One of Florida’s Unknown Gems: The Tourist Haven of Anastasia Island
It is seldom that two very different places are located so close to one another, but in the case of St.Augustine, Florida, and its neighbor Anastasia Island (home to St. Augustine Beach) this is difinitely the case. Anastasia Island is a great place to go if you’ve had a little too *much* history in St. Augustine, or if someone in your family wanted a *tiny* bit of the Florida vacation to be spent on the beach. True, the place is crowded and traffic is a common occurrence, but it really depends on which part of Anastasia Island you choose to explore.
A Whole Different World
Many tourists notice that when they cross over onto Anastasia Island from St. Augustine, it’s like a radical transformation; old buildings and historic pathways are changed into long strips of highway, little restaurants, and beach-going folk heading down to the water. This is certainly the more commercialized of the two cities, but that can be a good thing depending on how much of the oceanside atmosphere you want. If you’re thinking of staying overnight on Anastasia Island to overlook the ocean, and then returning to St. Augustine during the day, it’s a great plan. The island is a great place to stay for easy accessibility to both worlds.
An Untamed Land
As commercialized as the first part of Anastasia Island is, the further you drive, you’ll see a distinct change. The buildings start to thin out, and more water and sand appears. The quaint avenues and lanes become further apart. Here in the quiet section of Anastasia Island (quiet depending on the time of day) an interesting attraction can be found; the Spanish Quarries. St. Augustine’s massive fort, the Castillo de San Marcos, was built entirely out of these hardened blocks made of calcified seashells. The Quarries are where these blocks were mined hundreds of years ago. Beware of mosquitoes and other unpleasant pests in this swampland, however.
When To Visit
Choosing to visit Anastasia Island late at night or early in the morning is a good idea for those who desire a relatively peaceful beach experience. For first-time visitors, it can be confusing to actually find the road that *leads* to the beach; be patient! They’re not lying; it actually is down there, but there will most likely be a few boo-boos and dead ends if you don’t know the island well. Once the ocean is found, the feeling is rewarding enough to drown out any frustrations.
An 18th Century Fort and Lots of Photo Ops . . .
For those who don’t stop at the beach immediately, but keep driving, the scenery gets more and more surreal, and the island is now a sandy strip with very little traffic and a wild, untamed appearance. The lack of traffic can be a good or bad thing; if you need help or get into car trouble down here, it may take awhile to find assistance. This little-known section of Anastasia Island houses an even smaller enclave known as Rattlesnake Island, home to Fort Matanzas. Though not as impressive as the Castillo, Fort Matanzas, built in 1742, also helped to guard St. Augustine’s outer island perimeter against foreign invasion. Take a free Park Service ferry over to the fort or just enjoy it from across the Matanzas Inlet.
History of the Inlet
You’ll learn that “Matanzas” means “slaughters,” and hundreds of French Protestant soldiers were killed here in 1565; it’s hard to comprehend the gory history of the area. It’s especially hard to discover that such violence occurred here amid these tranquil surroundings. Stepping inside the visitor center will yield free pamphlets and, for those with any money left after St. Augustine’s many shopping districts, some reasonable souvenirs. I bought a small polystone model of Fort Matanzas which remains one of my treasured souvenirs to this day. One of the best things about Fort Matanzas is that it doesn’t seem to be a favorite tourist attraction, so there shouldn’t be a long line of people milling about. The atmosphere is peaceful; trees sport huge, knarled branches that hang low to the ground, and the strip of sand is entrancing. There are lots of photo opportunities here.
Great Golfing or Alligator Adventure?
Once you’ve reached the end of Anastasia Island and its little offshoots, there’s no choice but to start back up the coast and take inventory of what was missed. There are some very important island attractions you want not want to miss. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm appeals to many as a fun and unique Florida pit-stop. Check out a white alligator and see hundreds of the scaly critters everywhere you go. Alligators aren’t your thing? Don’t worry; maybe people aren’t comfortable with the thought of letting the reptiles get quite so close (I know I’m not!) Maybe the Fiesta Falls Mini Golf course will be more to your liking.
Fiesta Falls, part of La Quinta Inn’s territory, is a beautiful Spanish-themed 18-hole course with a Spanish ship rising over 60 feet above the grounds. This is one of Anastasia Island’s best offerings in my opinion. Stop by at night for a whole different perspective; but playing in the daytime is just as fun. It’s a wonderful kid-oriented attraction and should keep everyone in the family happy. Even without taking the ship into account, the course is filled with wondrous eye-pleasing backdrops. On a separate note, if you choose to stay over on Anastasia Island, consider La Quinta; guests at this hotel get a special admission rate for Fiesta Falls.
And For the Crowning Glory . . .
Don’t forget the most important Anastasia Island stop of all; the magnificent St. Augustine Lighthouse! This wonderful black-and-white tower can be seen from many places in St. Augustine, but it is even more beautiful up close. The setting is truly stunning; huge trees cover the spacious front lawn, and the keeper’s brick house is a detailed piece of Victorian architecture. You’ll notice that there doesn’t seem to be any water in this area; the lighthouse is set back from the ocean a bit. It’s visible to those climbing the *many* steps to the top, but be warned; narrow iron steps that twist and wind the whole way up await you.
The museum has separate admission, but travelers can browse the expansive gift shop. There are some lovely (if pricey) souvenirs to be found, so it’s a good idea to do a bit of treasure hunting. I bought a gold-plated necklace with an etching of an 19th century ship for a good price, so you really have to look for a bargain. Keep in mind that if climbing the lighthouse is on your agenda, it’s a pain to carry your purchases all the way up (and down again), so the gift shop would probably be better left until the end of your tour.
You’ll Never Be Bored
Anastasia Island literally has something for everyone; the golfer, the adventure seeker; the beach-goer; the history lover; and the lighthouse enthusiast. Just be sure to go in the morning or later in the evening if you want to avoid the rush. Driving along at your own pace is much better than being hurried along by a hundred other tourists who all seem to have the same destination in mind. There are few things along the East Coast as romantic as islands, and Anastasia Island certainly lives up to its beach-going image.
