North Peninsula State Park

North Peninsula State Park is home to more than two miles of beautiful beaches on Florida's northeast coast, near the city of St. Augustine, Florida. Accessible from Florida's beach front avenue-state road A1A-North Peninsula State Park is a great place to fish, swim or picnic any time of the year. Bird watchers will love this park as it is on the Atlantic migratory route and the rare scrub jay call this area home. With rare Florida wildlife, great beaches and easy access, it's easy to see why North Peninsula State Park is so popular.

One of the main reasons this park is so popular is because of its awesome beaches. Swimming, sunbathing and beachcombing are all popular year round activities at the park. On the beaches northern tip near the tidal zone, remnants of a winch and other machinery can be found buried in the sand. It is believed to be part of a shipwreck from the Northwestern, a pre World War II Volusia county shipwreck.

Sea turtles nest here by the droves each year and their nests can be easily spotted from the beach by the orange tape and stakes that protect each nest from being disturbed by beachgoers. During the fall months, seas turtle watches are set up along the shore to monitor their many moves throughout the nesting season.

Surfers find the waters here to be prime surfing as can be evidenced by the year round presence of surfers out in the breaks. Don't forget to bring your surfboard when visiting North Peninsula State Park or rent one in the many surf shops in town.

Fishing is good here on the beach and among the tidal shoals found in the backwoods of the park. Surf fishing is popular at certain spots along the beach. Smith Creek Landing allows access to the Intracoastal Waterway that leads into the Atlantic Ocean.

But you don't have to be into the water to enjoy your time at North Peninsula State Park. The two mile long Coastal Strand hiking trail winds its way through the parks sand scrub and beach dunes habitats allowing visitors to witness some rare and unique Florida wildlife. Eastern indigo snakes, scrub jays and gopher tortoises are just a few of the rare and endangered Florida wildlife you may encounter at the park.

North Peninsula State Park costs nothing to enjoy. For information on directions to the park and hours of operation, visit the official North Peninsula State Park website here.