Attractions in St. Augustine
There are many points of interest in St. Augustine that you will want to consider putting on your "must see" list. Here are a few of my suggestions:
- Twenty-three years in the making, the Castillo de San Marcos, was begun in 1672. The old fort was constructed of coquina shell stones and has remarkably withstood, not only many attacks, but the test of time. Just as it stood as a keystone of defense in its time, it stands today as a cornerstone of this city's history. | Photo |
- Sip a refreshing drink from the pre-historic Indian Spring that Ponce de Leon hoped was his Fountain of Youth. This is North America's first historic site where you can stroll through the excavations of the original colony and see life-sized exhibits.
- The Lightner Museum will take you on a trip back in time. Housed in the former Hotel Alczar, built in 1888 by Henry Flagler, relics of America's Gilded Age are elegantly exhibited on the museum's three floors. You will marvel in the elegance of the newly restored ballroom.
- Climb to new heights at the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum, where you will witness breathtaking views of St. Augustine and the beaches. Experience a keeper's way of life and explore the Victorian era house as you examine artifacts in the maritime museum. | Photo |
As with other popular tourist areas, attractions spring up that have little to do with anything, but can nonetheless be entertaining. Some worth noting are:
- Potter's Wax Museum - The first wax museum founded in the United States features more than 170 famous past and present movie stars, poets, composers, artists, authors, explorers, kings, and presidents.
- Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum - This is the original museum with three floor of one-of-a-kind exhibits collected from around the world. It is located in the historically significant landmark, Castle Warden.
Old World charm, historical monuments, unique attractions and world-class shopping are not all that St. Augustine has to offer. The beach of Anastasia Island is just minutes away.
The Beaches and More
Just minutes from the historic district of St. Augustine, lies the Atlantic Ocean and miles of beaches. Following highway A1A south over the Bridge of Lions onto Anastasia Island, our first stop was the St. John County Pier, where ocean pier fishing is offered with no fishing license required. Pole rentals were reasonable, and needed tackle, bait, ice and snacks were available.Heading back north a very short distance, we found the public beach and boat ramp which is part of the Anastasia State Recreation Area. The beach has to be one of the best kept secrets of Florida's East Coast – a wide white sand beach set against a backdrop of natural dunes topped with sea oats.
We staked our claim to a prime view of the ocean and the anticipated sunset. We didn't venture far into the water, since the Atlantic waves were a bit rough due to a late summer afternoon thunderstorm brewing, and there were no lifeguards. The Atlantic Ocean is known well for its rip currents and we were not taking any chances. Laying back on the warm sand we soaked up the sun and relaxed to the sounds of the ocean surf and seagulls.
Before we left, we were treated to a spectacular sunset. Our visit was complete.
Directions to St. Augustine:
St. Augustine is located in St. Johns County on the East Coast of Florida between the San Sebastian and Mantanzas Rivers and a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean.From I-75: Take Exit 95 (Highway 16) off of Interstate 95 and travel east on Highway 16 to St. Augustine.
From Hwy 1: Turn east onto Highway 16 or King Street.
From Hwy A1A: Traveling north or south on Highway A1A will take you directly into St. Augustine.
