What are some beaches and sights you don't want to miss on Anastasia Island, Florida? What makes these places unique?
Anastasia Island is a great place to get away. The small island is lined with beaches, restaurants, and wonderful recreation areas. Anastasia is the perfect place to sunbathe, fish, swim, windsurf, eat, shop, and relax. The water is usually warm and the fishing great.
The island is home to more than 150 restaurants. Cafes, gourmet bistros, shrimp stands, and seafood restaurants line the docks. Between the restaurants are a wide variety of shops. You can find interesting gifts and collectibles for anyone.
Anastasia Island is also home to the Anastasia State Recreational Area. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. It is a protective area, preserving the islands abundance of building materials. The barrier island is where Juan Ponce de Leon landed in 1513. The island is so rich is materials, it is where colonials got everything they needed to build St. Augustine. The island is full of coquina. This soft limestone contains shell and coral fragments. It is easy to cut and shape, and hardens when it dries. The coquina rock is what built the Castillo de San Marcos, the nation's oldest masonry fort.
In addition to the materials, Anastasia is known for its wildlife. Shore birds like, gulls, terns, sandpipers, pelicans, egrets, and herons inhabit the park. Then, during the spring and fall, birds of all sorts migrate through the area. It is a beautiful site to see the animals use the islands beaches, lagoons, marshes, and trees.
Anastasia is also known for a play called "Cross and Sword." This historical drama depicts the interaction between Spanish settlers and Native Americans, in 1565. The performances are from late June to August, and begins at 8:30p.m. Call ahead for $12 tickets at 1-800-471-1965.
