Anastasia State Park: 5 Incredibly Fun Things to See & Do
Located just south of Ponce de Leon’s old stomping grounds in Saint Augustine, Anastasia State Park is the perfect place to both explore and unwind. With historical sites, pristine beaches, and sun-dappled forests, it’s a nature lover’s paradise.
Colonial Coquina
Anastasia State Park is a hub for history, especially Spanish colonial history. Its name, given in homage to St. Anastasia the martyr (not the Russian Tsar’s daughter), can be seen on a 1737 Spanish map which marks the island as “Santa Anastasia.”1
Tucked away in a woodsy alcove of Anastasia State Park lies the secret to Spanish colonial power in the 17th century: coquina. Spanish for “small shells,” coquina is a type of limestone composed of sand and mollusk shells.2 This miracle material, lauded for its indestructibility, was used to build famous structures such as the Castillo de San Marcos.
The Castillo in Saint Augustine conquered the test of time and tirades. When fired at the fort, Canon balls did nothing but lodge snuggly within its walls, and the structure still stands today, 300 years after its construction. The coquina used for this historic fort was quarried right from Anastasia Island.
Despite producing five-star building materials, the coquina quarries of Anastasia State Park have long since fallen into disuse. However, the remains of the King’s Coquina Quarries were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and continue to represent the firm foundation of Floridian history in Saint Augustine.3
A Hike to Remember
The official nature trail of Anastasia State Park, The Ancient Dunes Trail, is a walk rich in history and abundant in natural beauty. The entire trail is a quarter of a mile loop, and though certain stretches can be strenuous due to the ups and downs of the dunes, it is still recommended for beginners and experts alike.4 Best of all, the trail is open to dogs as long the fur babies are kept on a leash!
When you traverse The Ancient Dunes Trail, you’ll be walking in the footsteps of the Timucua, a group of Native Americans who lived in northern Florida.5 In the maritime hammock, an evergreen forest that thrives on the coastal dunes, you might notice the bright, red berries of the yaupon holly; this plant was especially significant for the Timucuan people. They harvested the berries and brewed them into a “black drink” that was part of a cleansing ritual.6 The Timucuans were tragically wiped out by the year 1800, but the yaupon holly continues to thrive here, bearing the fruit of their memory.
As you continue along The Ancient Dunes Trail, you’ll get to see some of Florida’s most unique flora and fauna. Saw palmettos will reach out to greet you with their fan-like leaves, while overhead, the branches of the red bay trees will wave in a gnarled but friendly “hello.”
If you hear something rustling in the underbrush, don’t worry, it’s probably just a gopher tortoise grazing for food!7
Due to habitat loss, these tortoises have been declared a State-designated Threatened species. They are usually active year-round thanks to Florida’s warm climate, and peak activity occurs from May to August. So keep your eyes peeled for these special, scaly friends during the summer months. With their large, grey-brown shells, it’s easy to mistake them for a rock until you see those curious, brown eyes peering back!
Once you’ve completed the trail, it doesn’t mean your stay in Anastasia State Park has to be over! Anastasia State Park’s campground has 139 spots for both RVs and tents so that you can experience the sand dunes at sunset and starry nights beneath the southern magnolias.8
Birds, Beach Mice, & More
Disney World has Mickey Mouse, but Anastasia State Park has a mouse of its own: the adorable beach mouse!
With its cream and white fur, expressive, puppy-dog eyes, and tiny, pink nose, it’s easy to see why the humble beach mouse has become the Anastasia State Park’s unofficial mascot.9 In fact, Anastasia Island is the only place these little cuties can be found.
Beach mice spend their days in their burrows, so it’s unlikely you’ll see one scuttle by. However, you can still admire their handy work in the beach dunes.
Beach mice love to eat seeds and fruits almost as much as they love to dig. This means the dune vegetation here, including dune-stabilizing sea oats, is a result of their mousy habits. Unfortunately, habitat destruction and free-roaming house cats have endangered their population. The best way to help Anastasia beach mice is to keep pets indoors or on a leash and avoid walking on the dunes.10
Although the beach mouse might be too shy to make an appearance, the birds of Anastasia State Park are no strangers to the spotlight. With 195 identified bird species, the state park has been declared a National Audubon Society Important Bird Area and is considered one of the best places for birdwatching in Florida.11
These feathered friends come in all shapes and sizes, including wading birds like laughing gulls and black skimmers, songbirds like the rainbow-hued painted bunting, and even birds of prey such as the eagle or osprey.12 Many of these birds can be spotted soaring along The Ancient Dunes Trail or scurrying across the beach. You can birdwatch on your own or join a guided bird-walk to help you spot even the most elusive egret.
There’s life beyond the land, too! You can rent a kayak and paddle along Salt Run, a gorgeous estuarine tidal marsh, and find yourself floating alongside a dolphin, manatee, or sea turtle!13
Maritime Merriment!
the Saint Augustine lighthouse stands tall
overlooking the shore. (Photo: Unsplash)
Just a couple of minutes detour from Anastasia Park Road is the Saint Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. This stand-out, black and white lighthouse has a cherry-red cupola on top and is definitely worth a stop. Completed in 1874, the Saint Augustine lighthouse still operates today, helping guide sailors home.14
If hiking along the state park trail wasn’t enough of a challenge, try climbing the 219 stairs to the top of the lighthouse! Once at the top, you can walk out onto the gallery and enjoy a spectacular bird’s-eye view of Salt Run and Anastasia State Park. (Be sure to have your camera or smartphone handy – just be careful not to drop it – it’s about 165 feet fall to the ground!)
Once you’ve snapped some great shots of the Anastasia landscape, head back down to check out the exhibits housed in the four historic buildings on the property, and be sure to stop by the wooden boat-building station where volunteer boatwrights are keeping their craft alive in the modern age.15
Sand, Sun, & Surf
Perhaps the biggest draw to Anastasia State Park is its four-mile stretch of sunny beaches. Surfers, swimmers, shell collectors, and sun-bathers alike are welcome.
State Park. You deserve it! (Photo: Unsplash)
For the surfers and swimmers, lifeguards are on duty at the beach between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Also, surfers can rent equipment from the Island Beach Shop and Grill within the park or find what they need at one of the many local, nearby surf shops. The waves at Anastasia are some of the best to catch on Florida’s eastern coast!
Beachcombers will be pleasantly surprised at the plethora of shells provided by Anastasia’s shores. Clam, oyster, olive, and scallop shells are all common finds at low tide. If you’re collecting for crafting, you’ll be able to find plenty of different color and size combinations to make gorgeous frames, wind chimes, or keychains. Just be careful to check your shells for living sea creatures before taking them home!
If sun-bathing with a good book is more your speed, Anastasia beach has you covered, too. With four miles of sun-soaked sand, it’s easy to find a quiet place away from the crowd. So prop up that umbrella, sit back, and relish the sound of waves crashing onto the shore as you crack open that paperback.
These are just the top 5 things to add to your Anastasia bucket list, but there’s even more to discover in this absolute gem among Florida’s state parks!
Have you been to Anastasia State Park? And were you lucky enough to spot a beach mouse?? Let us know about your state park experience in the comments below!
We’ll see you on the next adventure!
Cover Image
Photo: amy32080 via Flickr
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