Discover St. Augustine, Florida: Historic Sites, Beaches and Dining

Castillo de San Marcos is located on the western shore of Matanzas Bay and is one of the most popular St. Augustine attractions. The Spanish, who saw the need to fortify what was then a tiny garrison town, built the Castillo between 1672 and 1695. Today, Castillo de San Marcos is a National Monument situated on 20.5 acres of beautiful green spaces that make the park truly astounding.

The Park incorporates a reconstructed part of the wall surrounding St. Augustine, FL along with the original gate into the city.

Bring the kids to explore the fort's casements, see the exhibition of weapons, or watch actors in period costumes who offer demonstrations of historical weapons and reenact the life of the colonists who once lived in the area. Talk to the Park Rangers about the Castillo, its history, and the people who used to live there.

1 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, Florida

The Lightner Museum is housed in the historic Hotel Alcazar on King Street in downtown Saint Augustine. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the hotel was built in 1887 in the Spanish Renaissance Revival style. The building features an open courtyard, palm trees, and a fishpond with a stone arch bridge.

The museum’s collection emphasizes historic items from the Victorian period in particular. Visitors can see a Victorian village on the first floor, the Victorian Science and Industry Room, and a music room full of instruments. The second floor, on the other hand, is devoted to glass, including Tiffany stained glass, while the third floor contains furniture, paintings, and sculptures.

75 King Street, St. Augustine, Florida, 904-824-2874

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm was established in 1893 as a small Florida reptile exhibition, and it soon became a popular Florida attraction. Today, it is a modern accredited zoo on Anastasia Island that has all the species of the crocodilians still alive in the world today. St. Augustine Alligator Farm is the only crocodile farm in the world that has specimens from all 23 species of crocodilians recognized by biologists. If you are interested in animals, this is one of the top things to do in St. Augustine.

The best way to see them all is by Crocodile Crossing, the Alligator Farm’s zip-line. You will literally zip over the whole park and see live crocodilians, tropical birds, and lemurs in their habitats from the air without disturbing them.

999 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL, 904-824-3337

With its perfect climate, the Old City is a wonderful and fascinating place to explore. Cobblestone streets line the old city, which is full of historic landmarks like the Castillo de San Marcos, museums like the Lightner Museum, bars, cafes, inns, and shops.

If you are looking for date night ideas in St. Augustine, there are historic walking tours, horse-drawn carriage tours, and a sightseeing trolley train. One of the most interesting historical sights is Old St. Augustine Village. This one square city block consists of a group of nine houses that date from 1790 to 1910. In addition to the houses, there are beautiful gardens and courtyards as well as five exhibit galleries.

The Ximenez-Fatio House was originally built in 1798 as a home for the Ximenez family. This lovely coquina stone architectural gem became a fashionable St. Augustine’s boarding house that offered lodging to many more or less distinguished guests. It is open to the public as a museum showcasing the way of life in Florida in the early 19th century during the original Florida tourist boom.

All rooms have been restored and are meticulously preserved. Each room tells a story about a particular type of visitor that stayed in the boarding house: adventurers, pirates, sick people recovering in Florida’s balmy climate, soldiers, sailors, botanists, and all other kinds of early tourists.

20 Aviles Street, St. Augustine, Florida, 904-829-3575

The Spanish built the small fort of Fort Matanzas in 1742 when they ruled Florida. Fort Matanzas guarded Matanzas Inlet, effectively watching over St. Augustine’s southern river bank, while the much larger and stronger Castillo de San Marcos protected the north. The fort is a national monument today and serves as an exciting destination for exploring the early and violent history of Florida.

Visitors can explore fairly well preserved fort ramparts, officer’s quarters, gunpowder room, and its five original cannons. Fort Matanzas is part of a large 100-acres park, and a boardwalk provides a half-mile long path through the mangrove forest, offering a glimpse of a barrier island ecosystem, a live fort that today protects the coast from violent storms.

8635 A1A South, Saint Augustine, Florida, 904-471-0116

For most visitors, St. George Street is St. Augustine’s main attraction. There is so much to do and see here that many visitors never get a chance to explore the surrounding cobblestone streets and other nearby areas. Get a taste of what else St. Augustine has to offer by starting your exploration at the narrow, brick-paved Charlotte Street. Take a tour of the Oldest House, which has been standing there since the1600s.

On Hypolita Street, you can visit the Spice and Tea Exchange of St. Augustine. A few more minutes of walking will take you to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park on Magnolia Avenue and Tolomato Cemetery as well as Grace United Methodist Church, a stunning piece of architecture. You cannot possibly see everything in one visit, so you will just have to come back. Map

About five miles south of historic, charming St. Augustine lies Anastasia State Park, which takes you to another world of pristine beaches, ancient dunes, tidal marshes, and dense mangroves. The park consists of 1,600 acres of incredibly rich ecosystems full of wildlife. If you are wondering what to do in St Augustine with active kids, this is a great idea.

You can spend a day swimming, beachcombing, hiking, bird watching, or just taking in the scenery and contemplating the richness of nature. You can stay the night in one of the 139 campsites and rent a bike, kayak, paddleboard, or sailboat. There is even a grill area for a delicious beach lunch or dinner.

300 Anastasia Park Road, Saint Augustine, Florida, 904-461-2033

Not even half an hour north from the heart of the St. Augustine’s historic district lies a wild world. St. Augustine Wild Reserve is a habitat for fascinating exotic pets who needed new homes. Deborah Warrick, zoologist and the founder of the Reserve, has rescued hundreds of wild animals that started their lives as pets in people’s homes, and she now provides care for them at this reserve.

Once some realize that a wild animal is not exactly behaving as they expected and does not fit their lifestyle, they have a choice of giving them to Deborah and the St. Augustine Wild Reserve. If you visit the Reserve, you will have a chance to see tigers, bears, wolfs, lions, egrets, coatis, and much more. The goal of the Reserve is to provide a home for these animals and to educate people about what it means to have an exotic animal at home.

St. Augustine Wild Reserve , 5190 Farm Creek Rd., St. Augustine, FL 32092, Phone: 904-940-0664

Formerly known as the Colonial Spanish Quarter, the Colonial Quarter opened in 2013 after a major renovation project. It is located at 33 St George Street in downtown Saint Augustine. The quarter opened in 1963 as a living museum devoted to showing life in the city in the 1740s when the area was under Spanish control.

Today, visitors can tour the two-acre Colonial Quarter with its many historical buildings, shops, and restaurants. If you are wondering what to see in St. Augustine, this is a great place to visit. Private parties and group events are hosted at the historic De Mesa Sanchez House built in the 1740s. There are several tours available such as the Historic Adventure Tour, school tours, and group tours, as well as summer camps for children.

Colonial Quarter, 33 St George Street, Saint Augustine, Florida, 904-342-2857