NO R T H
E A S T
F LOR IDA
T R A V E
G U I D E
L
Northeast FL
Travel Guide
by Vacation Rental Pros
ST. AUGUSTINE
PALM COAST
FLAGLER BEACH
PONTE VEDRA
JACKSONVILLE
and lots, lots more.
Table of contents
Planning your trip

5
St. Augustine (old town)

9
St. Augustine area beaches
50
Palm Coast

76
Ocean Hammock

92
Flagler Beach

100
Ponte Vedra Beach

129
Day-trips & attractions

145
Welcome!
VACATION RENTAL PROS’ TRAVEL GUIDE FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA
Our greatest compliment is when our guests refer us to their friends and relatives. Over the
past ten years, guests and their great "word of mouth" have helped us expand to over 600
vacation rentals. To return the favor, we’ve put together this travel guide to share our best-
kept vacation secrets around the region.
From St. Augustine to Flagler Beach, Ponte Vedra to Palm Coast, we hope this guide serves
up dozens of ideas for your perfect and relaxing vacation. If you can’t quite fit everything in
this time, we hope to see you back! (With children, pets, friends, family, for Christmas or an
August long weekend – there’s something for everyone, whatever your age or interests).
We’d love to hear your feedback about the guide book and which restaurant, day trip or
local attraction becomes the highlight of your time in northeast Florida. Enjoy!
Vacation Rental Pros
http://vacationrentalpros.com
151 Sawgrass Corners Suite 200,
Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
(855) 881-9423
stevemilo@yahoo.com
Planning your trip
Northeast Florida’s top 10
What you must see, eat or do
• Tour old St. Augustine on foot, horse, bike, trolley, train or Segway (page 17). Then, head
across the Bridge of Lions to climb to the top of St. Augustine Lighthouse (page 59).
• Drive up or down the scenic A1A highway, finding your new favorite beach (page 152).
• Spend an afternoon looking for right whales, dolphins or manatees – preferably from an
ocean- or water-front bar or restaurant (details throughout the guidebook).
• Get local: go shopping at a local farmers’ market (pages 29, 53, 107 and 138). Then,
make time for The Florida Agricultural Museum. It sounds boring, but it’s brilliant! (Page
78).
• See the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum (page 24).
• Book a Ripple Effect Eco-tour (page 65). If you have more time, try a new water-sport -
anything goes! (details throughout the guidebook).
• Visit the Castillo de San Marcos (page 22).
• Hunt for sharks’ teeth – they’re older than you think (page 54) – or search for something
special at St. Johns Town Center, an upscale pedestrian mall (page 162).
• Spend a day at Anastasia State Park (page 58) or consider ‘Tai Chi By The Sea’ at
Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area (page 104).
• Have a day to spare for something off the beach? Our top pick for a perfect day-trip is
the Kennedy Space Center (page 147).
Airports
★ DAYTONA BEACH (DAB)
Just 30 miles from St. Augustine,
DAB is the closest airport – a
convenience for which you can
expect to pay extra. More beach
time, though?
★ JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT (JAX)
Slightly further away, JAX is approximately 75 miles from St. Augustine but it’s an easy
highway-drive down US 95. As a bigger city airport, it’s simple to navigate and is a
destination for low-cost carriers like Air Train, Southwest and Jet Blue. You’re likely to
get a good car rental rate as well.
★ ORLANDO AIRPORT (MCO)
Arrive at MCO from just about anywhere – this is the biggest airport in the region, so
you might get both a direct flight and a good rental car price. That said, it is a longer
drive to the coast – about an hour and a half, or 95 miles.
Weather and climate
SEASONS, AIR AND OCEAN TEMPERATURES
While just as sunny and equally palm treed as the rest of the state, Northern Florida has
seasons. (A local joke maintains that these include 49 weeks of summer). Using Jacksonville’s
Planning your trip
6
averages as a reference point – a January day might be 68°F, whereas you’ll look for the
ice cream van in July as it nears 90°F (try ‘The Waffle Cone’ in Flagler Beach, page 115).
While winter doesn’t mean a white Christmas, you’d need a full wetsuit and a fair amount of
grit to swim in the Atlantic come December. Rest assured, though, there’s so much to do here,
year-round. Even when it’s colder there are hundreds of activities besides lying on the beach.
(Perhaps golf, golf, and more golf, if that’s your thing?).
Spring and autumn are both quieter, as school is in session, and are blissfully free of
humidity. No matter the ambient temperature, many accommodations offer hot tubs or heated
pools.
Summertime is the Florida you expect – sunny scorchers! The Atlantic heats up a little, too. If
coming at this time of year, you’ll want to be sensible when sightseeing or spending time
outside – all the clever stuff about drinking enough water, sunscreen, etcetera.
Planning your trip
7
Helpful links
• Beach forecast: First Coast News offers beach weather
and surf forecasts, as well as risk of rip currents, water
temperature, surf height and UV index detail.
• Water temperature: How warm is your part of the
south Atlantic Coast today? Find out! (Supplied via the
National Oceanographic Data Center).
• Surf report: The Surf Station provides the day’s wave
size, wind and tide detail, shark sightings, etc.
St. Augustine &
area beaches.
St. Augustine (old town)
Introduction
Two hours north of the world’s biggest collection of
theme parks, St. Augustine is hard to believe. For
starters, neither golden arches nor skyscrapers dominate
its skyline. Instead? Trees and a lighthouse. Spanish moss
might obscure a view – but billboards won’t.
While St. Augustine has tourism on every street,
substance outweighs sideshow ten to one. Here, tours
and trolley buses are actively encouraged – yes, join the
crowd! - there’s so much to share. Forget textbook
history, this pretty city does it better.
Setting a vacation standard are brick-paved streets,
which invite you to explore on foot. You’ll soon slow to a
St. Augustine pace. Should you do nothing in town but sit
on a bench, you’ll do so in the company of vibrant
bougainvillea, antique fountains and clipped box
hedges, with a wealth of architecture on every side.
Ready to choose your own old town adventure? As any
guidebook should, we’ve aimed to provide an equal
measure of “Go here, tourist!” and “Shh, sneak in there
and pretend you’re a local”. If itinerary possibilities
overwhelm, the city’s friendly residents will be happy to
see you back again.
9
• Introduction
• History
• City basics
• Tours and exploring
• Suggested sights and itineraries
• Restaurants
• Nightlife
• St. Augustine at Christmas
History
Fifty-five years ago the Beatles
didn’t exist and space flight
remained a crazy idea. It’s a
lifetime ago. Yet that’s how
much earlier St. Augustine was
founded before the Pilgrims
landed in Massachusetts. Wait -
what?!
St. Augustine?
Somewhere in the back of your mind, you have a 3rd Grade recollection of a guy named
Ponce and his Fountain of Youth. That’s where our textbooks ended, how about yours? It’s
time to fill in the gaps. Plenty has happened in St. Augustine in the nearly 450 years since
then – stories you won’t believe.
• 1513: Juan Ponce de León arrives in the region, claiming it for Spain.
• 1562: The French arrive! Things get multi-culti....
• 1565: St. Augustine is properly founded and gets its name from Augustine of Hippo.
• 1586: The English get involved, and Sir Francis Drake sets the city on fire.
• 1672: Spanish rulers are by now sick of attack – they start building the Castillo de San
Marcos (page 22).
• 1738: Fort Mose is established as the first community of legally freed former slaves.
• 1763: Post-war wheeling and dealing means the British get St. Augustine... for now.
• 1783: A another post-war treaty (another war) returns the city to Spanish control.
• 1821: For the first time, the city becomes American-controlled. Are you keeping count?
That’s Spanish, French, British... Spanish... and American.
• 1880s: Henry Flagler arrives in the region with money to burn. Soon, he’s building hotels,
hospitals and infrastructure. This back-water region becomes an up-market tourist
destination.
• 1908: The St. Augustine Alligator Farm opens, sure proof of the tourism boom.
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10
St. Augustine to...
Jacksonville
45 miles
50 minutes
Ponte Vedra Beach
30 miles
35-45 minutes
Palm Coast
25 miles
40 minutes
Orlando
105 miles
2 hours
* Using shortest route available, not necessarily the most scenic
• 1925: The Bridge of Lions is built – connecting the mainland to Anastasia Island.
• 1963: St. Augustine is very much part of the Civil Rights Movement, with ongoing protests.
• 2013-2014: 500 year anniversary. Many events are planned – will you be lucky enough
to enjoy them? See www.StAugustine.com for details and start planning!
City basics
SAFETY
Of course, you’d take caution anywhere you’re
unfamiliar – especially at night. That said, St. Augustine
is a city that depends on its thriving tourism industry and
much is done to ensure its visitors enjoy a safe trip. A
busy, pedestrian downtown means your biggest concerns
after dark will likely be the ghosts on your walking tour.
PARKING
• Pay parking – Historic Downtown Parking Facility (HDPF): The $10/day fee is not pro-
rated, but this might make sense if you’re arriving in the morning. It’s the most convenient
option if you’re coming into town for sightseeing, as the Visitor Information Center is here,
as well as the two main train/trolley tour companies.
• Free parking (with purchase) - Old Jail: If you like the sound of the Old Town Trolley, they
sweeten the deal by including all-day parking with your ticket.
• Metered and other parking: If you’ve got the patience, there’s a spot out there waiting for
you. Try Avenida Menendez between the Fort and the Bridge of Lions. Just coming in for
dinner? Street parking is free after 5 p.m. If you’d enjoy a quick stroll, you’ll find free
parking just five or so blocks into nearby neighborhoods. (Be sure to double-check any
signs before walking away!)
• Handicapped parking: See this PDF map to find the most convenient spot to your
destination.
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11
LIMITED MOBILITY
If a “very walkable” city isn’t the best news you’ve ever heard – don’t worry. Simply book a
trolley tour (with free parking) and navigate that way. One of the tour companies offers
wheelchair accessible tours, and our equipment rentals section (page 73) provides contacts
for renting motorized scooters. Trolley tours bisect popular St. George Street, with benches
and rest-stops along the length of the mile-long street. You can walk as much or as little as
you like.
When does it get busy?
Summer is high season for every corner of Florida, though any calendar event sees an increase in
visitors – whether Daytona Race Week, Easter or schools’ spring break. If you prefer streets all to
yourself, try the cooler months from October through to February (with the exception of the
Christmas holiday of lights).
PETS
St. Augustine prides itself on being a very
pet-friendly city (you’ll notice dogs’ water
bowls outside shops). Many (but not all)
restaurants with outside dining accept well-
behaved dogs. Keep in mind the heat of the
day, though, when planning any sight-seeing
activities with your dog. While the winter
months will suit him well, pavements get very
hot and you can’t guarantee there’ll be
shade available at your destination. In all the
listings that follow we’ve designated
par ticular ly pet-fr iendly spots – just
remember the leash and water!
See page 37 for dog park details and other
contacts you might need – like doggie
daycare should you head out on a day trip.
For more tips about traveling with your dog:
see our ‘Emily Paws’ Travel Manner Tips
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12
Get your bearings - tours and exploring
Finally, a history lesson in the sun (and, if planned well, with a beer or some chocolate on the
side). No matter how long you’re visiting St. Augustine (and especially if it’s a quick trip),
you’ll get more out of it with a starter tour. Who knew you could so enjoyably cram 450
years of history in an hour? Believe it: even if you’re a dedicated DIY, “anti-tour” person,
there’s an option you’ll absolutely love.
Exploring St. Augustine on foot
★ ST. AUGUSTINE CITY WALKS (GUIDED)
There’s never been a more interesting way to see a city and
get some exercise. Decide your group’s main interests and
there’s a tour to match, whether the Plaza Stroll, culinary
tour or pub crawl, a Creepy Crawl ghost tour or – truly
something for everyone – the History, Mystery, Mayhem
and Murder tour. Some tours are offered in Spanish as well.
• Website: www.staugustinecitywalks.com
• Address: Departure locations vary by tour
• Pets: Many tours are pet-friendly, check website for
details
• Keep in mind: Is it raining? We love this outlook –
“There is no such thing as bad weather, only
inappropriately dressed people.”
WALK AND EXPLORE ON YOUR OWN
• Download the City Walking Guide (free)
Download this free walking guide (PDF) to your iPad or iPhone, or print it and stash it
in your bag – it’ll easily fill any spare time you have, whether you do the whole 25-
stop tour, or just a section.
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13
• Evening walk
Ditch the car. Seriously. No matter where you’re staying, come into St. Augustine for a
spontaneous evening of exploration on foot. See our parking tips (page 11) and a few
ideas of what to do at night (page 45). Might it include sangria?
• St. George Street
Though cross-streets allow cars, St. George Street itself is for your two legs only. Kids
will love it! Offerings are heavily skewed to the tourist market, but if you can’t beat
them – join in with an ice cream and happy doses of window-shopping.
Cycling St. Augustine
While great for pedestrians, St. Augustine is a very
welcoming city to cyclists as well. Bike lines exist on
some streets, with ongoing additions.
• Why bike?
With such great, sunny weather – why not make your own pedal-powered air-
conditioning?
• What happens if you change your mind?
The local bus service, ‘the Sunshine Bus’, has bike racks – so you can avoid biking the
Bridge of Lions and still end up where you want to be. Tickets are just a dollar per ride.
RENTING A BIKE
See the chapter’s end (page 73) for all rental details including beach cruisers and road
bikes. Also available: family-sized pedicabs (children and pet-friendly), and a Florida
invention, a gas-powered “ScootCoupe”. Use it for exercise, sightseeing, and a nice way to
add a breeze to your beach sunset.
14
Tours on wheels
TRAIN AND TROLLEY TOURS
There’s no better way to gain your bearings on
first arrival than to take a tour. Whether you use it
to quickly circle the city and decide what to visit in-
person, or as a means of transportation over a few
days – you’ll easily get your money’s worth. In
most cases you’ll get a better deal by booking
ahead online. Don’t forget to dress warmly in the
winter – these are open vehicles and there’ll be a
breeze.
★ GOLD CITY HISTORY TOURS
Eco-friendly electric vehicles and very small group size (8 people max). Great for kids,
interesting for teens and a good use of rainy days. This smaller vehicle means great
access. This is a tour-tour; ride around once and you’re done.
• Website: www.staugustinegoldtours.com
• Address: Departs from 31 Orange Street
• Children: Discounted children’s tickets
• Keep in mind: By reservation only
Hop-on/hop-off tours
You’ve got two choices for the city bus tour – a trolley or a train. In truth, there’s not much
between them. Take a look at their websites and make a quick decision – you could hum and
haw all day but prices and itineraries really don’t differ very much.
Top tips for tours:
• Got back problems? Both options have hard plastic seats that might jostle you. You might
have a smoother ride sitting up front.
• Don’t like the driver? Hop off, friend. Another one will be along in 15 minutes or so.
15
★ OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
(Green and orange). Trolley tickets are valid for 3 days
and make 22 stops – ideal if you plan to take your time
digging around town. It’s also a good way to get around
if you’d rather not walk (or it’s hot). Free parking is
included with your ticket and the trolleys boast strong
reviews & great customer service.
• Website: http://www.trolleytours.com/st-augustine
• Address: Board at the Old Jail (167 San Marco Ave)
• Children: Free for kids 6 and under, with discounts for
6-12s.
• Pets: Guide dogs only
• Keep in mind: Two trolleys are wheelchair-accessible.
Call ahead for times.
★ ST. AUGUSTINE SIGHTSEEING TRAINS
(The ‘red trains’). Run by Ripley’s, the bright red trains
look like a more commercial operation and will probably
appeal more to kids. 1-, 3- and 5-day passes are
available, which give you access to discounts at various
city outlets. They offer bundle deals for the Ripley’s
Museum and mini-golf if they’re on your itinerary. In
addition, there are Sunset Tours and Black History Tours
– plus the ubiquitous ghost tour.
• Website: http://www.ripleys.com/redtrains
• Address: 170 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Discount for children
• Pets: Well-behaved small dogs (under 15 pounds)
• Keep in mind: Half-off for military
16
SOMETHING A BIT DIFFERENT
Want to see St. Augustine in a memorable way? Find a range of guided and self-
guided tours with unconventional means of travel - horses, Segways, pedicabs and
Florida ‘ScootCoupes’.
Segway tours
★ ST. AUGUSTINE SEGWAY TOURS
Long-time locals invite you behind the tourist streets of this fascinating city. Two tours
daily – strap on your helmet and roll, baby.
• Website: http://www.segwaystaugustine.com
• Address: 11 Magnolia Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084 (Fountain of Youth)
• Children: Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
• Keep in mind: High heels and and ‘Shape-Up’ shoes not recommended
★ SEGS BY THE SEA
A slightly self-deprecating take on their tour offerings, this company brings you the
“Artsy Fartzy Tour”, amongst regular sightseeing options and a summertime night tour.
If you’ve ever envied a mall-cop’s Segway steed, here’s your chance.
• Website: http://staugustinesegways.com
• Address: 93 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Weird and wonderful
★ SCOOTCOUPE RENTALS
Strange little buggy cars straight out of the Jetsons, ScootCoupes are available for hire
and touring St. Augustine’s town and coast. They’re road legal and reach up to 40
mph – you’ve never seen wheels like this. GPS units provide a DIY-tour that’s part-
history, part-Disney ride.
• Website: http://www.funrentals.us/saint-augustine.php
• Address: 32 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Each ScootCoupe has one passenger seat
• Keep in mind: Check the website for a coupon
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17
★ PEDI CAB OF ST. AUGUSTINE
Use it as a taxi, use it as a tour – either way, it’s always nice to pay someone else to
do the legwork. Founded by an entrepreneurial student at Flagler College – a great
local business to support!
• Website: http://www.staugustinepedicab.com
• Keep in mind: Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sunday nights
Carriage tours
★ COUNTRY CARRIAGES
An easy option for the spontaneous – you’re
able to hop into one of these carriages
wherever you see one parked. Count on a
tour bordering on a performance – with
some drivers more into it than others.
• Website: http://countrycarriages.net
• Address: Bay-front between the fort and
the bridge
• Children: Kids welcome
★ ST. AUGUSTINE TRANSFER COMPANY
This carriage company offers very small, private
tours – though you need to be organized and
book them in advance.
• Website: http://staugustinetransfer.com
• Children: 12 years and older
• Capacity: 1 - 4 adults
• Extras: Add an order of chocolate-covered
strawberries
• Keep in mind: History and ghost tours
available.
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18
Tours by air
★ ST. AUGUSTINE AIR TOURS
Fly high in a 1930s bi-plane as you loop and roll over St. Augustine. A splurge, yes,
but a memorable activity for just the two of you – especially at sunset.
• Website: http://www.staugustineairtours.com
• Address: 4900 US 1 North, St. Augustine, FL 32095
• Keep in mind: They offer a range of flights at all price brackets
Tours by boat
★ SCHOONER FREEDOM (HISTORIC)
The only ship of its kind in St. Augustine, you’ll see it from a distance and want be on
board. Enjoy a day or sunset cruise aboard this 76-foot Tall Ship (or - with good timing
- a Full Moon sail) with a group of up to 49 people. Kids are very welcome on the day
cruise and will love imagining they’re savvy sailors, dodging blockades in the 1800s.
Will you help to raise the sails, or just sit back, enjoy a drink and keep watch for
dolphins?
• Website: http://www.schoonerfreedom.com
• Address: 111 Avenida Menendez, Suite. D, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: The day cruise is suited for kids
• Keep in mind: While beautiful, it can be windy during the winter. Dress appropriately
for the water.
★ EL CONQUISTADOR (SPEEDBOAT THRILL RIDE)
Leave your pregnant wives and elderly parents content at the beach while you, and
any thrill-seeking buddies (or teenagers), hang on tightly for this fast-as-lightning zip
across St. Augustine’s water. If you’re pressed for time, you’ll see plenty during an
St. Augustine
19
hour’s cruise – including the St. Augustine Pier and the Castillo de San Marcos (page
22). Fancy sightseeing at speed? You won’t go faster than this.
• Website: http://elconspeedboat.com
• Address: 111- E Avenida Menendez, Slip 73, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Four and up
• Keep in mind: Military
discounts available
★ ST. AUGUSTINE SCENIC CRUISE
A slow and steady cruise, sit at
tables on deck and look for
dolphins. If you choose a later
sailing, you get a sunset thrown
in for free.
• Website: http://www.scenic-
cruise.com
• Address: 4125 Coastal Hwy.,
St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Very family-friendly
• Pets: Pet-friendly
• Keep in mind: Check the
website for coupons
Suggested itineraries
If you have 1 day...
• Morning: Take one of the above tours, and explore the Old City
• Lunch: see restaurant recommendations
• Afternoon:
• Castillo de San Marcos (page 22)
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20
• Your pick of any attraction on a special interest itinerary, or the Pirate Museum with
kids (page 24).
• Climb to the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse (page 59).
2 - 3 days, add...
• A watersports day (see ‘St. Augustine area outdoors’, page 65)
• Extra history
• A gluttonous day (see food tours, page 28)
• Art and architecture
• A family day (see suggestions, page 35)
• Shopping, golf, or both
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21
Must see and do (sights and attractions)
If you like... history
TOP PICK: CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS
A “one-size-fits-all” attraction with good views, lots of history, interests for kids, has free and
paid aspects, ghost tours, self-guided tours and so on.
★ CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS
When did you last spend day in and
around the 17th Century? And
everyone had a great time? A huge
bay-front fort provides all the good
stuff – from historical demonstrations
and actors in period costume, to
steep grassy hills for kids to roll
down. Things go boom (cannon
demos) and possibly bump in the
night – on a very popular ghost
tour.
• Website: http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
• Address: 1 South Castillo Drive
• Children: Free entry for 15 and under
• Pets: Leashed pets allowed on the grounds but not inside the fort itself.
• Keep in mind: Free to walk around the ground, ticketed entry to the fort.
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HISTORIC HOME TOURS
★ THE XIMENEZ-FATIO HOUSE
This small house from 1798 is neither well-known nor well
advertised, so you’re assured of a quieter experience. This
historic home tour lasts forty-five minutes and focuses on
women’s history – easy to fit into your schedule whether
you’re a history buff or have kids with modern attention spans.
• Website: http://www.ximenezfatiohouse.org
• Address: 20 Aviles Street  St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids welcome
• Keep in mind: Closed Sunday and Monday
★ PEÑA PECK HOUSE
In the loving care of a women’s non-profit organization, expect
a very personal tour that lasts “as long as you’ve got”. The
house dates to the 1750s and has lots of original furniture on
display. Though on St. George street, this is a much less
crowded experience than other central historic home tours.
• Website: Peña Peck House online
• Address: 143 St. George St., St. Augustine FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Open daily, tours are by donation.
★ DOW MUSEUM OF HISTORIC HOUSES
If you’re short of time in St. Augustine, sail past this one.
However, if you’re keen to spend a meandering afternoon
and/or have keen interest for history, you’ll well and truly love
the Dow Museum. Your ticket provides entrance to houses set
in all eras from the 1800s towards the present. Call it a low-
tech form of time travel; they’re preserved in one city block.
More of a grown-ups’ museum, as small children might soon
grow bored.
• Website: http://www.moas.org/dowmuseum.html
• Address: 149 Cordova Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
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Saint
Augustine
sights...
GRUESOME HISTORY: BADDIES, PATIENTS AND PIRATES
★ ST. AUGUSTINE PIRATE AND TREASURE MUSEUM
Everyone’s one’s got room in a vacation for a little bit of pirate. Luckily, this is no
Treasure Island kitsch but the real deal – starting with the world’s largest collection of
genuine pirate artifacts. Huge production values went into their video exhibits,
designed by Disney Imagineers. Allow at least ninety minutes, though you could easily
spend three hours here – it’s jam-packed. This museum will equally appeal to adults
and kids – the latter get a treasure hunt to solve.
• Website: http://www.thepiratemuseum.com
• Address: 12 South Castillo Dr., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Children of reading age or above will get the most out of this
• Keep in mind: Apple and Android visiting apps available for download
★ THE OLD JAIL
A costumed period actor performs the Old Jail’s tour – it’s perhaps best for kids or
those happy enough to play along. En route, you’ll learn about things used while the
jail was in service (1892-1953). This includes all manner of weapons, plus a sign of
mankind’s certain progress – first gallows then the electric chair. A pricier tour that will
cost you even more sleep is the Night at the Old Jail. It runs from approx. 11 p.m. to 2
a.m. and claims to invite the paranormal.
• Website: The Old Jail online
• Address: 167 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine
★ SPANISH MILITARY AND HOSPITAL MUSEUM
History buffs, come on in – the rest of you, keep walking. Allow forty-five minutes for a
tour covering colonial surgery techniques and old-time remedies. Kids with the history
bug will find it interesting, though it’s not set up to be a children’s museum (and the
ward rooms are macabre).
• Website: http://www.spanishmilitaryhospitalmuseum.com
• Address: 3 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, FL
• Children: See explanation above.
• Pets: Yes! Pets welcome.
• Keep in mind: Check website for printable coupon.
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OTHER HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
★ OLDEST WOODEN SCHOOL HOUSE
Of possible interest if your kids need a reminder
how good they’ve got it. It’s on St. George
Street so you will be passing by. A quick visit,
unless you have a teacher in the family, with a
peaceful garden courtyard outside.
• Website:www.oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com
• Address: 14 St. George Street, St.
Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Self-guided tours only.
★ FORT MOSE
(Pronounced Moh-Say). A side-note to history,
a small museum marks the spot where
America’s first freed slaves began their new
lives. An audio tour accompanies you around
an open field site, once the location of this
community. On a nice day it’s an especially
enjoyable stroll along the boardwalk.
• Website: www.floridastateparks.org/fortmose
• Address: 15 Fort Mose Trail, St. Augustine, FL
32084
• Children: There’s nothing for them to ‘do’ as
such, except run around
• Pets: Leashed pets are welcome
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If you like architecture, art & design
★ FLAGLER COLLEGE
Opened in the 1880s as Henry Flagler’s, sorry, flagship hotel, this arty tour will be of
huge appeal if you’re into period architecture and interior design. To totally name-
drop, you’ll tour a huge collection of ‘Louis Comfort Tiffany’ lampshades and stained
glass, with murals and ornate details throughout. Allow about an hour.
• Website: http://legacy.flagler.edu
• Address: 74 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: $1 for children under the age of 12 (includes a coloring book)
• Keep in mind: Free guided tours daily
★ LIGHTNER MUSEUM
Another of Henry Flagler’s former hotels, this one lives and breathes Victoriana.
Expect to see anything and everything 19th Century, including natural history exhibits,
more Tiffany glass, plus art and statues galore. A kids’ scavenger hunt really turns the
experience around – what child would otherwise get excited about antiques? If coming
at lunch-time, don’t miss Café Alcazar (page 41).
• Website: http://www.lightnermuseum.org
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• Address: 75 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Under 12 free – must be accompanied by an adult.
• Keep in mind: Self-guided tour. If you can’t get enough art, see our Jacksonville day
trip details on page 161.
★ VILLA ZORAYDA MUSEUM
Walk yourself around this replica Moorish Castle with an audio tour that identifies a
fine art collection from all over the world. If you’re on the fence about visiting, you get
free all-day parking with admission.
• Website: http://www.villazorayda.com
• Address: 83 King Street  St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Lots of breakables, maybe avoid.
• Keep in mind: Photography is prohibited, as are food and drinks.
★ FIRST FRIDAY ARTWALKS - ART GALLERIES OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
With good timing and a healthy interest in art, you
could be trotting off on a self-guided tour of twenty-five
local galleries for free. (A free trolley gets you there
faster). The first Friday evening of the month, every
month.
• Website: http://www.artgalleriesofstaugustine.com
• Keep in mind: If you’ll miss a First Friday, download
the PDF map on their website and choose a few to
visit on your own.
If you like... beer and wine
★ ST. AUGUSTINE PUB CRAWL
"The best way to explore history is to walk right through it." So say the organizers,
though it seems they’ve paraphrased... because you’ll drink your way through it. Stop
at four historic pubs with a group of new friends and enjoy a drink (microbrew or wine)
at each, included with your ticket.
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• Website: http://staugustinepubcrawl.com
• Address: 23 Orange St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Younger teens welcome on private tours, 18-20 year olds can join group
tours.
• Keep in mind: Book in advance, it’s a popular ticket.
★ SAN SEBASTIAN WINERY
Over the course of hour you’ll tour the entire production set-up, including the bottling
line (everyone’s favorite mechanized mystery), before ending up in the tasting room. If
you’d rather skip the tour and head straight to the good stuff, there’s the rooftop
‘Cellar Upstairs’ with live jazz (open Friday nights and weekends).
• Website: http://www.sansebastianwinery.com
• Address: 157 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Tours are free
★ MILE MARKER BREWING
A small craft-brew operation with big taste. Visit the tap room to try the full line, or
arrange a private brewery tour. Live music and ‘Barbeque Bill’ offer further incentive
to visit on occasional nights – check the website for details. Why not try: ‘Mile Marker
70’, a “chocolaty, malty brew with just a hint of coconut”.
• Website: http://www.milemarkerbrewing.com
• Address: 3420 Agricultural Center Dr,  St. Augustine, FL 32092
• Keep in mind: Closed Mondays
If you like... fine food
FOOD AND WINE TOURS
★ THE SAVORY FAIRE TASTING TOURS
Live to eat, at least for one night. This palate-pleasing company offers a range of tours
to make sure you’re matched with your absolute favorite foods. Whether that’s the
‘Wine, Chocolate & Cheese’ option, a ‘Micro Pub & Craft Beer Tour’ or a filling
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‘Specialty Food & Wine Tasting Tour’, you’ll roll home as happy as a stuffed pig. To
combine another St. Augustine aspect, you can do the tour by carriage ride.
• Website: http://thetastingtours.com
• Address: 6 Granada Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Welcome on private tours of four or more, otherwise must be 21 for group
tours.
• Keep in mind: Advanced reservations required
CHOCOLATE TOURS
★ TOUR DE CHOCOLATE
This tour is pitched as part St. Augustine history, part chocolate. Frankly, the names
itself sells us – but if you need a quick fix, you might be better off hitting the retail
shops. Recommended for serious chocolate buffs who want to know why it tastes so
good.
• Website: http://www.staugustinecitywalks.com/tourdechocolate/index.html
• Address: 23 Orange Street
• Keep in mind: Online booking discount.
★ WHETSTONE CHOCOLATE FACTORY TOUR
Would you wear a hairnet... if you got to spend an hour in a chocolate factory? A
tasting tour that goes behind-the-scenes of Whetstone’s process. Yes, it winds up in the
gift shop; will you mind?
• Website: http://www.whetstonechocolates.com
• Address: 139 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Free under 5.
• Keep in mind: Reservations recommended.
FARMS AND FARMERS’ MARKETS
★ ST. AUGUSTINE U-PICK FARM
A hydroponic farm where strawberries are grown in stacked pots, so you’ll neither get
dirty nor need to bend down for picking. Tours can be arranged for keen gardeners,
call to make inquiries. Herbs and seasonal produce are also available.
• Website: St. Augustine U-Pick online
29
• Address: 2495 State Road 207 St. Augustine, FL
32086
• Children: Ideal for kids – it’s fruit!
• Keep in mind: Open Thursday - Sunday, bring a hat
and some water!
★ OLD CITY FARMERS’ MARKET
• When: Every Saturday morning
• Website: http://www.staugustinefm.com
• Address: 1340 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL 32080 (St.
Augustine Amphitheater)
★ ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH FARMERS’ MARKET
• When: Every Wednesday morning
• Website: St. Augustine Beach Farmers’ Market online
• Address: 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach,
FL 32080 (Pier Park)
A peaceful and tasty way to start Wednesday or
Saturday. Both markets are perfect places to stock up (if
self -catering), browse jewelry and hand-made
accessories, or buy fresh produce. Vendors are happy
for you to inspect their wares, and will talk to you about
where it’s from or just how fresh it is. Browse home-
made bread, datil peppers (a local specialty) and hot
sauce, local shrimp, plus olives, pickles and more.
If you like...to shop
OUTLET SHOPPING
★ PREMIUM OUTLETS
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Eighty-five stores make the trip up I-95 worthwhile. Every ‘mall staple’ is here - Banana
Republic, Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, and more Tommy Bahama shirts than you can wear
in a lifetime.
• Website: http://www.premiumoutlets.com
• Address: 2700 Florida 16, St. Augustine, FL 32092 (west of I-95)
★ PRIME OUTLETS
Have just as much fun all over again, on the opposite side of the highway. A recent
expansion and renovation now houses high-end brands including Saks and Gucci.
• Website: http://www.primeoutlets.com
• Address: 2700 Florida 16, St. Augustine, FL 32092 (west of I-95)
IN-TOWN HIGHLIGHTS
St. Augustine enjoys a thriving farmers’ market community, and a great sense of ‘what’s local
is best’. Enjoy browsing small, independent shops for bits and pieces you won’t find
anywhere else. Some highlights include:
★ PLUM ART GALLERY
• Offering: “Contemporary regional works of art”.
• Website: http://www.plumartgallery.com
• Address: 9 Aviles St., St. Augustine FL, 32084
★ HICKORY RIDGE ORGANICS
• Offering: Soaps & make-up “fresh, organic, vegan, chemical and GMO free!”
• Website: http://www.hickoryridgeorganics.net
• Address: 106 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
★ SIMPLE GESTURES MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY
• Offering: Basically it’s Etsy in a shop. Art, home goods, jewelry, etc.
• Website: Simple Gestures Facebook
• Address: 4 White St. East & Anastasia Blvd., Saint Augustine, FL
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★ THE OLD DRUG STORE
Presented as a living-history museum, instead, visit the Old Drug Store for the shop it
wants to be. Bored relatives can order ice cream next door, as you take a half hour or
more to peruse their range of home remedies, jewelry, teas and other gift shop items.
• Website: http://www.shop.oldcityremedies.com
• Address: 31 Orange Street, St. Augustine, FL
If you like... tourism mainstays
★ FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Go if: you learned about Ponce de León in school, and the story caught your childhood
imagination. (Or - you have kids and they could use the ‘history brought to life’ stuff).
Otherwise, we’re going to align the words ‘tourist’ and ‘trap’ in a sentence, and leave
it at that. Signs of improvement are promising, though, as the city approaches its 450-
year anniversary and focus turns towards education over fairly weak entertainment.
• Website: http://www.fountainofyouthflorida.com/index.php
• Address: 11 Magnolia Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Free for kids under 6.
• Pets: Yes! Pet-friendly throughout.
• Keep in mind: A cannon demonstration happens every hour daily.
★ RIPLEY'S BELIEVE IT OR NOT
If you want to see things you can’t believe, watch YouTube. If you want to pay for
things you can’t believe, there’s Ripley’s. Go here if you need to see a manatee made
from pop cans, but Blue Spring State Park has the real thing (page 159).
• Website: http://www.ripleys.com/staugustine
• Address: 19 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Discounted ticket.
• Keep in mind: A ticket combo package is available if you’re buying ‘Red Train’ tour
bus tickets (page 16).
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★ ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM ZOOLOGICAL PARK
Pop quiz: how many members are there in the crocodilian family? Answer - twenty-
three. If you’ve ever wanted to see them all in one day, come on down to the alligator
farm.
If you’re put off by scaly creatures, the park’s Wading Bird Rookery comes as highly
recommended as any site in this guide. A self-described “non bird person” ranks it
amongst her life’s top 10 experiences - how’s that for glowing endorsement? Visit
between February and late July to see nesting pairs of herons, egrets, spoonbills and
crazy feathered hairdos straight out of of a cartoon. Photography contests and updates
are found at: http://www.alligatorfarm.com/rookery.
Another particular attraction is the ‘Crocodile Crossing’ zip-line tour – yep, you’ll zip
over alligators. Two courses satiate speed-freaks and scaredy-cats alike.
• Website: http://www.alligatorfarm.com
• Address: 999 Anastasia Boulevard  St. Augustine, FL 32080
• Children: Discounts to age 11. Zip-liners must be at least 57 inches tall and 10 years
old.
• Pets: No. Don’t bring the alligators a snack.
• Keep in mind: Various discounts, plus coupons on the website
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If you like... golf
★ WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME
Live it, breathe it, now worship at the altar of golfing greats. Sticking with St.
Augustine’s historical theme, you can try out an 1880s version of the game – antique
club, putting green and all. Allow at least three hours for all exhibits, many of which
change regularly.
• Website: http://www.worldgolfhalloffame.org
• Address: One World Golf Pl., St. Augustine, FL 32092
• Children: Discounted kids’ tickets
• Keep in mind: Disinterested family can be dispatched to the on-site IMAX® theater.
PLAYING GOLF
If you want to stick close to St.
Augustine, a few course options
include:
• St. Johns County Public Golf
Course: http://www.sjgc.com
• World Golf Village courses
(two choices) - http://
www.golfwgv.com
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Want more golf?
Please also see our other chapters (page 95 and
131), all of which have detailed golf course info.
Great for children and/or rainy days
★ IMAX® THEATER
When 3D dinosaurs and volcanoes are coming at your face, bigger is better. This
screen is the biggest in the Southeast, so order up a popcorn to match and choose
between a great selection of family movies and vivid documentaries.
• Website: http://www.worldgolfimax.com
• Address: One World Golf Place, St. Augustine, FL 32092
★ CAROUSEL AND PLAYGROUND AT DAVENPORT PARK
This antique carousel offers vintage pricing – $1 per ride! An
adjacent playground called ‘Kourtney's Korner’ is fully
wheelchair-accessible, the kind gift of her bereft parents. If you
find the carousel closed due to bad weather, head inside to
the library next door and enjoy a cuddly story-time together
(for free!)
• Address: 180 San Marco Ave St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Shaded and fully fenced
★ SPLASH PARK AT ST. AUGUSTINE PIER
Combine a beach with a playground and you have a splash
park, right in front of the pier. With restrooms and a shaded
picnic area just beside it – you can keep them splashing happy
‘til nap time.
• Address: 350 Beach Blvd. St. Augustine Beach, FL
• Keep in mind: Free for use and free parking!
★ LITTLE DUDES PARK (SKATEBOARDING AT TREATY PARK)
Fit your little dude (or dudette) with a helmet, file a liability
waiver, and your under-12 can get to work on his/her
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skateboarding skills. Print the waiver in advance if you prefer, and visit the pro shop to
rent any and all equipment (or grab a snack). Week-long skate camps also run during
the summer.
• Website: St. Johns County Parks online
• Address: 1595 Wildwood Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32086
• Pets: Paws Dog Park (fenced) also on site, see page 37 for details.
★ BLACK RAVEN PIRATE SHIP
Have a child with major pirate fascination? If so, a cruise on the Black Raven might fit
the bill. Like the Nick Jr. show that annoys you most, you’ll have to grit your teeth
through this one. Skits and singing are the bad side of amateur – though your children
might be too delighted with the ship, face-painting and their new pirate hat to notice.
For more pirate dealings see page 24.
• Website: http://www.BlackRavenAdventures.com
• Address: 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: See page 44 for beer and bar recommendations – you’ll need it.
★ BOWLING AT ANASTASIA LANES
• Website: http://bowlsrc.com
• Address: 3245 A1A South  St. Augustine, FL 32080
• Keep in mind: Family packages and daily specials on the website.
MINI-GOLF
★ BAYFRONT MINI-GOLF
If you’re coming to St. Augustine for its history,
make a tongue-in-cheek visit to Florida’s oldest
mini-golf course.
• Website: http://www.ripleys.com/redtrains/
bayfront-mini-golf
• Address: 111 Avenida Menendez, St.
Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: $1 with the purchase of a Red
Train ticket (see page 16).
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★ FIESTA FALLS MINI GOLF
TPC Sawgrass might think it has a course to boast about, but does it have eight
waterfalls, a replica Spanish ship and caves? Highly doubtful.
• Website: Fiesta Falls Mini Golf online
• Address: 810 A1A Beach Boulevard, St. Augustine Beach, FL 32080
★ ADVENTURE LANDING
Mini-golf, arcade, go-karts and batting cages – for the competitive family!
• Website: http://www.adventurelanding.com/parks/st-augustine
• Address: 2780 State Road 16, St. Augustine FL 32092
• Keep in mind: Daily specials and web coupons available
Pets: parks & vets
★ PAWS DOG PARK AT TREATY PARK
Small and large dog enclosures across three-
quarters of an acre are fully fenced, and have
water and shade. Big dogs can get acquainted
around a mock fire hydrant.
• Website: Treaty Dog Park online
• Address: 1595 Wildwood Drive, St.
Augustine, FL 32086
• Keep in mind: Open dawn to dusk
★ ANIMAL EMERGENCY HOSPITAL
• Website: http://www.animalemergencyofstjohns.com
• Address: 2505 Old Moultrie Road, St. Augustine, FL
• Keep in mind: 24 hours, 7 days a week
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★ JACKSON VETERINARY HOSPITAL
• Website: http://jacksonvetpractice.vetsuite.com
• Address: 1925 A1A South, St. Augustine, FL
★ PET PARADISE
Boarding, daycare and grooming.
• Website: http://www.petparadiseresort.com
• Address: 125 Ponce Harbor Drive, St. Augustine, FL
• Keep in mind: Locations in Jacksonville and Palm Coast as well.
Restaurants
RECOMMENDED
★ BISTRO DE LEON
A French menu for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner – including kids’ options. Chef
Jean-Stephane is a fifth generation chef and leaves things simple and excellent. As
such, the place is cosy (under a dozen tables) - allowing everything to be made to
order. Why not try: the 3-course Early Bird set menu.
• Cuisine: French café
• Website: http://www.bistrodeleon.com
• Address: 12 Cathedral Pl, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids’ menu available
• Keep in mind: Closed Wednesdays
★ THE TASTING ROOM
Taking home 4 awards in a recent “Best of St. Augustine” survey (including best tapas
and best wine list), you can trust your Spanish food in St. Augustine. To keep your
focus on your friends, family and conversation, the menu makes it easy and has
“Ultimate Lunch or Dinner” options – a chef’s choice of tasting plates to share. Why
not try: Goat Cheese Empanadas.
• Cuisine: Tapas
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What’s the dress code here?
Casual for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Unless a
restaurant is designated as fine dining, you’re welcome to
dress as a tourist enjoying warm weather. If you’re happy
in shorts and T-shirts, so is everyone else.
• Website: http://www.tastetapas.com
• Address: 25 Cuna St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Live music nightly
★ COLUMBIA RESTAURANT
In the thick of St. Augustine’s historic district, the Columbia is very much on the beaten
track - but that’s not to its discredit. Part of a Floridian family of Spanish restaurants
founded in 1905, the room itself packs the same architectural interest you’ll find
outside. Why not try: Paella Campesina.
• Cuisine: Spanish
• Website: http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/st_augustine.asp
• Address: 98 Saint George St.,  St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids’ menu available
• Keep in mind: Open 365 days a year, take-out also available
★ COLLAGE
Quick! Think of something special to celebrate! This restaurant sits, deservedly, in the
“Hey, Big Spender” category – and you’ll love every minute. Top-notch service,
ambiance and excellent food. Save room for: The Bougainvillea Dessert.
• Cuisine: Fine dining
• Website: http://www.collagestaug.com
• Address: 60 Hypolita Street  St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Reservations recommended
★ 95 CORDOVA
To spoil someone you love, head to 95 Cordova. A romantic, elegant spot where you’ll
want a reservation to guarantee getting in. Arrive early? Savor a cocktail near the
piano after no-stress parking: valet is available! (Not always the case in this
pedestrian town). To make an evening of it, stop for a night-cap at the Cobalt Lounge,
also on-site. It presents live music every night. Want to bring the whole family? Book for
Sunday brunch instead (or as well?). Save room for: Meyer Lemon and Lavender Pot
De Crème (menu changes seasonally).
• Cuisine: Fusion
• Website: http://www.casamonica.com/dining/dining.asp
• Address: 1888, 95 Cordova St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
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• Keep in mind: Located in the Casa Monica hotel.
★ THE PRESENT MOMENT CAFÉ
When you’ve had your fill of beach burgers or seafood, the green, healthy stuff is
waiting at this ever-so-holistic café. If your body isn’t a temple quite yet, you’ll be glad
to stop for breakfast, lunch, dinner or dessert. Save room for: Chocolate Marble Torte
with Drunken Banana.
• Cuisine: Organic vegetarian and gluten-free
• Website: http://www.thepresentmomentcafe.com
• Address: U.S. 1 South, 224 W King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Take-out available
★ HARRY'S SEAFOOD, BAR & GRILLE
Sitting on the river just besides the Bridge
of Lions, Harry’s is a St. Augustine
landmark. Seafood is fresh as can be,
though the menu offers plenty of choice
for all palates. Enjoy the outdoor
courtyard flanked with soaring trees. The
building dates to the 1740s and retains
original coquina walls. When was the last
time you ate within such storied walls?
• Cuisine: Louisiana seafood
• Website: Harry’s Seafood Facebook
• Address: 46 Avenida Menendez, St.
Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids’ menu available, Mardi
Gras beads for children
• Pets: Welcome in the outdoor courtyard
★ THE BLACK MOLLY GRILL
A local’s place serving local food - beat that! Extremely welcoming to families, the
tablecloths are paper with a side of Crayola. Don’t let its strip-mall location put you off,
this place is independently owned and operated by long-time restauranteurs. The menu
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Where can I buy fresh fish?
Kyle’s Seafood. Head north on U.S.
Highway 1 (towards Jacksonville). A
great selection of fresh seafood to BBQ
(on the beach?), as well as ready-to-go
items: battered shrimp, smoked fish,
etc. Worth the trip if you love your
seafood!
also offers a chance to try out the local specialty – datil peppers. Save room for: Key
Lime Pie - from scratch!
• Cuisine: Seafood, steaks, fresh and local
• Website: http://www.blackmollygrill.com
• Address: 504 W Geoffrey Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Very family-friendly
• Keep in mind: Desserts change daily.
★ CASA MAYA
Organic ingredients take center stage. Maya welcomes you into a Yucatan hearth and
home. Try to reserve an outside table if you can – the patio is idyllic. The menu boasts
organic ingredients, bought locally and fresh each day. Try the: Hibiscus Sangria or
Mayan Cinnamon Hot Chocolate.
• Cuisine: Mayan
• Website: Casa Maya Facebook
• Address: 22 Hypolita Street, St.
Augustine 32084
• Keep in mind: This place is tiny!
LUNCH
★ CAFÉ ALCAZAR
Want to eat lunch in the deep end of a swimming pool? (Once the world’s largest
indoor pool). This slightly fancy, slightly quirky café serves lunch daily: big, hearty
portions of quality food. Sandwiches and desserts are easily shared over the course of
a very memorable lunch. Definitely try: Curried Chicken Salad.
• Cuisine: Soups/salads/sandwiches
• Website: http://www.thecafealcazar.com
• Address: 25 Granada St., Suite F, St. Augustine, FL 32084,
• Keep in mind: Inside the Lightener Museum. Lunch only!
★ THE BUNNERY
There comes a time in every vacation when you need a pastry. A good pastry – a
Danish made with real butter, or a mid-morning croissant. Stop at The Bunnery to grab
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Datil peppers?
A local St. Augustine specialty!
(And they’re HOT!) You might see them on
the menu, or for sale at a farmers’ market.
If you like to garden, take home a datil
pepper plant
(available at Stewarts Market).
a snack, a quick lunch or a rev-your-engines weekend breakfast, before heading off for
more exploring. Why not try: A PB&J where both bread and jam are home-made.
• Cuisine: Breakfast/sandwiches/salads
• Website: http://www.bunnerybakeryandcafe.com
• Address: 121 St. George's Street, Saint Augustine, FL 32084
★ THE BACK 40 URBAN CAFE
Quite the hole-in-the-wall but you’ll be glad you found it. Fresh food with lots of
veggie/vegan options and a long list of wine and micro-brews. Why not try: Upside
Down Chicken Pot-Pie.
• Cuisine: Salads and sandwiches
• Website: http://back40urbancafe.com
• Address: U.S. 1 South, 40 South Dixie Highway, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids’ menu available
• Keep in mind: closed Sundays
★ MANATEE CAFE
• Cuisine: Vegetarian breakfast and lunch
• Website: http://www.manateecafe.com
• Address: 525 Florida 16 #106  St. Augustine, FL 32084
★ GAS FULL SERVICE RESTAURANT
• Cuisine: Burgers and home-made favorites
• Website: Gas Full Service Facebook
• Address: 9 Anastasia Blvd. #C, Saint Augustine, FL.
• Keep in mind: Desserts change daily – check Facebook
COFFEE, SNACKS AND ICE CREAM
★ THE HYPPO
Lips stained popsicle-pink can be a summertime hazard, but not at The Hyppo. This
gourmet popsicle shop makes everything fresh and completely naturally. Ingredients
are mostly local and the flavors require serious contemplation. You’ll never be satisfied
with plain strawberry again. If you find yourself hooked, they ship nationwide. Save
room for: Datil Strawberry or Pineapple Cilantro
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• Cuisine: Gourmet popsicles
• Website: http://thehyppo.com
• Address: 48 Charlotte St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Yes, yes, and yes
★ CAFÉ DEL HIDALGO
Any gelato expert will proudly tell you how much fresher and healthier gelato is than
ice cream. At Café del Hidalgo it’s made fresh every day – will you gladly help devour
their stock and return for more tomorrow? Save room for: ‘Copa to Share’ tasting
platter.
• Cuisine: Gelato
• Address: 35 Hypolita St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Absolutely
★ LULI'S CUPCAKES
• Cuisine: Cupcakes, birthday cakes and home-made ice cream
• Website: http://www.luliscupcakes.com
• Address: 82 San Marco Avenue  St. Augustine, FL 32084
★ CRUCIAL COFFEE CAFE
• Cuisine: Coffee, tea and desserts
• Website: Crucial Coffee Cafe Facebook
• Address: 26 Charlotte Street, Saint Augustine, FL.
COCKTAILS AND NIGHTLIFE
★ THE CONCH HOUSE
Perhaps eat elsewhere – but do so by sunset. This place is on the water and has the ice
on hand for your favorite cocktail, as soon as the sky turns pink. Happy hours are long
and generous – voted best in the city in a local paper. Why not try: Bahamian Conch
Fritters.
• Cuisine: Cocktails
• Website: http://www.conch-house.com
• Address: 57 Comares Ave. St. Augustine, FL 32080
• Keep in mind: Live reggae music on Sundays
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★ SANGRIAS WINE & PIANO BAR
The Spanish left quite a legacy – that of sangria on a balmy night. Enjoy a pitcher
while people-watching from your balcony perch – time it right (or check their online
calendar) and there might be live music too. Why not try: Sweet Potato Black Bean
Burritos.
• Cuisine: Tapas and wine
• Address: 35 Hypolita Street  St. Augustine, FL 32084
FOR BEER AND CIGARS
★ A1A ALE WORKS
Beer and a great view – are all your needs met? This casual spot beckons with a big
patio upstairs, solving any problems you have with spare time on a sunny afternoon.
Try a new beer brewed in-house, or choose from a decent selection of imported beer.
Hungry? Standard pub fare is also available. Save room for: Fried Custard.
• Cuisine: Handcrafted Beer
• Website: http://www.a1aaleworks.com
• Address: 1 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: You can try all 6 house beers in a sample session
★ J.P. HENLEY'S
Bay-front views and televised sports make a bar that everyone can agree on. Fifty draft
beers offer a selection not to be rivaled (add a sausage sampler) or, if you're more of
a wine fan, try a glass with a cheese plate. Why not try: Lazy Magnolia Southern
Pecan Ale.
• Cuisine: Beers & wines of the world
• Website: http://www.jphenleys.com
• Address: 10 Marine St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Kids’ menu available
★ STOGIES JAZZ CLUB & LISTENING ROOM
Cigar connoisseurs will find Stogies a welcome respite from Florida’s heat, however
non-smokers should check out the craft beer selection. Enjoy one or both in their
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outdoor courtyard, where live music might be blues or jazz. Save time for: a board
game played upstairs.
• Cuisine: Beer, wine, cigars
• Address: 36 Charlotte St., Saint Augustine, FL 32084
• Pets: Welcome in the outdoor courtyard
Things to do at night
Live music
Through the summer, both visitors and locals enjoy two free concerts, one on Wednesday and
one on Thursday, every week. In addition to an annual classical music festival, there’s a great
deal of live music going on, all around town. For a great up-to-date listing of what’s on, see
Old City music news.
★ MUSIC BY THE SEA (WEDNESDAY)
Bring your beach chairs to enjoy a range of music, something different every week.
Annual anniversary shows bring the big names – most recently former members of The
Hollies, The Moody Blues, and Wings.
• Website: http://thecivicassociation.com
• Address: St. Augustine Beach
• Children: Family-friendly
• Keep in mind: From May through September
★ CONCERTS IN THE PLAZA (THURSDAY)
Gather your picnic around a gazebo, for another summer evening of free music. Is St.
Augustine good to you or what? Check the website for the schedule, it might be
anything from bluegrass to pop-rock.
• Website: Concerts in the Plaza online
• Address: Cathedral Place and King Street, to the west of the Bridge of Lions
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• Keep in mind: Memorial Day through Labor Day
★ ST. AUGUSTINE MUSIC FESTIVAL (ANNUAL)
Two musicians in the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra founded this free summer
festival in 2007, and it’s now a much-anticipated feature of St. Augustine’s events
calendar
• Website: http://staugustinemusicfestival.org
• Date: Consecutive weekends in June
• Keep in mind: Did we mention it’s free?
★ RHYTHM AND RIBS FESTIVAL (ANNUAL)
Barbeque. Live music. (And - if applicable - your children, happy and smiling). This
annual, 3-day event is for charity and last year welcomed 20,000 visitors.
• Website: http://www.rhythmandribs.net
• Date: Early April
Ghost tours
Here’s the thing about ghost tours. They’re like bachelor parties. Half the group will have a
great time, the other half will wish they’d stayed home. Maybe you believe in ghosts, or
maybe you’re just along for the ride – either way, St. Augustine’s stories leave room for
dozens of ghostly offerings in the tourist spectrum. Once the sun’s gone down, it’s basically
ghost-everything: haunted horse rides, haunted lighthouses, haunted jails. Care to join in?
Here are a handful of the more creative options – by no means an exhaustive list.
• Winter warning: Dress warmly if heading out for nighttime haunting. Many tours last two
hours or more, plenty long enough to wish you’d brought a scarf.
• Enjoying your tour: If you’ve spent the day sight-seeing, you might be asking a lot of your
legs to walk a few more hours after dark. If you have the flexibility, schedule your ghostly
evening after an easy day of beach bumming.
• With kids: Some tours aim to be scarier than others and aren’t suitable for youngsters.
Elsewhere in the world we’ve heard of a children’s birthday party at a “friendly” ghost
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tour – where every child went home early in tears. Ask the tour operator about its
appropriateness, or check others parents’ reviews on TripAdvisor or similar sites.
★ HAUNTED PUB TOUR (GHOST AUGUSTINE)
Gather your geeks! This one includes ghost gadgets and beer. Variations on the night-
time pub tour theme include the company’s other offerings: their Haunted Hearse Tour,
Total Paranormal St. Augustine Tour or – for the weirdest designated-driver ever – the
Pub Hearse Ride. Scary or silly, it’ll be a more memorable night than hotel room HBO.
• Website: http://www.ghostaugustine.com/haunted-pub-tour.php
• Address: Departs from 162 St. George Street, suite 19 (inside Heritage Walk mall)
• Children: "Midnight" Hearse Ride Tour allows teens, otherwise must be 21.
• Pets: Pets are allowed with prior permission on private hearse tours.
• Keep in mind: Discounts for online booking.
★ GHOST TOURS OF ST. AUGUSTINE
Did you know it’s possible to be a professionally licensed ghost tour guide? These guys
have got it. Choose to ride, walk or investigate in their capable leadership – whether
on the Ghostly Experience walking tour, Ghost and Gravestones riding tour, or the
Potters House of Wax paranormal investigation.
• Website: http://www.ghosttoursofstaugustine.com
• Address: 2 St. George Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Children ages six and up can ride the ‘Trolley of the Doomed’
• Keep in mind: Check website for coupons
St. Augustine at Christmas
St. Augustine is a great spot in the winter months, whether you’re a snowbird (or a spring
chicken). Here are seven reasons to visit around the holidays.
★ ST. AUGUSTINE CHRISTMAS PARADE
Starting at 10 a.m. from the Mission of Nombre de Dios, this large, loud and festive
parade weaves through historic St. Augustine for over an hour. Get photos with Santa
afterwards in the Plaza de la Constitucion.
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• Address: ends at Plaza de la Constitucion, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Keep in mind: Typically the first Saturday in December.
★ WINTER WONDERLAND
The St. Augustine Amphitheater puts on its snowsuit each year, complete with an Elf
Village for little kids and a Blizzard Bounce for slightly older ones. Amidst snow
machines, adults and kids alike will enjoy hot cocoa, an outdoor ice rink, plus sleigh
rides and photos with Santa. A weekday or weeknight visit will be a much quieter
experience than Friday or Saturday night.
• Website: http://www.winterwonderlandflorida.com
• Address: 1340C A1A South, St. Augustine, FL 32080
• Children: Family-friendly, though some rides have height restrictions
• Keep in mind: Free admission with individually ticketed rides
Holiday tours
★ HOLIDAY TOUR OF BED & BREAKFAST INNS
A tour that comes with treats! Over twenty of St. Augustine’s decorated historic inns
open their doors to visitors across a holiday weekend. Each one offers seasonal
samples from a local restaurant, bakery or chocolatier, should you need added
incentive. A once-a-year chance to see the city’s best in sparkling holiday light.
• Website: http://staugustinebandbtour.com
• Keep in mind: Proceeds go to St. Augustine’s “Empty Stocking Fund”.
★ CANDLELIGHT TOURS AT VILLA ZORAYDA
Arrive early for some holiday refreshments, then tour this 1880s mock Moorish castle
by candlelight. Book this as a fantastic surprise for anyone in your group who loves
history, art or a little holiday romance.
• Website: http://www.villazorayda.com/candlelighttours.html
• Address: 83 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
• Children: Ages 3 and up are very welcome, with children 4-7 admitted free.
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• Keep in mind: Reservations are recommended due to popularity/limited space.
Nights of Lights
National Geographic knows outdoor beauty – and rightly named St. Augustine’s Night of
Lights amongst the top ten places to see holiday lights worldwide. ‘Over two months of lights’
would be a more appropriate but not-so-rhyming name, as the spectacle runs from mid-
November to late January each year. As if this magical city needed extra gloss, you can’t
believe the fanciful transformation made from a few million Christmas lights strung across
town.
Enterprising businesses offer ways and means of amplifying your experience – whether
involving a trolley, a horse or some carols.
★ NIGHTS OF LIGHTS CARRIAGE TOUR
• Website: http://www.thetastingtours.com/night-of-lights-carriage-tour.html
• Keep in mind: This tour comes with wine! Reservations required.
★ HOLLY JOLLY TROLLEY – OR – SANTA’S BIG RED CHRISTMAS TRAIN
Both trolley/train tour companies offer a Night of Lights experience with carol-singing,
refreshments and a good atmosphere for all ages. See page 16 to determine whether
you’re a trolley or a train person.
• Trolleys: Holly Jolly Website
• Trains: Christmas Train Website
• Children: Family-friendly
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St. Augustine area beaches
The beaches (north to south)
• Vilano Beach: Separated from the rest by the inlet, this beach is a great skim-boarding
destination as its shore is very steep.
• Anastasia State Recreation Area: The only beach where cars are banned. Also the only
beach where pets are banned. You win some, you lose some!
• St. Augustine Beach: Very popular and quite commercial, you’re in the middle of The
Action. The beach is very rocky near the pier and swimming is not recommended due to
strong waves. Good for surfing though!
• Crescent Beach: A great family beach with nice, soft