A one-of-a-kind destination on the northeastern coast of Florida, St. Augustine has a way of transporting visitors back in time while offering some of the best beaches, restaurants, and activities that your whole group will love. The city’s mix of old and new makes for a unique getaway that’s great for families, couples, larger groups, and more! An easy drive from Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, and even Orlando, this stop along Florida’s Historic Coast will make a great addition to your road trip. Although St. Augustine can make for a great day trip, there is so much to see and so much to do, that you’ll want more time exploring this beautiful city.
Known as the oldest continuously inhabited city in the United States with European origins, this coastal Spanish settlement actually predates the Jamestown colony and Plymouth Rock. Mistaking the coast of Florida for the island of Bimini in his efforts to find the Fountain of Youth, Juan Ponce de León landed in Florida in 1513, taking the region for Spain. It wasn’t until 1565 that St. Augustine was founded to keep French forces out of the area. The city has not forgotten its Spanish settlers by any means, and visitors today can walk its cobblestone streets to learn more about its past.
Historic Landmarks & Museums
Just as the Fountain of Youth enticed explorers like, Ponce de León, it still attracts visitors to St. Augustine today. The Fountain of Youth National Archaeological Park sits on the original site of the city and is an excellent way for visitors to take a step back in time. Explore the many exhibits and take in the beauty of the surrounding Matanzas Bay and St. Augustine’s inlet. The main attraction is, of course, The Spring House, where you’ll find the original spring recorded within a Spanish land grant dating back to the seventeenth century. Not only can you taste the spring’s waters, but you can say you’ve visited Florida’s oldest tourist attraction, according to the spring’s accompanying guest book with entries dated 1868.
There are few places that highlight their history as St. Augustine does. Just down the road, you’ll find another incredible experience that brings Spanish colonial history to life. The Colonial Quarter includes exhibits, live demonstrations, tours, and more! In addition to the outdoor museum, you’ll find delicious dining options and great shops nearby. Colonial Oak Music Park is also a great place to listen to live music and entertainment outdoors under a beautiful, 300-year-old oak tree. Combination tickets to the Colonial Quarter and the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum are available and highly recommended! Visitors of all ages—especially children—will love the interactive exhibits and learn more about the Golden Age of Piracy.
On the other side of the street, looking out onto the Matanzas River, you’ll find the historic, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. This 17th-century fort is a great landmark to simply explore—tour or no tour. With your admission, you’ll be able to completely wander through the fortress to discover different rooms, decks, and more to learn from stations or talk to a helpful park ranger or volunteer. Children can become Junior Rangers, and visitors can attend musket or cannon demonstrations on the weekends. Learn more here.
There are many more museums and landmarks to visit in St. Augustine, but there’s one museum that sits in the heart of the historic city that not only has an extraordinary collection but is housed in a stunning building with a past of its own. The Lightner Museum, located just across the street from Flagler College, was once the magnificent, Alcazar Hotel. Built by Henry Flagler in 1889, this Gilded Age resort was meant to only help build St. Augustine as a tourist destination and attracted guests until 1931. Today, visitors can tour this wonderful example of Spanish Renaissance architecture, and view exhibits ranging from most beautiful to quite bizarre.
Like many coastal destinations, St. Augustine is well-known for its lighthouse. The iconic black-and-white spiraled lighthouse can be found on Anastasia Island, a short drive just over the scenic Bridge of Lions from the historic city center. The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum preserves 500 years of maritime heritage and has active programs that continually research and survey shipwrecks and other sites in inland and offshore waters. Great for all ages, this facility allows you to tour the lighthouse grounds and climb up to the top for an impressive view!
Here are some examples of discounted tours you can find on Quest Travel Club:
Discounts and pricing may vary after this article was published.
Beaches & State Parks
St. Augustine can be spotted on both of US News’ Best Beaches in the United States and Best Beaches in Florida lists, and it’s not hard to see why.
At the north end, you’ll find Vilano Beach. This stretch of beach lines a coastal community, and is great for beachcombing. It’s also known for its fishing pier on the Tolomato River. Head here for a laidback beach day.
Sitting on the other side of the inlet from Vilano Beach is Anastasia State Park on Anastasia Island. Not only are there amazing beaches, but the state park is a total of 1,600 acres full of natural beauty including tidal marshes, sand dunes, and more. With 139 campsites available, Anastasia State Park is popular for those who love exploring the outdoors. Observe the wildlife from the trails, or go canoeing or kayaking.
Further down Anastasia Island’s coastline, is St. Augustine Beach, the most popular beach in St. Augustine. Whether it’s because of the long stretch of pristine sand, beachfront park, splash zone, volleyball courts, and plenty of seaside restaurants that make this beach a favorite, you can’t go wrong with spending your day here.
St. Augustine is a nesting site for Loggerhead Sea Turtles from May 1st to October 31st. Special rules are in place for all oceanfront areas in St. John County during sea turtle season, and if you’d like to learn more, click here.
Discounts and pricing may vary after this article is published.
Miscellaneous Must-Do Activities
Not sure where to start with planning your trip’s itinerary? Are you the type of person who would rather just go and see what’s out there? Taking a tour on the Old Town Trolley may be the first thing you need to do. This hop-on and hop-off day-long tour makes 21 stops throughout the city which allows you to access over 100 points of interest, be it landmarks, museums, restaurants, and more!
As any city that has as much history, St. Augustine is also known for its ghost tours. One that’s top-rated is also run by Old Town Trolley Tours and stops by numerous spots throughout the historic district. Learn about some scary tales of local spirits that have haunted the city throughout its past.
Get your sea legs and hop aboard a cruising vessel to sail the historic waterways around the beautiful city. St. Augustine Pirate Cruises offers a wide array of cruises that cater not only to families but also to teenagers and those of legal drinking age. Children will love The Treasure Hunt, an entertaining chase for stolen treasure. Groups ages 13 and older can choose to sail aboard St. Augustine’s only ghost ship on a Haunted History Boat Tour, or take a more leisurely trip aboard the Tropical Sunset Cruise inspired by the Caribbean islands and includes live music. Those 21 and older can join the Rum Runner Cruise for a roaring good time of live entertainment.
St. Augustine is a fabulous year-round destination. When Florida’s staggering summer heat (and humidity) arrives in mid-June, visitors are sure to be having a blast on the beautiful beaches and taking advantage of the somewhat cooler mornings and warm summer nights to do any actual exploring of the city. Everything stays at a leisurely pace, and the balance between relaxation and fun is absolutely perfect.
Those who hate the heat and try to avoid crowds will love visiting this charming city during the winter months. Average temperatures can fall anywhere between the mid-60s and mid-40s, but the Florida sunshine will make for a pleasant day of exploring. It’s also during this time (mid-November to late January), that visitors can see the awe-inspiring Nights of Lights, a holiday light display that once made it into National Geographic’s top ten greatest in the world!
Some say that the best time to visit St. Augustine is at the very beginning of spring. The temperature starts to warm and you can mostly avoid Florida’s humidity. There really aren’t that many crowds during this time, making accommodations cheaper. Spring festivals do attract more visitors on certain weekends, such as the St. Augustine Spanish Wine Festival, the Annual Cathedral Festival, Celtic Music and Heritage Festival, Race Week, and more.
While booking your accommodations in St. Augustine, think about what your group will want to do the most. Are you traveling with children or in a larger group and want to be close to all of the attractions and restaurants downtown? This would be especially helpful since you wouldn’t necessarily need to use a car too much as the downtown is very walkable and easy to navigate. Is your group looking to spend most of their time on the beach? Finding a hotel, resort, or rental out on Anastasia Island might be more convenient and even more affordable during some seasons.
Here are a few examples of available resorts on the RCI Exchange that you have access to with your Palmera Vacation Club membership:
Points Ranges may vary after this article was published.
Quest Travel Club is also available to all Palmera Vacation Club members and offers discounts on everything you’ll need to plan your next vacation. Here are a few examples of hotels and resorts we found on Quest Travel Club:
Discounts and pricing may vary after this article is published.
