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Spend a half-day paddling Anastasia State Park’s tidal channels, then climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum—admission included. This guided small-group tour pairs wildlife watching with hands-on maritime history for a compact coastal adventure.
Spend a half-day paddling Anastasia State Park’s tidal channels, then climb the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum—admission included. This guided small-group tour pairs wildlife watching with hands-on maritime history for a compact coastal adventure.
Book with Anastasia Watersports
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Operated by Anastasia Watersports · St. Augustine, Florida
On the gray Atlantic edge of northeastern Florida, Anastasia State Park frames a shallow world of tidal creeks, sea grass flats and sandy barrier-island shoreline — the setting for the Lighthouse Guided Paddle Tour! This half-day outing starts at Anastasia Watersports -- 300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine, FL, 32080, where guides fit you to a kayak, canoe, or paddleboard and run a brief safety talk before launching into quiet water. Expect roughly two hours of paddling through winding channels that open onto broad coastal views, then a two-hour on-land visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
The route is equal parts natural history and close‑to‑home wildlife watching. Paddlers skim over eelgrass and oyster bars, pass salt marsh fingers and dunes, and often watch bottlenose dolphins arc offshore while herons, egrets and ospreys hunt along the edges. Guides interpret the coastal ecology and regional maritime stories as you move, giving context to the maritime museum visit that follows. Admission to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is included; visitors who meet the 44-inch height requirement can climb the tower and inspect exhibits that chart centuries of seafaring life along Florida’s first European settlement.
What makes this trip special is its blended rhythm: a quiet, kinetic paddle through living coastal habitats followed by the tactile history of a working lighthouse and museum. For St. Augustine visitors this package compresses two signature experiences into one seamless outing—no separate parking shuffle and no worrying about rentals. The group size is kept small (about 10), so the guides tailor interpretation and safety instruction to the pace of the group.
Practicalities matter: the full experience runs about four hours, wear closed-toed shoes for the lighthouse and bring sunscreen, a refillable water bottle, and a camera. Park entry fees aren’t included; sunscreen, snacks and water can be purchased on site. A $5 dry bag rental is available for electronics and layers. Cancellations with 24 hours’ notice receive a full refund.
This trip sits squarely in the coastal landscape of St. Augustine and is ideal for families, pairs and solo travelers who want accessible outdoor time with interpretive leadership and a touch of maritime culture. It’s an efficient, low-impact way to understand the barrier-island system while connecting to the human stories that have shaped this coastline. Whether you came for the city’s colonial streets or the ocean, paddling here is a clear way to meet the natural and historical currents that run through northeastern Florida. Meet at Anastasia Watersports to start — rentals, instruction, and museum admission are all bundled into the price, making this a straightforward half-day option for visitors who want a mix of nature, history, and easy coastal adventure and lasting memories.
moderate.
4 hours.
Moderate fitness recommended — about two hours of relaxed paddling plus walking at the lighthouse; able to handle 1–3 miles of paddling at an easy pace.
The full experience runs about four hours: roughly two hours paddling followed by up to two hours at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum.
Meet at Anastasia Watersports -- 300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine, FL, 32080 for check-in and a safety briefing.
Yes — kayak, paddleboard or canoe rental and all necessary safety equipment are included in the tour price.
No — water, snacks and sunscreen are not included but are available for purchase on site.
Children can join, but lighthouse climbers must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the tower; contact the operator about age-appropriate paddling setups.
Operator cancellations due to weather are fully refunded or credited; cancellations with 24 hours’ notice by guests receive a full refund or credit.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum traces the region’s long maritime history tied to the nation’s oldest European-established city; the current lighthouse dates to the 19th century.
Stay in marked channels, avoid trampling dune vegetation, and pack out trash — these actions protect nesting shorebirds and fragile seagrass habitat.
Anastasia Watersports operates professional paddlecraft rentals and guided excursions focused on Salt Run and the waters around Anastasia State Park. The business offers single and double kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards (SUP) for one-, two-, and three-hour rentals, with half-day and full-day beach rental options available through the Island Beach Shop and Grill. Guided experiences include wildlife-focused Salt Run tours led by knowledgeable guides, Dawn on the Dunes sunrise paddles, Paint & Paddle art sessions that combine a short guided paddle with canvas painting, and family-oriented events such as Paddle, Picnic, and Play. Equipment options list 1-hour, 2-hour, and 3-hour canoe and kayak rentals alongside single and double kayak choices to match groups of every size. Safety, accessibility, and low-impact recreation are emphasized. Comfortable seating, beginner-friendly instruction, life jackets, and pre-launch briefings make trips approachable for first-time paddlers and families. The Sea Turtle pavilion provides an outdoor event space for up to 150 guests with picnic tables, grills, and direct beach access for celebrations and group gatherings. Anastasia Watersports supports responsible enjoyment of local ecosystems by encouraging sunscreen use, wildlife respect, and guided education about the area’s plants and animals. For visitors seeking dependable rentals, guided wildlife viewing, creative outdoor events, or a relaxed day on Salt Run, Anastasia Watersports provides a broad selection of experiences tailored to different skill levels and group needs.
Book with Anastasia Watersports