Florida is well known all over the globe for its sunny weather and amazing family attractions like the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios theme parks. It's a haven for family vacations and sunny summer getaways, a state filled with life, adventure, beautiful beaches and amazing wildlife. Certain attractions may be temporarily closed or require advance reservations. Hours/availability may have changed.
Best Things to Do in St. Augustine: Anastasia State Park
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- Anastasia State Park - Florida State Park for Camping and Family Vacations, Photo: gadzius/stock.adobe.com
- Here’s all you need to know about visiting Anastasia State Park, Photo: Sean Board/stock.adobe.com
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More Ideas: Fort Matanzas
Located on Florida’s coast, Fort Matanzas is situated south of beautiful St Augustine. Accessible by ferry, groups will enjoy Fort Matanzas’ historic tours, nature trails, and picturesque picnic area. Constructed in 1742, Fort Matanzas was a Spanish fort that was meant to protect Saint Augustine from attacks by British forces.
History
The fort endured sieges, renovations, and fire by cannons, but by 1821, the fort was abandoned and no longer livable. It was acquired by the United States, but never used as a military fort again.
At the start of the twentieth-century, however, the U.S. Department of War began renovating Fort Matanzas. In 1924, it gained its status as a National Monument, and in 1966, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the grounds and fort are maintained by the National Parks Service, providing visitors with a chance to discover Florida’s history.
Permanent Attractions
The permanent attractions at Fort Matanzas National Monument offer something for everyone. They are split between Fort Matanzas itself and the natural environment of the grounds.
Fort Matanzas – This Spanish-built, eighteenth-century fort is the park’s main attraction. Guests can experience the historic wonder of the fort with a park ranger who will guide them through the building. Fort Matanzas is also the site of reenactments of events from history. This is also where musket demonstrations occur.
Nature Trails – Fort Matanzas is located within a beautiful natural environment. Guests can walk along the beach, fish, or eat packed lunches, surrounded by the beauty of forests, sand, and water. Fort Matanzas and its grounds are also home to a wide range of birds, reptiles, and amphibians that enhance visitors’ connection with nature.
Educational Opportunities
As an important location in United States history, Fort Matanzas is committed to educating its visitors about the history of the fort.
Field Trips - Fort Matanzas welcomes school groups of up to 36 people. The typical field trip tour includes a ranger-guided tour of the fort, which can be supplemented by teacher-led programming. Groups also receive access to the nature trail and picnic areas around the fort. Fort Matanzas’ website also includes educational resources for teachers, such as a scavenger hunt lesson plan. Educators are welcome to plan their own program for their students, but a park ranger must accompany all groups during their time in the fort. Reservations must be made in advance by phone.
Matanzas Critter of the Month – Each month, Fort Matanzas designates an animal that is native to the area as its Critter of the Month. At the park, as well as on their website, Fort Matanzas personnel provide information about the specific animal, its habitat, whether it’s endangered, and its evolutionary history. This program helps the public know more about the creatures that live in Fort Matanzas and provides them with practical advice about how to best protect those creatures.
Fort Matanzas also offers educational courses for other types of groups, such as adult learners, Scout groups, or church groups. If groups are smaller than ten people, they should take the general tour. The park requests advance notice if visitors would like a customized presentation.
Special Events
There are a variety of special events hosted by Fort Matanzas throughout the year. These events tend to fall into two categories: history programs and nature programs.
History Programs - Throughout the year, park personnel explore the facets of colonial life. Re-enactors use and explain the function of various artifacts, giving visitors a better understanding of the way that residents of Fort Matanzas lived. Other programs include weapon demonstrations and artifact explorations. Visitors should check Fort Matanza’s website for an updated calendar of events.
Nature Programs – During these programs, rangers lead hikes through nature trails and across beaches, or simply present from the comfort and splendor of the picnic area. These programs are available for individuals of all ability-levels and allow visitors to explore the natural beauty of the park.
Specific events and their scheduling are available on Fort Matanzas’ website.
Dining and Shopping
Guests can purchase educational materials, books, and souvenirs, such as magnets, ornaments, and games, from the Eastern National Bookstore, located within the park.
Fort Matanzas does not offer any dining options. Picnic areas are available, and guests may bring outside food, but visitors may not bring food or beverages, other than water, within the fort. For full meals, guests should head to the town of Saint Augustine where visitors can find a variety of dining options.
8635 A1A South, Saint Augustine, FL 32080, Phone: 904-471-0116
More St Augustine things to do
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More Ideas: The Floridian
The Floridian in St Augustine is a restaurant offering traditional Southern dishes along with the best in American and seafood cuisine. The restaurant believes that the best ingredients make the best menu and thus uses materials from their source to ensure that freshness is not compromised. The Floridian has redefined sustainable, as all their ingredients are locally sourced straight from nearby producers.
Possibly the perfect casual dining place in St. Augustine, pop into this restaurant if you fancy experiencing a varied Southern menu with items that are in tune with the season. Also, their in-house gift shop is bound to surprise you with its quirky tees and collectible gift cards.
The restaurant offers lunch and dinner menus that mainly include sandwiches, burgers, and salads. They also have quick snack options under the “Small Plates” list, which are delicious little snacks for light meals.
Lunch – Their “Sandwiches & Mains” list includes main courses like meatloaf sandwiches, filled tortillas, stuffed cornbread, and burgers that are served with an option of beef, shrimp, tuna, tofu, pork, chicken, sausage, or veggie options like sweet potato, fresh lettuce, roasted onions, and peppers, served with homemade pickles and sauces. Their lunch sandwiches are served with salad and chips for sides.
“Bowls” is their menu option for salads that are made using only all-natural locally sourced meat options like grilled chicken, shrimp, pork belly, and freshly caught local fish. The all-vegetarian salads sport tempeh, collards, apples, carrots, and red onions, while the salad dressings range from varied specialty slaws to buttermilk herb dressing, salsas, and various flavored vinaigrette varieties.
The “Small Plates” menu is the restaurant’s version of sides or snacks and includes dishes like pickled vegetables with bread, chips with dips, toasted baguette, green tomatoes, pickled shrimps, buttermilk biscuits with pork, and Soup of the Day.
The restaurant recommends asking for special orders, such as gluten-free and vegan substitutions.
Dinner – The restaurant’s dinner menu additionally includes “Mains,” with meals like meat with potatoes, tuna with Gribiche sauce, steak, waffles with pork, tacos with beef brisket, shrimp, pork sausage with rice, grilled chicken breast or tofu, stuffed cornbread, and freshly caught fish.
The lunch time sandwiches, bowls, and small plates are also available during dinner time.
Drinks - Treat yourself to a plethora of cocktails, lager, stout, ale, cider, sparkling wines, red wines and white wines.
Reservations & Walk-ins
The Floridian requires customers to make reservations via phone or email for groups of 10 or more guests. Walk-in customers who are less than 10 in number are seated on a first-come, first-serve basis since the place is usually crowded.
Back to: Things to Do in St Augustine, Florida
The Floridian, 72 Spanish Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084, Phone: 904-829-0655
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