Doug Peterson's Travel Blog: October 2019

Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Anastasia State Park is just east of historic St. Augustine, FL The Park is a beautiful place with great campsites, pristine beaches, and amazing landscapes all nestled in old growth forests native to the area.

Our campsite in the Coquina Loop near the beach

The campsites at Anastasia are nestled in the parks sand dune landscape populated by plants and old growth trees that are native to the area. There are paved roads with sites that have great spacing providing a bit of privacy that campers love. The restrooms are clean and the facilities are well maintained. The staff is very friendly and the wonderful volunteers here are helpful attending to the park visitors needs.

The Island Beach Camp Store and Cafe

The Island Beach Camp Store and Cafe is a great place to shop or enjoy lunch while visiting the beach. The staff is friendly and the food is good. There is an outside pavalon adjacent to the Cafe with tables and a soothing breeze from the nearby Atlantic Ocean.

The walkway out to the Beach at Anastasia State Park

View of the beach from one of the two observation points in the park

So easy on the feet, like a highway to the beach

Sea Oats are some of the natural plants that create a landscape that is amazing

A little lagoon left over from the high tide

The waves break against the shore line at Anastasia beach

The beach at Anastasia State Park is a wonderful place to relax and spend some quality time enjoying the unspoiled landscapes of the park. The dune line stands out like a sentinel protecting the natural lands nearby. The facilities are well built and nicely designed to create an atmosphere that is perfect for beach goers. It is a great place to enjoy the sounds of the surf.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse

The Ancient Dunes Trail at Anastasia State Park

The historic St. Augustine lighthouse can be seen from the observation boardwalks at the park. The history here is amazing with lots of places to visit that beckon back to a day long ago. The Ancient Dunes Trail is a nicely shaded trail that meanders through the old dunes and old growth forests that are native to this area.

Anastasia Watersports Rental Store

Canoe & Kayak launch at Anastasia State Park

Gopher Tortoise on the move near the kayak launch area

Anastasia State Park has a nice store near the bay where visitors can rent kayaks or canoes. The launch area is just behind the store with plenty of parking available for those who bring their own kayaks and canoes. There is a turtle crossing nearby where I was lucky enough to see a Gopher Tortoise out for a late afternoon stroll.

St. Augustine Amphitheater

Spacious and comfortable seating

St. Augustine Amphitheater is adjacent to Anastasia State Park. The park has a walk through entrance from the park that campers can access with there gate code that they get when they check in at the ranger station. Many visitors to the park plan their trips according to the performance schedule available on the Amphitheater's website.

The Old Spanish Coquina Quarries

The viewing area of the Quarries

The Quarries are barely visible due to the erosion over the years

The old Spanish Quarries are visible near the entrance to the park. Many years ago this area was used for extracting Coquina rocks for building in the area. The Chief Tomoka statue at Tomoka State Park was constructed partially out of coquina rock.

Chief Tomoka at Tomoka Sate Park, Ormond Beach, FL

I would highly recommend a visit to Anastasia State Park. It has beautiful beaches, lovely hammock forests and great facilities with historic St. Augustine nearby to explore. I would like to take you on a little walk out to the beach followed by the sunrise. Happy travels.