Florida beyond the golf course: Castillo de San Marcos and Molasses Reef

Two side trips from a Florida golf holiday sit at opposite ends of the state: Castillo de San Marcos, the Spanish stone fort in St. Augustine, and Molasses Reef, a coral reef off Key Largo where you can snorkel among nurse sharks. They are roughly six hours' drive apart, so pick the one nearer your golf.

Castillo de San Marcos, St. Augustine

Full guide: Castillo de San Marcos history, tickets and visiting tips.

Spain began building the Castillo in 1672 to defend St. Augustine, and the work took more than twenty years. The National Park Service, which runs it as a national monument, calls it the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. Its walls are coquina, a soft local stone made of compressed shells. It absorbed cannonballs instead of shattering, which is a large part of why the fort was never taken by force.

• What you see: the star-shaped bastions, the gun deck over Matanzas Bay, the rooms around the central courtyard and, on many days, rangers firing historic weapons.
• Tickets: adults (16 and over) pay $15 for a pass valid for seven days, and children 15 and under get in free. Check the NPS fees page for the current price. The park service also runs several fee-free days a year.
• Time: allow one to two hours, then walk into the old town, which starts across the road.

Molasses Reef, Key Largo

Full guide: Molasses Reef snorkeling, diving and what you'll see.

Molasses Reef lies off Key Largo inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. It suits both snorkelers and divers.

• Depth: the north end is shallow, around 10 to 15 feet, which is good for snorkeling. The outer reef drops to 60 feet and more for divers.
• Sharks: nurse sharks are the ones you are most likely to see, often resting under coral ledges. They are slow and bottom-dwelling. Divers have also reported more Caribbean reef sharks in recent years. Keep your distance and don't touch them.
• Everything else: parrotfish, sea turtles, eagle rays and moray eels, plus an old ship's winch and an anchor near the middle of the reef.
• Getting there: boats leave Key Largo marinas most days and tie up to the sanctuary's mooring buoys, which protect the coral from anchors. Trips depend on wind and sea, so keep a spare day in your plans.

At the reef, wear reef-safe sunscreen and don't stand on or touch the coral.