Anastasia State Park is an area of great natural beauty near St. Augustine on the Anastasia Island coast. Look out for colourful tropical birds or paddle out from the beach in a kayak and spot dolphins in the water. Take a walk along the nature trail and pass by a tidal salt marsh and maritime hammock on the dunes. Stay at the well-equipped campsite and spend a night beneath the stars.
Anastasia State Park covers an area of 1,600 acres (650 hectares) and offers 4 miles (6 kilometres) of pristine beaches. It is the ideal spot for campers, bird watchers and outdoor enthusiasts.
Make your way to the beaches for a lazy day in the sun. Rent kayaks, canoes or sailboards and head out to sea. Pods of dolphins sometimes play in the warm water close to the bay. Spend an hour or so beachcombing along the sands or simply lie back with a good book and listen to the sound of waves in the background. If you like fishing, drop a line in from the beach or the rocks and wait for the game to bite.
Hikers will enjoy taking a walk along the self-guided nature trail. The path runs through the forest and passes through a diverse range of ecosystems. Keep watch for the sea birds that live on the tidal salt marsh and explore the upland hammock on the ancient sand dunes. Visit the archaeological site where coquina rock was mined in the 17th century. This rock was used to construct the nearby Castillo de San Marco.
If one day in this beautiful area isn’t enough, spend a night or two at the excellent campsite, which has over 100 pitches. Stock up on camping supplies, or organise equipment rental, at the small concession on the main road through the park.
Anastasia State Park is located just 1.5 miles (2 kilometres) from downtown St. Augustine, making it an easy place to visit for the day. It is free to enter and open every day of the year.
