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ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH
Nearby Beachfront Bed & Breakfast, there is a lot to explore. Looking for a souvenir of your visit to the beach? Or just in need of sunscreen or outdoor gear? St. Augustine Beach is dotted with independently operated gift and retail stores that offer collectibles, seaside and nautical-themed wares, and offbeat and unusual gifts and antiques. The beach area has fun surf shops, casual eateries, boutiques, rentals for bikes, kites, kayaks, windsurfing and much more. You can ride the shuttle bus that stops at La Fiesta Ocean Inn & Suites (Our Sister Property) into the historic district to the trolley for days of adventure. See wildlife, go fishing, don a new straw hat. Climb the steps up the Lighthouse, play tennis or volleyball, or buy local produce at the farmer's market. It's all close by and waiting for you. |
| HISTORIC DISTRICT
Cross the historic Bridge of Lions to the heart of St. Augustine, with 11 pedestrian-only blocks of the old city's historic district. When 16th-century Spaniards occupied the coast of the tropical paradise that Ponce de Leon named after the Spanish Easter season, pascua Florida, little did they realize that 400 years later their architecture and much of their cultural beauty would still be intact within the seacoast town of St. Augustine. The main pedestrian thoroughfare is St. George Street, lined by 18th-century houses that are now historic landmarks and dotted with boutiques, shops, galleries, and excellent restaurants. Visitors are entranced as they walk the brick-lined streets, or pass under rustic, coquina archways and wooden floral trellises. Horses and carriages allow guests leisurely rides through the quaint little town, which was founded in centuries past on the Spanish Empire's Patron Saint's Day. Anchoring the bay front is Castillo de San Marcos (1695); the nation's oldest and only remaining 17th-century stone fort and a national monument that you can tour inside and out. |
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| Bringing the ambiance of the old city to life are more than 40 annual festivals and events, many of them featuring historically accurate costuming that reflect the history of St. Augustine as the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States. Highlighting the year's events is the annual Nights of Lights, a Christmas holiday celebration featuring millions of tiny white lights that outline the bay front and buildings of historic downtown St. Augustine, transforming the old city into a festive night time holiday wonderland. | |
| Take a walking tour, ranging from historical themes to colorful "Ghost Tours." Each spring and fall, St. Augustine hosts an annual art and craft festival. A myriad of multicultural and local heritage events take place in the summer months. Ecotourism and educational events, including themed celebrations honoring historic dates, are presented throughout the year. Events such as the Nautical Festival, Hastings Cabbage & Potato Festival and six professional fishing tournaments capitalize on St. Johns County's natural resources. The Nights of Lights is traditionally staged from Thanksgiving through the end of January. St. Johns County's exceptional natural resources offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation experiences. There are 10 championship golf courses in St. Johns County, including some of the most renowned courses in the United States. In St. Augustine, nine public tennis courts are available for play at four different municipal sites. Fishing, bicycling, hiking and even bird watching are all enjoyed by visitors to St. Augustine. |  |
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DINING AND NIGHTLIFE
St. Augustine and the beaches boast more than 150 restaurants, ranging from thatch roof bungalows and old fish camps to gourmet bistros and turn-of-the-century Victorian mansions. These unique eateries serve incredibly fresh seafood and global gourmet delicacies. From extravagant to family affordable, the restaurants in this picturesque area of northeast Florida provide the perfect dining experience for all vacation lifestyles. |
| BEYOND ST. AUGUSTINE
There's still much more to entertain you. The World Golf Hall of Fame and its IMAX theatre are about 20 minutes away. Capture the excitement of speed at Daytona International Speedway, home of NASCAR'S Daytona 500, Pepsi 400, and Professional Sports Car Racing, is just one hour's drive south. You can watch a shuttle launch from the beach at La Fiesta, with the space center at Cape Kennedy about 2 hours down the coast. And Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and all the other adventures in Orlando are about a two-hour drive from St. Augustine. |
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Ponte Vedra is home to a major PGA tournament and world-class tennis competitions while St. Augustine hosts six professional fishing tournaments annually. Stock car racing is held year-round in St. Augustine. Pari-mutuel wagering is held north of St. Augustine. The PGA Tour’s The Players Championship, Ponte Vedra Beach, is staged each year in late March or early April, and the new World Golf Village hosts many professional golf tournaments all through the year. ATP, the Association of Tennis Professionals, in Ponte Vedra Beach, is an internationally known training facility for many professional tennis players. Six professional fishing tournaments, some offering prizes up to $50,000, are conducted each year in St. Johns County. St. Augustine Speedway, a NASCAR-affiliated speedway offers stock car racing in six categories. Daytona International Speedway featuring NASCAR & BUSCH races along with Bike Week motorcycle events is just one hour from La Fiesta. St. Johns Greyhound Park simulcasting pari-mutual wagering events is just north of St. Augustine. Other nearby pro and amateur sports includes NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, the area’s National Football League team. Two collegiate football events hosted at Jacksonville’s NFL stadium include the Georgia/Florida Game where the rival Bulldogs and Gators go at it, and, the New Year's Gator Bowl that matches two of college football's outstanding teams. |
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SHOPPING St. Augustine offers a panorama of shopping, ranging from one-of-a-kind art and antique stores to two of the largest and most popular factory outlet malls in the Southeast. For shoppers who enjoy art and antiques, shopping in St. Augustine is particularly attractive. The number of art galleries in the Old City has nearly quadrupled since the late 1980s and is home to one of Florida's most productive arts communities. If antiques are desired, then St. Augustine is an ideal place to shop. Three distinct antique shopping areas are grouped within five minutes walking or driving distance of the center of St. Augustine. |
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| These local websites can help you plan your visit to St Augustine. If you click on any of the below links, your browser will open a new window. Simply close that window to return to this page:
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SPORTS EVENTS