Ashleigh Brown

Crooked River State Park in St. Marys is the closest campground to Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base — about 10 minutes from the gate — with full-facility campsites, nature trails through coastal Georgia pine forest, and kayak launch access to the tidal creeks feeding into the Cumberland Sound. It's the park locals actually use, and for incoming military families trying to figure out what weekends look like in Camden County, it's a great first answer.

Camping on Cumberland Island is a bucket-list experience that happens to be right in Ashleigh's backyard — accessible only by the NPS ferry from St. Marys, with primitive campsites set deep in maritime forest surrounded by wild horses, nesting sea turtles, and total quiet. Reservations go fast, especially in spring and fall, so plan months ahead if you want a shot.

The Okefenokee is one of the largest intact freshwater ecosystems in North America — a blackwater swamp about an hour west of Kings Bay near Folkston, Georgia — with multi-day canoe-camping trails that take paddlers into a landscape that genuinely looks prehistoric. Day paddles and overnight canoe permits both require advance booking through the refuge, and it's the kind of place that makes people understand why they moved to this part of the South.

Fort Clinch State Park on the northern tip of Amelia Island has some of the most distinctive camping in Northeast Florida — wooded campsites steps from the Atlantic, a Civil War-era masonry fort you can actually walk through, and jetty fishing access at the mouth of the Cumberland Sound. About 20 minutes from Kingsland, it's the easiest cross-state camping run for Kings Bay families. 

Anastasia State Park sits on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine with beachfront campsite access, kayak rentals through the salt marsh, and the full draw of the nation's oldest city just across the Bridge of Lions. It fills fast on winter weekends when the rest of the country is frozen solid, so book well ahead — this one is not a secret.

Cary State Forest near Bryceville in Nassau County is one of the more under-the-radar outdoor spots in Northeast Florida — primitive and equestrian campsites tucked into longleaf pine and cypress with hiking and horseback riding trails that feel genuinely off the beaten path. A solid option for buyers settling into Nassau County who want a local outdoor escape that isn't on everyone else's radar too.

Cumberland Island is one of the most unspoiled barrier islands on the East Coast — accessible only by ferry from St. Marys, Georgia, just minutes from Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base. Wild horses roam the beach, Carnegie estate ruins stand in the maritime forest, and the only sounds are waves and wind. Ferry reservations are required, so plan ahead. 

Jekyll Island is Georgia's only state-owned barrier island — about 45 minutes north of Kings Bay — with miles of beachfront, a historic district, bike paths, and accessible family camping on the Georgia coast. It's the go-to weekend beach day for Camden County families who want sand and salt without crossing into Florida. 

Amelia Island sits just across the state line in Nassau County, Florida — about 20 minutes from Kingsland — with some of the most beautiful beaches in Northeast Florida and a walkable historic downtown in Fernandina Beach worth making an afternoon of. It's the closest full-service beach destination for Kings Bay families who want sand, seafood, and a real town all in one trip.

Little Talbot Island State Park is an undeveloped barrier island in Nassau County — tucked between Amelia Island and Jacksonville — with wide shell-strewn beaches, coastal hiking trails, and some of the best surf fishing in Northeast Florida. A step quieter than the developed beaches nearby and a local favorite for people who like their beach days without the crowds.

Jacksonville Beach is the main beach town for the Jacksonville metro — a walkable beachfront community with a boardwalk, restaurants, surf shops, and a genuine identity that's rare this close to a major city. It's about an hour from Kings Bay, making it a realistic option for families who want to live on the beach side of the market while staying within range of base. 

Ponte Vedra Beach is the upscale coastal community in St. Johns County — home to TPC Sawgrass, gated neighborhoods, and some of the most sought-after real estate in all of Northeast Florida. The beach itself is beautiful and noticeably less crowded than the Jax Beaches strip, and the surrounding community consistently draws buyers who want top-tier schools and a coastal lifestyle in the same package.

Up the Creek Xpeditions in St. Marys is the local go-to for guided kayak and boat tours into the tidal creeks and marshes surrounding Cumberland Island — and one of the best introductions to what life near Kings Bay actually looks like on the water. They run tours out of the St. Marys waterfront district, which means you get the charming downtown as your launch point and wild Georgia barrier island as your destination.

Kayak Amelia operates guided paddling tours through the salt marsh estuaries and tidal creeks around Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach — about 20 minutes from Kingsland — with a strong reputation for dolphin sightings and sunset tours that deliver. A natural first paddle for Kings Bay families who want guided water time without a long drive. 

Southeast Adventure Outfitters on St. Simons Island is one of the Golden Isles' most established paddle shops — kayak and paddleboard rentals, guided tours through the coastal Georgia marshes, and a well-stocked gear outpost about an hour north of Kings Bay near Brunswick. The marsh system around St. Simons is genuinely spectacular from the water, and this is the crew that knows it best.

Aqua East Surf Shop has been the anchor of Jacksonville Beach surf culture for decades — board rentals, lessons for first-timers, and gear for everyone from beginners to regulars who know the local breaks by name. If you're moving to the Beaches area or just adding a surf day to a Jacksonville trip, this is the first stop before you hit the water.

Surf Station is one of St. Augustine's longest-running surf and watersports shops, stocked with boards, wetsuits, kite gear, and everything else you'd need to make the most of the Anastasia Island coastline. It sits near the heart of the St. Augustine Beach community and doubles as a local knowledge hub for conditions, breaks, and where to go depending on the swell.

Mayport Village at the mouth of the St. Johns River is one of Northeast Florida's oldest fishing communities and home to a cluster of inshore and offshore charter fishing operations running trips along the Atlantic coast and into the inlet. It's also right next to NS Mayport, which makes it a natural landing spot for military families who arrived with a fishing habit and need someone local who knows where the fish are.