Exploring St. Augustine, Florida: Top Things to Do

 

St Augustine, the oldest European settlement in the United States, is located on the northeast coast of Florida. This oceanside community is rich with history and offers so many things to do and see.

St Augustine is usually included on our Florida road trip itineraries. We have spent many days overs several years exploring this beautiful city. I am not much on history, but this place seems to have a draw on me. I am sharing some places we thought were interesting below.

Lightner Museum

Three floors of antiques and memorabilia housed in the former Alcazar Hotel.

 

Hours:

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.  7 Days a week (Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day)

 

Admission:

Adult: $17.00

Senior (65+): $14.00

College Student: $14.00

Youth (12-17):  $10.00

Child (11 and under): Free

 

Address:

75 King Street

Saint Augustine, FL

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

The Castillo de San Marcos, located on the shore of Matanzas Bay, is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. With walls 33 feet high and 12 feet thick, it is one of only two forts in the world built out of coquina.

 

Hours:

 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.    7 days a week (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas day)

 

Admission:

Adults (Age 16 and above) $15.00 - valid for 7 consecutive days.

Children (age 15 and under) free

Tours available

 

Address:

1 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

Tour the 145 years old lighthouse tower, see shipwreck artifacts, and learn about the shipyard’s involvement in WWII.

Hours:

9am – 7pm Daily

Admission:

 Adults            $14.95

Seniors (60 & over)         $12.95

Children (Age 12 or under and 44″ or taller)         $12.95

Tours:   $17.50 - $30.00 three different tour packages

 

Address:

100 Red Cox Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32080-5443

      St. George Street

Unique shops will call you to visit as you walk down this cobblestone street. Be sure and grab some sweet treats and food from local restaurants along the way.

We parked on A1A along the water near the Bridge of Lions and walked.

The St Augustine Old Town Trolley is also in that area if you don’t want to walk the few extra blocks.

  Bridge of Lions

The Bridge of Lions is a draw bridge connecting St Augustine to Anastasia Island. There are pedestrian walkways on both sides of the bridge. Take a walk on the bridge at sunset for an amazing view.

Flagler College

An amazing building built by Henry Flagler in 1888.

Admission:

Tours are available or you can walk around the courtyard and into the entrance area without a ticket.

 

Address:

74 King Street

St. Augustine, FL 32084

Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

Dating back to at least 1868, the Fountain of Youth is the oldest attraction in Florida. The spring water has 30 minerals which is said the help with youthfulness. Check out the Timucua burials, watchtower, blacksmith exhibit, and much more while you are there.

Hours:

9am – 6pm Daily

 

Admission:

Adults  $18.00

Seniors 60+     17.00

Children 6-12   $10.00

Children 5 and Under    FREE

 

Address:

11 Magnolia Avenue

St. Augustine, FL

Marineland Dolphin Adventure

Get up close to sea life and learn about them. We had planned on visiting , but they were closed when we arrived.

Hours:

9:00am. - 4:30pm. daily

 

Admission:

Adult (12 – 54): $14.99 + tax

Child (5 – 11): $7.99 + tax

Senior (55+): $13.99 + tax

Young Child (4 and under): FREE

 

Dolphin interaction packages are available.

Address:

9600 Oceanshore Blvd

St. Augustine, FL 32080

Magnolia Avenue

Magnolia Avenue is lined with oak trees creating a canopy over the street.  Spanish moss draping from the branches is the touch that makes the scene perfect. One of the most photographed spots in St. Augustine.

 

Address:

Runs in front of the fountain of Youth.

Whetstone Chocolates

Tour the small factory and enjoy some of the best chocolates anywhere. Be sure and purchase some chocolates from the store before you leave. They are the best!

 

Tour Times:

Monday - Thursday: 10:00am, 11:15am, 1:00pm, 2:15pm 3:30pm

Friday - Sunday: 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:15am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, 1:30pm, 2:15pm, 2:45pm, 3:30pm

 

Tour price:

Adults $8.00

Children 5-17 years old $5.50

Children under 5 Free Entry

 

Address:

149 King Street, St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine’s Beaches

Anastasia State Park

300 Anastasia Park Road

 

Crescent Beach

6930 A1A South

Oceanfront Hotel Vilano Beach

The Oceanfront Hotel has some of the best rates in St Augustine. The beach is just a walk across the road. Get up early and take a sunrise stroll down the beach and pick up a few shells. 

The Old Jail

The jail was built in 1891 to look like a hotel so as not to be an eyesore to the town. A fun place for the family.

Admission:

Adults       $14.90  

Children (4-12)       $8.51    

      Children under 4 free

 

Hours:

9:00 am – 4:30 pm daily

 

Address:

167 San Marco Ave

St. Augustine, FL 32084

Old Town Trolley Tours

Located with the Old Jail, Old Town Trolley Tours has several options for available at different price points.

 https://www.trolleytours.com/st-augustine

With so much to do and see, I am sure you will fall in love with this charming historic town like I have. 

Happy & Safe Travels!

1.  

Discovering a Rare Sight: Nest of Turkey Vultures (Buzzards

A rare sighting according to my 83-year-old father, who said this is the first time that he has seen a “buzzard’s” nest. Him using the word buzzard to describe the black redheaded bald bird brought up lots of discussion and research. The best I can conclude is that it is a Turkey Vulture. Or if you prefer to call it what most southerner have called it for years, a buzzard, go for it.

We found the nest in a big brush pile on our farm (Located in Southern Arkansas). The mother flew out of it when we drove by, which triggered the hunt.

Although the big white speckled eggs were easy to spot, they were not easy to get close to. This is where a zoom lens comes in handy.

Turkey Vultures typically lay two eggs, which are incubated for 32 to 45 days.

The babies are cover in a white fur at hatching. They will remain in the nest for around two months.

 Hopefully the mother will let us get a peek occasionally as they grow! I know they will puke on you if you make them mad, so we will have to be quick. lol

Exploring a Tropical Backyard Garden in Arkansas: A Spring Garden Tour

I thought I would do a quick spring tour of the garden. Most of the plants are well ahead of their normal, thanks to the warm temperatures and increased rain fall we have had here is southwest Arkansas the last couple of weeks. 

The banana trees are already around the 8 foot mark. I wrapped them for the first time this past winter and am happy with the results. I even have little bananas on two of the trees. Unfortunately, they are Musa basjoo and the bananas are tiny and not very tasty. Actually, from what I hear, it is rare for  Musa basjoo to fruit.

The first canna to bloom this year is this tropical beauty. I can not remember the name, but it is not supposed to be hardy below zone 10. This is their third year in the garden and they are multiplying like crazy.

The hibiscus are still full of blooms and the plants are putting on new growth. They started blooming in January in the greenhouse.

Bromelaids are one of my favorite plants for providing a tropical look to the garden. They all turn green in the winter, but show off their colors when the sun starts to hit them in the spring.

New to the garden this spring are these two beauties. They are supposed to be the Inferno cannas, but look nothing like the company's photos I ordered them from. Oh well, they are still pretty!

Most of the orchids are in bloom or at least budding. My sweet aunt gave me 13 orchids that she had at her home and was tired of caring for. I can not wait to see the colors of their booms.

Finally found a nursery in Michigan that grows sun coleuses. They are starting to grow

after just sitting there for a month! So many beautiful colors!

The Salvia Black and Blue is loaded with blooms. It is a hummingbird and butterfly magnet.

The Broad Leaf Dusty Miller is finally settling in and growing after being moved to a different spot a couple of weeks ago. I found this one on a weekend trip to Biloxi, Mississippi two years ago. 

I have been experimenting with bougainvillea. Some have been in the ground for a couple of years and some I winter indoors. The ones wintered in the greenhouse are looking beautiful. The ones left in the ground are just starting to put on leaves.

There is still lots of growing and filling in that will happen over the next month, but I am already enjoying my little tropical paradise!

2021 Garden Tour   here

Happy Gardening!