North Beach Camp Resort

Our tow vehicle broke down 4 days before our scheduled arrival, stranding us until it would be ready. We called to change our dates and were told we would lose our deposit and have to make a new reservation. The deposit would not be applied to a new reservation, it would be lost. When we asked for an exception under these unexpected circumstances(particularly because we still planned to stay with them for the same amount of time, just later when our truck was repaired), we were told that they only make exceptions for hurricanes and that we agreed to these terms& conditions when we made our reservation. I said that we didn't know when we made the reservation that our truck would break down and have no way to get there. The woman hung up on me. My subsequent email pleading for an exception went unanswered. 

In 8 months of full-timing, we have not encountered such a strict, intractable policy or a more rude, less empathetic person. Just like the people at North Beach, I'm also a business owner so I definitely understand the need to protect one's bottom line, but unlike North Beach, I also understand the value of a little kindness, understanding, and just basic customer service.

I don't know too many places that will place you dead even between a fantastic stretch of golden sand lining the Atlantic Ocean on the one side and the brackish, slow moving currents of the Intracoastal on the other side (although down this way, this inland waterway way is referred to as Tolomato River). Add to this, you're just a stone's throw away from Ancient City (a.k.a. St. Augustine - the oldest city in the US), which is chocked full of old school Spanish colonial fortresses, medieval architecture, cobblestone pathways and enough entrepreneurial wanna-be pirate marauders on every corner, you've sworn you've died and woken up next to Johnny Depp as an extra in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean.’ 

This campground is fantastically hidden on a desolate stretch of the AIA where the only thing to keep you occupied (look left while heading south) is the vast blue grey of the Atlantic Ocean where there's a shallow stretch of hot, burning golden sand, strewn with broken embers of seashells scattered throughout the beachhead - where if you're lucky, you'll find a shark's tooth or two (Insider's Tip? Mosey on up north to Ponte Vedra Beach where you'll find them there by the dozens). On the right, you'll see scattered rooftops that are hidden in the overgrown jungle-like forest of moss-laden mangroves and the shadow-casting palmettos. You'll be lulled to peaceful'restitude' from the lapping of intracoastal waves as the giant golden sun burns out its final fumes every dusk by setting the horizon on fire each night as you celebrate a day of living on the land in this well configured campground. 

So let's break out the basics. Upon entry, you'll arrive to the main office, inside which you'll find (surprise, surprise!) a spartan, nicely appointed and well-stocked little market of sorts. Postcards? Tick. Booze? Tick? Snacks, water and essentials? Tick, tick and tick! Another insider’s tip – while the campground store is quite impressive, if you need to really stock up, there’s a large Publix just south on AIA. Pass the main office (and huge compliments to the most amazing campground staff ever, BTW!), you'll pass through the gated entry (bonus points for this street-side campground oasis for safeguarding its guests with some decent security) to find a small, somewhat uncomplicated and well-laid out pathway of RV slots. 

If I was an RV'er (and let's be clear, I'm not), I would be stoked about the pristine conditions these land architects have laid out for your stay - every single RV slot is completed surrounded by foliage, so even though you feel like it's a slanted, uncovered garage sand parking lot (and it kind of is, minus not having a roof) feel comforted by the fact that your individual slot is completely enclosed by God's green nature (which means noise and lights from your neighbors is reduced). Take this - I looked at every single slot and there's prime privacy to be had, despite being able to jump down from the safeguards of your RV and rubbing elbows with your next door neighbors for a coozy or two in just 8-10 steps. 

But let's get to my tribe - if you're pitching a tent and shun the 'basic amenities' (read: I don't need light - where there is no sun, God gives me the moon and stars to paint my way and where it's too dark, I spark a natural light), then you'll be pleasantly surprised by what I found. First of all, the primitive camping area is exclusive just to those of us that 'pitch a tent.' You won't be distracted (or frustrated) by those that have driven their living rooms into nature. You'll experience a peaceful and calm serenity unlike any that I have found here in my new home of Northern Florida. There's about 8-10 tent sites, each with their own little enclave of greenery, shrubbery and green-fortified tranquility, complemented by a solid picnic table and flat land (and very little else save a communal spigot of water). You'll share a communal grille, BBQ and fire (which is fine, although not optimal, as you'll get to meet new people). Beyond the Spanish moss of these high teetotaling, yet wilting ancient trees, you'll be basked in the ever-present veil of nature's darkest, meanest, most verdant surroundings. You will hear the chirping of tree frogs. You'll experience the rhythmic bliss of small laps of river water washing up against tree-soaked intracoastal highways of water going nowhere in particular. In short, you will ask yourself this question: why is the world moving so fast when the best in life seems to slow down in these parts? 

But let me finish by pointing a finger at the most amazing point of your discovery here - beyond the people you will meet, the sweet paths that you will walk down, or the startling silence you will undoubtedly encounter, you will discover this very rarified thing that exists, almost in complete isolation here, alongside the famed AIA on an intracoastal stretch of paradise - you'll have incredibly EZ access to the some of the most amazing coastal beachside that I have ever been privileged to step upon and you will be conflicted with this reality and the opportunity to shun it, in favor of the most phenomenal inward coastal riverway that will (in just a 100 strokes in your kayak) place you in the oldest city in the most important Western civilization that this world has ever known. 

And you won't do this through high-speed intranet, a Zoom conference call or a FaceTime Meeting. No. You'll simply jump into your kayak. Or you'll go for a quick dip in the slow-moving current of the Intracoastal. Or you'll cross the street from this campground to follow, ever so slowly, the trepidacious footsteps on this, the most pristine, golden beach you'll ever come across. 

Happy Camping!

We really enjoyed our stay!  My family spent Thanksgiving week here and we all agree it was one of the best!  We were in the back sites which turned out to be great; it was wide, deep, with lots of trees and vegetation around to give our site privacy and a beachy feel.  We were as close as we wanted/needed to be to St. Augustine and a few minute walk to the beach.  We were right by the river and were able to get our kayaks out.  The pool was great and there is a small store on site with the basics.  Just few miles down in Vilano there is grocery stores and restaurants, with even more in St. Augustine if needed.  We did not get a chance to enjoy the 3 restaurants within walking distance but heard from neighbors they were all great.  This is a place we definitely have on the list for future visits (maybe every-other Thanksgiving).  Note, you have to bring your own fire pit with a screen, but we have a @solostove so that is preferred for us anyway.

PROs:  very quite and private site.  The pool was great and our kids spent a lot of time there when we were not at the beach.  The beach across the street was great and convenient but we also spent time at Vilano and St. Augustine beaches.  St. Augustine is a great city to check out; a lot of fun shops and restaurants in the historic downtown, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, the Alligator Farm was awesome!  We loved driving on Augustine Beach and enjoying the surf.  Even a week there we have a lot of things we were not able to fit in.

CONs: For the price, the bathrooms and laundry are very old and are in need of some remodeling. The trash dumpsters are at the entrance so you have to carry out your trash quite a long way. when you are in the back (this was not a big deal for us, we took it when heading to the pool or beach, but it might be for some people).