On the edge of America's oldest city sits Salt Run, where pelicans perch on pilings, spoonbills splash pink across the marsh and you might spy dolphins, turtles and manatees passing through. And that's where you'll find us.
Salt Run Press is a small, family-created press in St. Augustine, Florida, home to the Nana G children's book series and Salt Run Birds & Such, a collection of handmade cards inspired by nature, whimsy and life along the water.
Stories, art & whimsy from the water's edge.
Wander, wonder and find magic in ordinary days and extraordinary places.
Nana G Books.
The Nana G books are rhyming picture-book adventures set in St. Augustine, Florida, America's oldest city, where every walk leads somewhere unexpected. In each story, Nana G sets off on a mission: a quest for something she just can't wait to find. Along the way, children discover a little bit of St. Augustine, its landmarks, its wildlife and some of the places that make it unlike anywhere else. Nana meets friendly animals. She gets a little sidetracked. And by the end, well… you'll just have to come along and see.
At their heart, the Nana G books are stories about family, curiosity and the magic hiding in ordinary days. The perfect read-aloud for grandparents, parents and the little ones who love exploring alongside them.
Illustrations are pen & ink and watercolor, by artist Laurie Barrows.
There's treasure to be found if you know where to look. Join Nana G on a playful treasure hunt through St. Augustine, exploring unique places and discovering that sometimes the adventure itself is the real treasure.
Follow Nana G on a whimsical autumn wander through the streets of St. Augustine as she searches high and low for the perfect pumpkin of pumpkins, and finds more than she was looking for.
Explore St. Augustine with Nana G
The places behind the stories.
Nana G's adventures may be stories, but the places she visits are very real.
The series is set in St. Augustine, Florida, America's oldest city, where history, wildlife, beaches and beautiful old streets make everyday exploring feel a little magical. Planning a trip to St. Augustine? Read the books. Find the places. Make an adventure of your own.
Nana G's Treasure Hunt
St. Augustine Lighthouse
Rising 165 feet above Anastasia Island, this black-and-white spiral tower has been guiding sailors home since 1874. Climb the 219 steps to the top and see the whole city spread out below, just like Nana G does on her hunt for what's missing.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Founded in 1893, it's the only place in the world where you can see all 24 species of crocodilians, plus sloths, toucans, spider monkeys and flamingos.
Castillo de San Marcos
Locals call it "the old fort." Built by the Spanish in the 1600s from coquina, a special shell rock, it's the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and has weathered pirates, cannon fire and centuries of Florida sunshine.
Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
Legend says Ponce de León landed here in 1513 searching for a magical spring. There's no real fountain of youth, but you will find a bubbling well, a planetarium, archaeological exhibits and a flock of free-roaming peacocks.
Bridge of Lions
The Spanish-style drawbridge that connects downtown St. Augustine with Anastasia Island, guarded by two marble lion statues named Fiel and Firme (Spanish for "Faithful" and "Firm").
St. Augustine Farmers Market
Every Saturday morning, the grounds of the St. Augustine Amphitheatre come alive with local produce, fresh-baked goods, handmade crafts, live music and food trucks. The Amphitheatre itself was built to celebrate the city's 400th anniversary in 1965.
The Surf Station
A beloved surf shop started by local surfer Tory Strange in 1984, right near the entrance to Anastasia State Park. It's where St. Augustine's beach community has gathered for generations to talk waves, weather and the occasional shark story.
Nana G and the Perfect Pumpkin
Salt Run
The tidal creek behind Anastasia Island where Salt Run Press began, and where every Nana G story quietly starts. Watch for pelicans, roseate spoonbills and the occasional passing dolphin.
Where the stories begin.
Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse
Just inside the old city gates on St. George Street stands a little red-cedar schoolhouse more than 200 years old, still guarded by heavy sea chains and shaded by a magnificent pecan tree that predates the building itself.
Aviles Street
The oldest street in America. Brick-bumpy, gallery-lined and full of working artists. The kind of place where you might spot a still-life pumpkin in an oil painting and be forgiven for thinking it's the real thing.
The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops
A downtown favorite for handcrafted popsicles in flavors that shift with the seasons. Come autumn, the case fills with clementine, pumpkin spice and everything in between.
Plaza de la Constitución
The heart of downtown. A shaded square that has hosted markets, gatherings and celebrations for more than 400 years. On any given weekend, you'll find craft fairs, live music, balloon vendors and the gentle bustle of a city that never quite hurries.
First United Methodist Church
Locally known as "the Pumpkin Church," this 1911 King Street landmark transforms its lawn into a legendary pumpkin patch every October. A St. Augustine autumn tradition, and the perfect place to find the perfect pumpkin.
Our Story.
Many generations. One little stretch of water.
Salt Run Press began along a little stretch of water in St. Augustine, Florida.
It's where we live, create and pay attention to the things around us.
Pelicans gather on the dock. Roseate spoonbills wander through the shallows. Boats come and go. And just across the water sits a city that has been collecting stories for more than four centuries. It seemed like a pretty good place to start telling a few of our own.
I'm Gina, the author of the Nana G children's book series. My stories are inspired by family, adventure and the belief that some of childhood's best memories begin with the simplest experiences.
And next door, my mom is usually creating something of her own.
Her handmade cards capture the birds, flowers and little bits of beauty she notices around her. So, we gave them a home. Salt Run Press.
We hope something you find here makes you smile, sparks a little curiosity or inspires an adventure of your own.