Anastasia State Park
Anastasia State Park wasn’t on our shortlist, but after we arrived, we knew we made the right call. Located to the east and just outside St. Augustine, it has that rare mix of wild Florida beauty and enough history to keep things interesting. We’ve only had the chance to visit once, but it was one of those trips that sticks with you, not because anything particularly outstanding happened but because the place itself had a way of growing on you. The park gets its name from Anastasia Island, the barrier island where it sits. Although some say it was named after the Mission of Nombre de Dios de San Anastasio, a Spanish mission established in the 1600s, others believe it could be tied to Anastasia Island’s connection to the Castillo de San Marcos, where the coquina stone used for the fort was quarried.
The campground was great; it was cool and shady and had plenty of space for our 24-foot Compass. We had plenty of privacy and could barely see our neighbors. All the sites had electricity and water, a picnic table, an in-ground grill, and a fire ring.
The first thing that impressed us was how much space there was. Many of Florida’s beaches feel like they’ve been swallowed up by condos and crowds, but not Anastasia. The dunes roll back into thick, tangled woods, that look like they haven’t changed much in a hundred years. We walked a good stretch of the beach, watching the waves roll in under an ominous-looking sky that couldn’t decide if it wanted to be sunny or cloudy. The sand was soft, and for the most part, it felt like we had the place to ourselves.
Further in, the trails wind through hammocks of oak and palmetto, thick with Spanish moss. We rode our mountain bikes without much of a plan, stopping when something caught our attention, which in a place like this happens frequently.
Although we didn’t fish on this trip, Anastasia State Park and the surrounding area offer excellent fishing opportunities, with Salt Run, the east bank of which is lined with grassy dunes and oyster beds, being a popular spot for trout, reds, and flounder. Other prime fishing spots include the waters off the north end of the park and the May Street Bridge
At some point, we wandered over to the coquina quarry, a quiet little spot that ties the park to the history of St. Augustine. Remarkably, the same stone was pulled from the ground centuries ago to build the now-historic fort in the town.
We didn’t have the time to stay long, and by the time we left, the sky had shifted, the light had changed, and the whole place felt like some weather was coming. It wasn’t a long stay, just two days, but it was enough. Some places don’t need repeat trips to leave an impression. Anastasia State Park was one of those.