ joint features some of the best BBQ and smoked food in the south. Locals rave about the fall off the bone baby back ribs, the succulent brisket, smoky pulled pork, and a variety of barbecue sauces.

The nightlife in Palm Valley saves locals the trip to the city for entertainment. For weddings, movies, community gatherings, performances and concerts locals visit the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall. When it comes to combining drinking and dancing, locals frequent Cafe Eleven Restaurant or Mulligan’s Pub. Locals head over to Woody’s Bar-B-Q to watch all major sporting events on the big screen HD televisions.

Florida residents may choose from a variety of transportation system, including roadways, railways, sea, bus transit, bicycle and walking. Bikes and walking are suitable for residential neighborhoods; however traveling outside a residential neighborhood requires another form of transportation.

Commuters may ride the bus one way for the low cost of $1; all-day passes cost only $3.

Taxis are not as common in Palm Valley and the St. Augustine area as they are in other parts of the country. To request a taxi pickup, one must call the taxi company and request a pickup. If you travel to the city of Jacksonville, Uber services are available for use; however, outside of Jacksonville, you will need to rely on a taxi cab or other form of transportation.

Palm Valley offers a variety of parks for residents and tourists to visit. Many parks features scenic walking paths, playgrounds, benches and storytelling areas. Both Bird Island Park and Mickler’s Beach are kid-friendly and dog-friendly allowing families to have fun in the sun.

Palm Valley residents travel to Jacksonville Beach to enjoy annual festivals, such as the Jacksonville Sea and Air Spectacular, Jacksonville Beach Art Walk and Springing the Blues Festival.

The cost of living in Palm Valley is slightly lower than the city of St. Augustine, while still hovering around 36 percent higher than the U.S. average. An average one-bedroom apartment rents for around $878 per month.

Traveling around the northern part of Florida can be rather costly. Residents in Palm Valley pay approximately 9 percent more per gallon of gas than the national average. However, after a long day on the road, locals can kick back and relax with a cold beer for around $3 to $4 a pint.

Palm Valley does not have a large number of specialty shops and high-end boutiques. Most residents travel to Sawgrass Village or the Corridors at Ponte Vedra for a variety of stores and restaurants to choose from including Chico's, Tuesday Morning, and CVS Pharmacy. In Sawgrass Village visit Savelberg Cleaners to launder your pressed shirts, tablecloths, heirloom quilts and formal gowns. Check out Village Jeweler for stunning rings, necklaces and bracelets.

Palm Valley also offers a few specialty shops outside of these locations. Tootsies Ponte Vedra offers a beautiful selection of upscale designer women's shoes and even pedicures for your feet to look their best in your new shoes. Another popular specialty shop in the area is the Island Girl Cigar Bar, meeting the tobacco and spirit needs of the community.

When it comes to groceries, residents shop at the Publix, located on either Palm Valley Road or Sawgrass Village Drive. For fresh, locally grown produce, locals travel to the city of Jacksonville or St. Augustine to shop at the seasonal farmers markets there.