A Guide to the Beaches Near St. Augustine, FL

The beaches near St. Augustine, FL tempt visitors with a wealth of offerings.

St. Augustine part of Florida's Historic Coast is the oldest city in the United States-- and history comes alive there. Explore red-brick lanes leading to centuries-old churches or forts where soldiers still walk the grounds. To feel as if you've truly been whisked back in time try a horse-drawn carriage ride.

More modern pleasures await visitors too. Bring your clubs and hit the links; numerous championship golf courses await you. Family attractions featuring everything from alligators to ziplines and more promise to keep your whole gang smiling.

But if it’s beaches in St. Augustine, FL you seek head just out of town and back to nature to discover 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches including these gems.

Anastasia State Park

White quartz sand beckons beachgoers at one of Florida’s most popular state parks. A protected bird sanctuary the park consists of 1 700 acres and five miles of beaches a gem of an area for wildlife enthusiasts. The northern three miles are for beach walkers only and most signs of civilization are hidden away well beyond the dunes. The area offers many services and activities including swimming hiking nature trails a boat ramp fishing camping and kayak and paddle board rentals.

Butler Beach and Crescent Beach

Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve

Located between Ponte Vedra Beach and St. Augustine this research reserve offers excellent educational opportunities dune walkover hiking biking and horseback riding trails. Just across A1A is a beautiful stretch of coquina beaches near St. Augustine, FL where an occasional Right Whale sighting may take place. These protected areas provide habitat for a wide variety of fish and wildlife. CNN included the beach and dune walkover in its list of 22 Must See Beaches.