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Welcome to the oldest city in Florida. Where Ponce de Leon landed in Florida, where Henry Flagler exploded the hotel business, and so much more. There is a lot to see and do in St. Augustine. I have visited many times, and I discovered something new each time.
Old Town Trolley Tour
There is so much to see here, and of course, there is a hop-on hop-off trolley, specifically the Old Town Trolley. You can park in the parking garage for $20 and get your ticket around the block, or park at Old Town Trolley for free and get on there. Ride the first loop without getting off and learn all the knowledge the driver shares, and trust me, it’s a lot. I had visited St. Augustine many times before taking the trolley tour, and it was so informative that it is at the top of my list of recommendations for must-dos. They have a one-day and two-day pass. They also offer ghost tours at night (I have never done this), and at Christmas time, they do the lights tours. More on that later.
Flagler College
This college is exquisite. It was originally built in 1888 as a hotel by Henry Flagler, Hotel Ponce de Leon, which hosted many presidents, and other people you may be familiar with, such as Rockefeller, Hemingway, and Stetson.
Because this is an active campus, there are restrictions on when and where you can walk. However, if you want to see it all, they offer daily tours that take you all over the campus. I have yet to do the tour but have walked where allowed many times. Fun fact: The windows inside the cafeteria are Louis Comfort Tiffany Stain Glass; they are protected by plexiglass because they are irreplaceable, but they are a beautiful sight that you can see on tour or from outside on the sidewalk.
The detail that Henry Flagler put into this building is unbelievable.
Also across the street is The Lightner Museum, one of Henry Flagler’s hotels, The Alcazar. Be sure to walk through here.
Castillo de San Marcos
A lot of people call it the fort in St. Augustine, built between 1672-1695, and wow. You can tour the inside, and it’s cool if you get the opportunity to do this and see all the history inside. You can walk around the outside at almost any time, and it’s impressive. Just knowing it was built by hand and coquina (a natural concrete from the ocean made of shells) amazes me. If you walk around the outside towards St. George St., you will see a wall made out of logs. Make sure you go past them.
Churches
St. Augustine has many churches throughout the city, and most allow you to walk through, but only during certain times. I have been many times and only recently was able to tour, so if you’re interested in touring, check their website for availability. I love walking through churches and seeing the old architecture and craftsmanship that went into creating these buildings, which seems to be preserved in a lot of older churches.
Trinity Parish
Built-in 1821, this was the first parish in St. Augustine. This church has beautiful stained glass, and one is an actual Louis Comfort Tiffany Stained glass; a student of Tiffany did the other one that resembles a Tiffany window. The ceiling is also a sight to see; it resembles the hull of a ship. Make time to walk through when they are open for tours.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
I got conflicting information about when this church was built because it burned down a couple of times and moved locations, but from everything I heard and read about, it seems it has been around for 450 years. This church has many unique details, so walk through all the various alters.
Memorial Presbyterian Church and Columbarium
I did not get to tour this exquisite church due to a wedding starting, but what I saw outside made me want to return so I could see the inside.
Beach
There are a few beaches near downtown, the first one being Vilano Beach, which is super close. Or you can cross the Bridge of Lions towards the lighthouse and get to St. Augustine Beach or Anastasia State Park. All of these offer different things; it is worth visiting them if you have time.
Shopping
Downtown has little shops all over, with things from local artists, tourist stuff, clothing, and more—St. George St. is home to a lot of these; there are a couple of “alleys” with multiple stores inside, which are great to go through.
On St. George St. is a store with Flagler College swag, and trust me, you want some, especially after you see the campus. I recommend either starting your trip here or ending it here, depending on if you will do a lot of shopping.
If you want to hit some outlet stores, it is about a 20-minute drive to the St. Augustine outlets.
Eats
A1A Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom– 1 King St., for one of the best views, sit upstairs; you will be able to see the Lion Bridge, which is a draw bridge and goes up and down every half hour, the main square and watch boats go up and down. I recommend coming here for appetizers and drinks. They had a great happy hour, and we liked the nachos.
Pizza Time – 124 St George St., the line is always out the door here. If you want a slice fast, I would say skip it. However, if you have the time to wait and order a fresh pizza, do it; it is excellent.
Prohibition Kitchen– 119 St George St., the food is good, the atmosphere is cool, and the menus look like an old newspaper. With all that being said, they have the touristy stuff like a photographer going around from table to table.
St. Augustine Seafood Company– 33 St George St., chowder fries. Really, I don’t feel like this one needs any more explanation other than chowder fries.
There are many other places to eat and bars with live music all over the city, and it deserves its own post, so keep a lookout for that.
Night of Lights Celebration
Each year, starting the weekend after Thanksgiving through January 31st, St. Augustine hosts its Night of Lights celebration. Every night at dark, the city turns into a shimmering sight. Most places downtown are decorated in some way, and the amount of lights is impressive. If you are in the area, it is a must-do. Visiting the lights has become our Christmas Eve tradition; they are more spectacular each year. Now, remember the Old Town Trolly? They will take you around the city to see all the lights. You stay on the entire time for this, and they give you glasses that turn all the lights into snowflakes; once you get back, they have hot chocolate available (included in your ticket).
I hope you enjoy this city as much as I do. Let me know some of your favorites in the comments. Happy exploring.
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