Park - Vacation: Beach Rentals

The St. Augustine Beach Pier sits just at the northern end of the St. Augustine Beach area, and leads us up into the Anastasia State Park beach. The pier is a primary hub for the area, with many reasons to visit.

Farmers Market

St. Augustine Beach Pier currently hosts a Wednesday morning Farmers Market. There is limited parking during this event, so try and walk down from your vacation rental or get there early. You’ll find a wide variety of local vendors here, selling everything from art to fruit.

For the Kids

The Pier also has a splash pad for the kids, and a nice set of playground equipment. It’s a fun and refreshing way for the kids to play, without the worry of them in the ocean, which is just steps away. There are several covered picnic areas here as well. Nearby are public restrooms, and outdoor showers.

Gift Shop

The pier has a fee of $1 for access, and you get there through the gift shop. The gift shop is small, but has a good variety of items available. You can grab some snacks, t-shirts, hats, sunglasses, beach toys, beach umbrellas and chairs, and more. The storefront also hosts a tourist information center, with informational brochures about all our local attractions.

Fishing

If you want to fish during your St. Augustine vacation, the Pier is a great place to do it. Fishermen line the sides daily, catching all types of salt water fish. You can bring your own equipment, or rent some from the gift shop. There is bait available.

More about the St. Augustine Beach Pier

There is a covered pavilion and volleyball courts on the north end of the property. The pavilion plays host to many events throughout the year, most notably the Music by Sea. This free event puts a wide range of local musicians on stage for a good family friendly show.

The beach is, of course, the primary attraction here. This is where St. Augustine Beach really starts, and heads south for several miles. The beach is primarily white sugar sand, and you’re going to love walking barefoot across it. Do be warned, the sand can get very hot some days, so don’t leave your shoes too far away if you’re taking a long stroll.

The St. Augustine Beach Pier is a wonderful place to visit, the city of St. Augustine Beach does so much to provide this space for us. Enjoy it responsibly while you’re visiting, so we can continue to have it for years to come. The park provides much to our community, and we hope it makes your St. Augustine beach vacation special.

http://www.co.st-johns.fl.us/Recreation/FishingPier.aspx

Faver Dykes State Park

See the pristine Faver Dykes State Park that borders Pellicer Creek as it winds along Florida’s east coast highways down to the Matanzas River. Pellicer Creek is a popular site due to birding with more than one hundred bird species seen during spring and fall migrations. Songbirds, including the colorful wood warblers, along with eagles and falcons, return to nest at the park each year. Wading birds, such as egrets, wood storks, white ibis, and herons, feed in the tidal marshes and creeks. This peaceful park is also home to deer, turkeys, hawks, bobcats, and river otters. Even more, fishing, picnicking, and nature walks are popular activities. Pellicer Creek is also a Designated State Canoe Trail, and visitors can rent canoes at the park.

History

The park is named for settler Francisco Pellicer, who built his homestead along the banks of the creek around 1800 after receiving a land grant from the King of Spain. The park was originally part of the Buena Suerte Plantation granted in 1817 by Spain to General Joseph Hernandez. During the Second Seminole War the area was occupied by U.S. troops. In 1950, Hiram Faver, a former longtime Clerk of the Court in St. Johns County donated the land to the Florida State Board of Parks and Historic Memorials.

The Lost Tribe

The Timucuan Indians, our first inhabitants, arrived around 500 B.C. They lived in villages close to Pellicer Creek, which today makes up the southern border of the park. Their homes were protected from hurricanes by the barrier island lying east of the park across the Matanzas River. They lived at Faver Dykes for hundreds of years and as a result, were skilled hunters and fishermen. Forest, river and ocean played an important role in their everyday lives.

State Park

Faver Dykes became the 63rd park in the Florida Park System and according to then Florida Senate President Verle A. Pope, because the park was a needed asset to the system. The State Park was originally part of the Buena Suerte Plantation granted in 1817 by Spain to General Joseph Hernandez. In the Second Seminole War the area was occupied by U.S. troops. Finally, in 1950, Hiram Faver, a former long time Clerk of the Court in St. Johns County, donated the land to the Florida State Board of Parks and Historic Memorials. The monument that was dedicated to Hiram in 1967 still stands and is a constant reminder of his generosity.

The park now consists of 6,045 acres.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/park/faver-dykes

1000 Faver Dykes Road
St. Augustine, FL 32086
(904) 794-0997

Faver Dykes State Park