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By Lisa Codianne Fowler
There is more day to dawn. The sun is but a morning star. – Henry David Thoreau
Thoreau could have easily penned this prose on the beaches of St. Augustine, where a single day can deliver a lifetime of memories. Bask in the glow of nature at its finest; beautiful birds, bountiful fishing and miles of unspoiled shoreline at once inspire relaxation, reflection and recreation. So rise and shine, don your swimwear and prepare for an illuminating adventure. As the famous philosopher and naturalist once said, "Let nothing come between you and the light." (Except sunscreen, of course.)
I like to ease into the day, so for me, a stroll along the strands of Anastasia State Park is an ideal way to greet that gorgeous "morning star," sipping coffee and communing with nature and tranquility. The expression "quiet as a mouse" is perhaps nowhere more appropriate than here. Anastasia Island is home to the endangered Anastasia Beach Mouse, a curious nocturnal creature that lives in the sand dunes and survives on seeds from sea oats.
Anastasia nurtures many types of wildlife and offers ample opportunities for birding, even in spring and summer. Watch for nesting least terns, brown pelicans, ring-billed gulls and black skimmers. You might see a great blue heron and a laughing gull, all while sauntering along these shell-sprinkled shores.
If you'd like to pick up the pace, catch a wave on a surfboard, wakeboard or windsurf. This is one of the most exhilarating places to hang ten on Florida's east coast. The high-flying sport of kiteboarding has made a splash on St. Augustine's beaches: Matanzas Inlet is internationally renowned as a kiteboarding mecca. Ocean toys are available for rent; water sport instruction, canoeing, kayaking and abundant fishing provide myriad choices for fun in the sun.
Enjoy a mid-day repast from the concession stand or picnic in the park. After lunch, lounge – it's good for you! Soak up some vitamin D while reflecting on the beauty of the beach; then see the sunlit sands of St. Augustine from a seabird's point of view. Climb to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse for a spectacular vista.
Afterwards, travel north to serene Vilano Beach, where sharks' teeth are scattered throughout the unusual coquina sands; fish from the pier, jetties or surf. For dinner, find fresh seafood and panoramic views of the Atlantic at Fiddler's Green. As darkness descends, the sun readies for a bright new day, and so should you. Each one holds new and delightful discoveries.
Outstanding Optional Excursions:
Marineland, the world's first Oceanarium, just opened its new Dolphin Conservation Center – an innovative, interactive center devoted to bringing together people and these fascinating marine mammals.
At the new Guana Tolomato Matanzas (GTM) National Estuarine Research Reserve Education Center, you can see life-size models of a Northern right whale and her calf, manta rays and cobia. Aquariums, hands-on exhibits, art displays and educational programs provide an insightful introduction to the relationship between the creatures that make their home offshore and in the Guana Tolomato Matanzas estuary.
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