Spring Break Adventures {Fort Matanzas}

After our visit to Washington Oaks, my mother-in-law and I ventured over to Fort Matanzas National Monument to check out another park that neither of us had ever been to. The majority of this park is dedicated to the monument itself, but there is a hiking trail through the surrounding Matanzas State Forest as well.

Fort Matanzas is free to visit and chock full of Florida and St. Augustine history.

Coastal Florida was a major field of conflict as European nations fought for control in the New World. As part of this struggle, Fort Matanzas guarded St. Augustine’s southern river approach. The colonial wars are over, but the monument is still protecting—not just the historic fort, but also the wild barrier island and the plants and animals who survive there amidst a sea of modern development.

To visit the actual fort, you have to take a ferry across the Matanzas River. We opted to not do the ferry today because it was very windy and cold. Plus, we didn't get to the park until later in the day so we missed the last ferry. I guess we will have to come back for another visit!

We did admire the fort from the beach across the river, while searching for shells.  

No trees to climb here on the beach, so we opted for rock climbing instead :) 

I had such a wonderful day exploring the local state and national parks with my mother-in-law! More of our Spring Break adventures together to come...