Things to do with kids in Ponte Vedra Beach: four county playgrounds, weekly library story times, GTM Reserve seining and beach walks, and rainy-day picks.

Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Sources: the library calendar for the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch, St. Johns County’s park pages and the GTM Research Reserve. Library programs change each month, so check the calendar before you go.

Ponte Vedra Beach is unincorporated, so its playgrounds, library and beach parks belong to St. Johns County, and almost everything below is free. The two anchors for families are the Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library, 101 Library Blvd. (904-827-6950), with Bird Island Park next door, and the GTM Research Reserve on A1A to the south.

Kids at a glance

  • Mondays: Paws and Read with a therapy dog, 3 p.m., library
  • Tuesdays (every other week): Creative Kids crafts, ages 6 to 11, 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: Babytime, 10:15 a.m.
  • Thursdays from Nov. 12: Toddler Storytime 10:15 a.m., Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m.
  • Second Saturday: GTM Family Seining, 9 to 11 a.m.
  • Third Saturday: GTM Beach Exploration walk, 9 to 11 a.m.

Playgrounds

All are St. Johns County parks, open dawn to dusk:

  • Bird Island Park, 101 Library Blvd., beside the library: a playground, a boardwalk through dune and wetland plantings, interactive art sculptures, two gazebos and picnic tables (county page).
  • Davis Park, 210 Davis Park Road: a playground in a 137-acre sports complex with lighted baseball, softball, football and soccer fields (county page).
  • Cornerstone Park, 1046 A1A N.: a playground, youth baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts, a pavilion and restrooms (county page).
  • Nocatee Community Park, 707 Nocatee Center Way: a playground, multipurpose fields, tennis courts and a dog park (county page).

Story times and library programs

The Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library runs free weekly programs in its Children’s Room and Friends of the Library Community Room, according to its calendar:

  • Babytime: 10:15 to 10:45 a.m. Wednesdays, for babies up to 12 months; registration required.
  • Toddler Storytime: 10:15 to 11 a.m. Thursdays, starting Nov. 12.
  • Preschool Storytime: 11:15 a.m. to noon Thursdays, starting Nov. 12.
  • Paws and Read with Belle: 3 to 3:45 p.m. Mondays; children practice reading aloud to a golden retriever therapy dog.
  • Creative Kids: 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. every other Tuesday, for ages 6 to 11.
  • Kids STEM Time: a monthly Wednesday afternoon session for ages 6 to 11.

The library is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; it is closed Sunday. Seasonal programs, such as the Halloween costume parade and the Polar Express Pajama Storytime, are on our Halloween and holiday lights pages.

Nature: the GTM Research Reserve

The GTM Research Reserve Visitor Center, 505 Guana River Road, has an exhibit hall with aquariums and terrariums of local animals; it is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, $3 a group for ages 12 and up, and free for children under 12. Monthly family programs (Family Seining costs only the $3 parking fee, and children need to be at least 3 feet tall to hold the net; Beach Exploration has no parking fee):

  • Family Seining, second Saturday, 9 to 11 a.m.: pull a net through Guana Lake and see the fish, crabs and shrimp it brings up.
  • Beach Exploration, third Saturday, 9 to 11 a.m.: a volunteer-led beach walk about animals and shells, starting at the visitor center.
  • Guided Exploration Hike, first Saturday, 9 to 11 a.m.

Details are on the reserve’s visit page.

Rainy-day picks

  • The library: story times, crafts and STEM sessions, plus the children’s collection.
  • The GTM visitor center’s exhibit hall and aquariums (Tuesday through Saturday).
  • The county’s Solomon Calhoun Community Center in St. Augustine, 1300 Duval St., has the county’s public pool, with a lesson pool and splash area; call 904-719-2291 for open swim times.

The beach

County beach parks at Mickler’s Landing, Nease Beachfront Park and South Ponte Vedra Park are open dawn to dusk. Swim near a lifeguard, and see spring break for the beach rules.

What this means for you

  • Register early for Babytime; it requires registration.
  • Plan GTM visits for Saturdays, when the family programs run and the visitor center is open.
  • For camps, see summer camps and pools; for more free outings, see free things to do.

Frequently asked questions

When is story time at the Ponte Vedra Beach library?

Babytime is 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays. Toddler Storytime is 10:15 a.m. and Preschool Storytime 11:15 a.m. Thursdays from Nov. 12, 2026. All are free at 101 Library Blvd.

Where are the playgrounds in Ponte Vedra Beach?

St. Johns County runs playgrounds at Bird Island Park, 101 Library Blvd.; Davis Park, 210 Davis Park Road; Cornerstone Park, 1046 A1A N.; and Nocatee Community Park, 707 Nocatee Center Way.

Is there a splash pad in Ponte Vedra Beach?

St. Johns County lists no public splash pad in Ponte Vedra Beach. The county’s public pool at the Solomon Calhoun Community Center in St. Augustine has a lesson pool with a splash area.

What can kids do on a rainy day in Ponte Vedra Beach?

The Ponte Vedra Beach Branch Library runs free story times, crafts and STEM sessions, and the GTM Research Reserve visitor center has aquariums and exhibits, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.