St. Augustine Beach

Anastasia Island is located between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. To get to the beaches, cross the towering span bridge of State Road 312 or the Bridge of Lions.  The latter was sculpted hundreds of years ago by an Italian artist said to have committed suicide from the shame of having left an ear and a tongue off the beasts mounted on the bridge. The Bridge of Lions is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Enjoy the beautiful sabal palms and sea oats that grow wild along sand dunes. Take a stroll on the beach during sunset, and collect sand dollars, moon snails, angel wings, and many other gorgeous shells.

Summer on St. John's pier brings fishing tournaments, though 70-degree year-around weather is conducive to active fishing at all times. Pier fishing lures bluefish, whiting, and drum. On deep sea charter boat rides, the adventurous can try for snapper, kingfish, cobia and amberjack. For those interested in panfish, bream and bass, freshwater fishing is available in the St. John's River.

Anastasia State Recreation Area is one of three state parks in the St. Augustine area, and is host to a bird sanctuary with 170 species of birds as well as a five-mile beach. Hiking and camping are popular activities, and sailboard and paddle cruise rentals are available from the Surf Station. The park is surrounded by the Atlantic and the Salt Run Lagoon, with scenic walkways for strolls along the shore. The nearby Faver-Dykes State Park in St. Johns County has the same exotic wildlife and plush forestation that Spanish explorers discovered when they arrived centuries ago. Bald eagles, alligators, bobcats, and wood storks are just a few of the rare and intriguing animals that can be observed in this area.