Considering PVB is the only "private" stretch of beach in the area, NE FL does pretty well for access.
I really think people have an immense chip on their shoulder. If you HAVE to go to the stretch of beach between Solana and Corona, join the friggin Club.
You are incorrect. The beach in this area in not private at all. In fact there are beach access points. You just have to look for them, they don't have parking. The Surfrider Foundation helped to have them cleaned out (through a legal challenge).
Hence my quotations. What is truly private are the Inn and the Lodge. You can walk to their beach front obviously, but you can't park there or enter the premises without your card or accompanying a member (or guest of hotel). Also Sawgrass Ocean Club is private for residents and members of Sawgrass and is gated...albeit you can walk all the way down and "feel" like a member, I guess. And between there and Mickler's I'm not so sure there are any public access points unless you want to park on the side (parking there is easier) and walk across someone's vacant plot through the brush and tangle.
Personally, with Atlantic Beach and other PVB points (S PVB, Mickler's, Guana, etc) in the area I do not understand one bit people who choose to get their beach access in old Ponte Vedra. Is it because they feel like sticking it to the residents? Is it because they enjoy making life more difficult on themselves and their friends/families? Is it because they get to feel like residents for a day? What is it? I grew up with a membership to the Inn and I still ended up in Atlantic Beach or S Jax Beach more frequently. I would only go to PVB if I were going to a friend's (both my high school prom after parties were at someone's oceanfront) or to the Inn. Otherwise it's pointless. Now that I'm out of college the Inn is forcing me to buy my own membership there if I want to go on my own. And frankly, knowing that cost and the cost of private clubs here in Atlanta, the Inn is like a huge bargain. Your average country club membership entree fee here in Atl is between $65K and $250K with monthly minimums of at least $1,000. The Inn is practically for poor people compared to that and is so unique with better golf in a beautiful oceanfront community. Just join and quit bitching about access. The Lodge is even cheaper, and the Cabana Club is truly really cheap (and has a young crowd).
