Things to do nearSaint Augustine Inlet

Saint Augustine Inlet has served as the primary ocean gateway to this stretch of the Florida coast for centuries. Spanish mariners navigated these waters after Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded St. Augustine in 1565, and the inlet has shaped the fortunes of the settlement ever since, controlling access to trade, defense, and the rich fisheries of the surrounding estuaries.

Today the inlet is a hub for on-the-water activity. Anglers target redfish, flounder, and sea trout in the channel edges, while offshore boats push through the cut toward deeper Atlantic grounds. You can join a fishing charter departing from nearby marinas, or set out on your own by kayak to explore the quieter tidal creeks that branch off the main passage. Dolphins are a near-daily presence, often bow-riding alongside vessels heading in or out.

The surrounding landscape rewards slower exploration as well. Anastasia State Park lies just south along the barrier island, offering miles of undeveloped beach, maritime hammock trails, and some of the best birdwatching on Florida's northeast coast. The inlet's tidal flats attract roseate spoonbills, great blue herons, and oystercatchers throughout the year.

Few natural features in Florida sit this close to a city as historically layered as St. Augustine, making Saint Augustine Inlet a rare combination of wild coastline and deep cultural context well worth the visit.