Washington Oaks Gardens State Park

Northeast Florida


The landscaped grounds of the property once owned by Owen and Louise Young has been converted into a small, gorgeous park that is a lovely spot for a picnic. Or you could just wander; it's easy to lose a few hours strolling amid the resplendent camellia and bird-of-paradise-filled gardens.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Northeast Florida attractions

1. Fort Matanzas National Monument

5.52 MILES

The tiny, 1742-built Fort Matanzas National Monument is located on Rattlesnake Island, near where Menéndez de Avilés executed hundreds of shipwrecked…

2. Flagler Beach Fishing Pier

11.8 MILES

Rent a pole and some bait to try your luck against the deep blue sea by fishing off this historic landmark, or just walk the pier at a leisurely pace: it…

3. St Augustine Beach

15.18 MILES

This white-sand beach almost gets lost in the historical mix, but hey, it's Florida, so a visit wouldn't be complete without a little bit of sun and surf…

4. Anastasia State Recreation Area

17.17 MILES

Locals come to escape the tourist hordes at this terrific park, which is a beautiful quilt of estuarine marsh, maritime forest, boardwalk paths and sandy…

5. Alligator Farm Zoological Park

17.6 MILES

Herpetophobes should run in the other direction of this facility – the only one on the planet with every species of crocodilian in residence. Nature…

6. St Augustine Lighthouse

17.87 MILES

The light produced by this 1870s striped lighthouse beams all the way downtown. A great place to bring kids over six and more than 44in tall (since all…

7. Oldest House

18.1 MILES

Also known as the González-Alvarez House, this is the oldest surviving Spanish-era home in Florida, dating to the early 1700s and sitting on a site…

8. Ximenez-Fatio House

18.65 MILES

Dating to 1798, this fascinating museum complex includes the main house building, the area's only detached kitchen building and a reconstructed washhouse…