Make a Run to Anastasia State Park

If you are  ever in Northeast Florida, you will not want to miss Anastasia State Park. 

The Park

Anastasia State Park is located on a peninsula just south of St. Augustine, the oldest European-established city and port in the continental United States.  The park includes more than 1,600 acres which feature a pristine beach, a tidal salt marsh and a maritime and upland hammock. 

Within the park you can swim, fish, windsurf, hike, canoe and kayak.  You can also camp in one of 139 campsites in the hammock forest, all of which have water/electric hookup, a picnic table and a fire ring. 

Anastasia State Park is designated as part of The Great Florida Birding Trail and visitors to the park can see a wide variety of birds including gulls, terns, great blue heron, spoonbills, opsrey, warblers, cardinals, robins and woodpeckers.  The park is also designated as part of the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, a 1,515-mile sea kayaking trail that starts in Pensacola and wraps all the way around the State of Florida.

My Visit

We arrived Thursday early afternoon, checked in and set up our campsite which was located in the 5th of 6 campground loops.  After that, we enjoyed just checking out our campground loop (Ma always needs to know the location of the bathrooms) and relaxing at our campsite.  Ma, the Glam-ping Gourmet, made a delicious Asian Barbecue for dinner that evening (click HERE to check out her recipes) and everyone went to bed fairly early so we would be ready for a big day of exploring on Friday.

 Walking and Hiking

After a quick breakfast on Friday, we ventured out to the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail.  The trail leads through a series of old sand dunes that were formed by wind and waves back when the ocean extended farther inland.  Through the process of life, death and decay the sand was enriched over time so that now a forest stands where only once sea oats survived.

Since the Nature Trail is only a 30 minute hike, we headed down the park road towards the beach.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach in Florida State Parks, so I stayed with Ma at one of the picnic pavilions while Daddy-dog, Uncle Robbie and Uncle Mike walked the boardwalk to the beach.  They came back with beautiful photos for me.

Wildlife Sighting

As my "boys" took a short break with me under the picnic pavilion, Uncle Mike said "what the heck is that over there?".  Ma and Uncle Mike went to check it out and Holy Dog!  They found a Gopher Tortoise and he was "on the run".  Check him out:

In Florida, the Gopher Tortoise is on the Endangered Species List as a Threatened Species due to loss of habitat.  They live in large burrows in dry habitats and eat a variety of vegetation.  We were lucky to see him.

We headed back to our campsite and relaxed.  Then Ma, my Glam-ping Gourmet cooked us a pawesome dinner of Southern-style Barbecue Pork, roasted sweet potatoes and greens (you can check out the delicious recipes HERE).

Canoeing

Saturday was "on the water" day so after breakfast we piled in Uncle Robbie's truck (with the canoe on top) and headed out to the boat launch.  If you do not have your own canoe, you can rent one (or a kayak or a paddleboard) at the Outfitter in the park.  Daddy-dog and Uncle Mike rented a canoe while Ma and I went with Uncle Robbie in his canoe.

We headed out on the "Salt Run".  This is a salt marsh; a coastal wetland that is flooded and drained by salt water brought in by the tides.  They are intertidal habitats that are essential for refuge and nursery habitat for many fish species.

Immediately we could see the St. Augustine lighthouse in the distance.  The current lighthouse is the second lighthouse to stand in this area, having been built after the first one was threatened by erosion.  It was completed in 1874 and rises 165 feet above sea level.

We paddled all the way up to the lighthouse, meandering around the Salt Run marshes where we saw lots of herons and egrets.  I was having a great time in the canoe!

Wildlife Sighting

Then once again...Uncle Mike says "what the?  Look over there!"  We did and I could not believe my eyes!  There was a pod of three dolphins swimming and playing in the Salt Run.  Daddy-dog and Uncle Mike paddled right up to them to get a closer look.  Check it out:

Anastasia State Park was a fabulous camping trip!  The park is pretty and quiet and filled with a variety of wildlife and activities.  I give Anastasia State Park 4 out of 4 dog bones for being peaceful and fun with great opportunities to wildlife watch. 

Be sure to make a run for Anastasia State Park!

Anastasia State Park * 1340A A1A South * St. Augustine, Florida 32080

** Ma's Glam-ping recipes mentioned in this post can be cooked at home as well as on a camping trip. The links provided will take you to those recipes on my other blog, Taste Tested by the Dog.