Anastasia State Park

With over four miles of beaches and plenty of activities, Anastasia State Park is a great destination for families, couples, or someone seeking solitude. The Park offers just about everything for those who enjoy the ocean and the great outdoors. Of course, the main attraction here is the beach and all it offers—sunbathing, surfing, swimming, fishing and boating. Another great attraction is the wildlife. The Park is a protected bird sanctuary and consists of 1,700-acres and five miles of beautiful, sandy beaches. It features on-duty lifeguards, restrooms, hiking, nature trails, a boat ramp, fishing, a volleyball court, beach equipment rentals, canoes, nature trails, grills and picnic areas, concessions, a covered pavilion, gift shops, playgrounds, and camping.

While the beach is a popular place, the park also features numerous nature trails through salt marshes and a hardwood forest. Enjoy a variety of birds and plants. Bird the salt run for wading birds and rails. Hike the maritime hammock trail and scope out painted buntings in the spring and summer and migrating warblers in April and October.  The beach offers terns, gulls, sandpipers, and plovers.  Look offshore for sea ducks, loons, and gannets. The Park boasts excellent fishing for those looking to reel in a catch.

Like its colorful scenery, the park has a colorful historical past. Nearly 300 years ago, it was coquina rock quarry, mined by Native Americans and later African-American slaves. With hand tools, the workers created blocks out of the rock which was used to build the Castillo de San Marcos and many other buildings here. In the late 1600s large-scale quarrying began and continued throughout the years. Both the Spanish and British used the coquina as building materials. Anastasia State Park opened to the public in 1949, and today it is one of Florida's busiest state parks.

The park hosts several special events each year. The Haunted Hayride is held the weekend before Halloween through the 'Campground of Horror.' Then on the first Friday in December, Carols by Candlelight is held at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. In summer, the annual Beach Bash takes place the first Saturday in June. Also during the summer, campfire programs on Saturday nights include a fire circle, slide shows, entertainment, and living history programs.

Reserve your campsite in a wooded hammock for easy access to nature trails or fantastic bird-watching from the front porch of your tent or RV. Camping is so popular that reservations are taken 11 months in advance. There are 139 sites located in a shady hardwood hammock away from the beach for both tent and RV campers. The cost is $16 year round. Pets are allowed in the campground area for $2 per night. There is also a small store to purchase camping supplies and rent beach items. To reserve a campsite, call 1-800-326-3521.

For those looking for a challenge, sailboarding lessons and rentals are available. Call 460-9111 for reservations. Umbrellas and beach chairs are rented at the Salt Run Outpost. For more information, call 461-2033.

Location: 1340 A1A South

Phone: (904)461-2033

Hours and Admission fees: Hours are generally 8:00am until sundown.

• Admission per vehicle (up to 8 people) is $3.25. Each additional person is $1.00.

• Walk-in or bicycling admission is $1.00. Children under 6 are free.

• Yearly passes are also available at $30 for an individual or $60 for a family.

* Vehicles are prohibited from driving on the beach at this time.

The park sits just north of St. Augustine Beach. However, the entrance is found off Anastasia Boulevard, south of the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.

For more information, call: 904-461-2000 or visit
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/parks/