Why go
The bay makes St. Augustine’s position easier to understand. Castillo de San Marcos overlooks the water, while the Bridge of Lions connects the mainland city with Anastasia Island. Looking across the bay reveals how the historic quarter relates to the Atlantic inlet, tidal channels and the island landscape around Anastasia State Park.
What to look for
- The Bridge of Lions links mainland St. Augustine and Anastasia Island.
- Castillo de San Marcos overlooks the bay from the historic waterfront.
The full story
Matanzas Bay connects to the Atlantic through St. Augustine Inlet. Several tidal channels meet around it, including the Matanzas River, Tolomato River and Hospital Creek. Salt Run extends into Anastasia Island, shaping part of the landscape around Anastasia State Park. The Matanzas River separates the island from the mainland, while the San Sebastian River helps define the peninsula occupied by St. Augustine’s old Spanish-era quarter. Hospital Creek has a specific place in the settlement story: Pedro Menéndez de Avilés sailed into it and first established St. Augustine on its mainland shore. The modern waterfront also records substantial alteration. Seawall construction along the old quarter removed tidal wetlands, and Davis Shores on Anastasia Island was built on reclaimed land. The view therefore combines a historic settlement, engineered shores and surviving tidal environments, rather than an entirely natural bay edge.
Useful to know
- Use the Bridge of Lions to orient mainland and Anastasia Island plans.