Florida's Historic Coast Travel Planner 2016 | Page 8

Anastasia State Park Anastasia State Park GTM Research Reserve One of Florida’s most popular parks with its white quartz sands is perfect for a day at the beach with the family. The quiet beaches here are perfect for sunbathing, swimming, fishing and bird watching. You’ll find plenty of parking, permanent restrooms, snack bar and picnic areas, and watersport rentals. Travel + Leisure Magazine included Anastasia State Park on its list of America’s prettiest beach campsites, with full service and primitive camping available. Located on scenic A1A, the GTM Research Reserve is a hiker’s delight with 9 plus miles of nature trails. The coastal estuary offers incredible views of lush vegetation, nesting bald eagles, and possible encounters with the Atlantic bottlenose dolphin and the West Indian manatee. The GTM is a popular fishing spot with boat ramp access. GTM volunteers and staff offer monthly guided beach explorations and seining workshops. GTM Research Reserve Natural and cultural history exhibits that illustrate the many functions of the coastal and estuarine ecosystem can be viewed in the Environmental Education Center. Fort Mose State Park A state park, Ft. Mose is historically significant as home to the first free African settlement in the U.S. Here, in 1738, slaves fled the British and were granted freedom by the Spanish in exchange for conversion to Catholicism and allegiance to the Spanish crown. Today the park has a history museum and hosts several festivals and historic re-enactments each year. Fort Mose State Park 6 SJVCB_151200_ANNIVERSARY.indd 6 11/18/15 3:27:38 PM