Hammock Beach

Hammock Beach is a coastal community and resort in Flagler County, part of the First Coast region in northeast Florida. Although outside of the Palm Coast city limits, the community is part of the Palm Coast metro area, and businesses in the area use Palm Coast in their addresses. In the Hammock Beach are two significant tourist attractions: Mala Compra Plantation at Bing's Landing and Marineland, a village and theme park to the north of the resort. == Understand == The Intracoastal Waterway separates Palm Coast from Hammock Beach. Hammock Beach is therefore about half a mile wide in the east-west direction, with the Intracoastal aka Matanzas River to its west and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. Hotels and resorts are concentrated on the eastern side of the town nearest the beach. To its south, Hammock Beach is bounded by Bon Terra and Beverly Beach, while to the north it is bounded by the theme park Marineland and the county line with St. Johns County. Hammock Beach is one of the most historic beach towns in Florida, as Mala Compra Plantation was constructed in 1816. Although it was later destroyed during the Seminole Wars, excavations conducted during the late 20th and early 21st century have once again shed light on this part of Florida's history and led to the site's inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. == Get in == FL-A1A passes through Hammock Beach from north to south. Additionally, Palm Coast Pkwy crosses the Intracoastal Waterway from Palm Coast. An offramp connects Palm Coast Pkwy to FL-A1A in a part of Hammock known as Bon Terra on some maps. == Get around == FL-A1A is the backbone of the local road network, with boulevards leading to the beaches and resorts. == See == 1 Mala Compra Plantation (Bing's Landing), 5862 N Oceanshore Blvd (northwest of the junction of Mala Compra Rd and FL-A1A; on the Intracoastal Waterway), ☏ +1 386 313-4020. The Mala Compra Plantation, ironically translated to "bad purchase," was constructed circa 1816 on the Matanzas River. It operated as a slave plantation owned by Joseph Marion Hernández for twenty years before it was burned by the Seminole Tribe during the Second Seminole War. Prior to the battle, the plantation included 1,500 orange trees, 80 slaves, a cotton plantation, cattle pens, oxen, and horses. The site left behind a remarkable 14,000 artifacts providing valuable insight into life in the region during the early 19th century. Excavations in 1999 were followed by inclusion of the site on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, but little remains of the main building, which changed hands twice during the war and was destroyed by the tribe during the U.S. military's abandonment of the site in early 1836. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Washington Oaks Gardens State Park, 6400 N Oceanshore Blvd (along Highway A1A), ☏ +1 386-446-6780. Daily, 8AM - sundown. This park is famous for its formal gardens, but it also preserves the original habitat of a northeast Florida barrier island. $5/vehicle, correct change required. (updated Jul 2019) == Do == 1 Hammock Beach Marina (Palm Coast Marina), 102 Yacht Harbor Dr (Bon Terra, at the western end of the FL-A1A connector), ☏ +1 386 348-3114, info@hammockbeachmarina.com. 9AM-5PM. Slips at the marina are available for reservation via the website. (updated Jun 2023) 2 Jungle Hut Road Park, Jungle Hut Rd (at the east end of Jungle Hut Rd). Birdwatching and beach access. (updated Jun 2023) 3 Malacompra Park, 115 Malacompra Rd (take Malacompra Rd east from FL-A1A; the park is on your left), ☏ +1 386 313-4020. Parking lot and bathrooms with beach access. Unrelated to the plantation site. (updated Jun 2023) 4 Marineland Dolphin Adventure (Marineland of Florida), 9600 Ocean Shore Boulevard, ☏ +1 904 471-1111. Daily 9AM-4:30PM. Home to several dolphins that reside in a 1.3-million gallon habitat, this attraction lends the town its name and was one of Florida's first tourist attractions. Open daily, the facility offers a variety of interactive programs for guests, including the chance to take a dip and swim with the animals. Adult $23, children $14, seniors $22; swim with dolphins $140-240. (updated Feb 2019) 5 Ripple Effect Ecotours, 101 Tolstoy Ln, Marineland, ☏ +1 (904) 347-1565, rippleres@gmail.com. Multiple kayak tours depart from the Marineland Marina and head out into the extensive natural areas around the Matanzas River. Also offered is a small motorboat tour powered by vegetable oil. Guides are certified University of Florida Master Naturalists and tours include free admission to the Marineland Dolphin Adventure. Adults $55, children (15 and under) $45. (updated Feb 2019) 6 River to Sea Preserve, 9805 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Marineland, ☏ +1 (386) 313-4020. Daily dawn-11PM. Situated on both sides of A1A, this county park offers beach access to the east and a maritime shrub landscape to the west, complete with hiking trails, picnic areas, and a launch for kayaks and canoes on the Matanzas River. Group camping is also available for a fee, call for reservations. Free. (updated Feb 2019) == Buy == == Eat == 1 Captain's BBQ, 5862 N Oceanshore Blvd (just off FL-A1A, to the west on the Intracoastal Waterway), ☏ +1 386 597-2888. American cuisine with Southern/BBQ influence. (updated Jun 2023) == Drink == == Sleep == 1 Hammock Beach Resort, 200 Ocean Crest Drive. Oceanfront resort with one- to three-bedroom suites, villas and condos and scenic views. 2 championship golf courses, Waterpark with lazy river, marina, tennis complex, Golf Academy, dining, and personal concierge service. 2 Palm Coast Villas, 5454 North Oceanshore Blvd, ☏ +1 386 627-2156, frontdesk@palmcoastvillas.com. Swimming pool and hammocks available at the hotel. (updated Jun 2023) == Connect == == Go next == Crescent Beach to the north in St. Johns County Flagler Beach, the county's largest beach town, to the south Palm Coast, the largest city in the county, to the southwest across the waterway St. Augustine, a historic city and former Spanish colony, to the northwest