Wow! What a discovery it was to stumble across Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park! That was (and still remains) my immediate reaction after having ventured to this slice of paradise just due north of Jacksonville, which, for endless bonus points, is strategically located running adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean – all without the far more crowded beachheads you’ll discover south of here in spots like Neptune, Atlantic and JAX beach. In all there’s about 1.5 miles of white beach coastal oasis awaiting sea and sun worshippers.
For the small $5 price tag to enter this park, you’ll have endless distractions to keep you and the kids occupied for a good long while. From kayaking, fishing and canoeing in the self-contained lake (and no worries if you didn’t bring your own kayak and canoes– they have a rental shop here that will take care of you) to swimming and surfing in the ocean, this is a water-fueled adventure that will keep you coming back again and again. There’s even a splash park for the kiddos.
Don’t want to get wet? Not a problem, there’s a number of hiking trails as well as some hard packed earth paths and miles of paved roads that you can bike on. With 447 square acres of mature coastal hammocks, you’ll find yourself immersed in some of the best of what nature has in store for you here in the Sunshine State. Apart from quite possibly some of the most accommodating, pleasant and amiable staff and park rangers, you’ll also be impressed by the many camping options that abound – from primitive and tent to RV sites and even cozy cabins that you can rent by the night.
And if you want to look further afield, there’s even more camping options at nearby Huguenot SP(see my other review for more details on that particular campground). One of the best parts about camping at KAH is the online map that shows you EXACTLY what you’ll be getting when you rent a spot (for more, check out this link: https://www.coj.net/departments/parks,-recreation-and-community-services/recreation-and-community-programming/kathryn-abbey-hanna-park.aspx). Whether with a Lake View (the most prized campsites), or burrowed near the forest’s edge, you’ll find that while there are an absolute TON of campsites to chose from, there is relative privacy to be had, if you are patient and flexible with your timing and location. The sites I recommend most are#210 and#211 as well as#175 and#161.
You’ll discover that the campground offers a number of amenities including: laundry, recycling, bathrooms, showers, RV hook-ups (electric, water, waste), dump stations, playgrounds (conveniently located not next to the dump stations!), picnic shelters (reserve well ahead of time), boat ramps, amphitheaters, plenty of parking, resident police (huge points for this security feature as well as the key code security gate that guards the campground entrance) and there’s even a campground shop that you can buy ice, kindle and everything else you may have forgotten at home. Insider’s tip? If you are interested in camping here, my biggest recommendation would be to book early – especially for those shoulder season long holiday weekends (Memorial and Labor Day are especially jam packed).
Happy Camping!
