Years later these spots on our list still hold up as some of the best places to visit in St. Augustine. St. Augustine, known locally as The Ancient City, is home to quaint cobblestone streets and quirky historic sites. You’ll see history come to life here as you visit the area’s incredible museums and take a local haunted house tour. Located between Jacksonville, Orlando, and Daytona, this North Florida hot spot boasts a year-round perfect climate ideal for walking the delightful historic district.

Beyond the history, you’ll find excellent modern restaurants serving all types of delicious fare. Plus, live music, theater, art galleries, and 40 miles of pristine beachfront.

So read on and start planning your next trip — and if you need lodging, book a St. Augustine vacation rental to save money and gain so much more space & privacy over a traditional hotel.

Originally Published: May 23, 2019

Top 9 St. Augustine Activities

Lightner Museum

Lightner Museum is housed in the former Alcazar Hotel built in 1888. The current mission of the Museum is to preserve, maintain, research, and interpret the Museum’s collections. They wish to educate the public and find new and exciting ways to showcase history.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

This Florida attraction functions as a modern zoo serving the public and the scientific community with educational shows, exhibits, research, and worldwide conservation efforts. You will definitely want to check out Crocodile Crossing the park’s thrilling zip-line attraction.

St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum

The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc. is a private, nonprofit museum and a historic landmark. Visitors help save history, preserve 6 historic buildings, conserve 19,000 artifacts and maritime archaeological specimens. Discover new exhibits, explore the nature trail or talk with a conservator of archaeological artifacts. They are an AAM Accredited institution and a Smithsonian Affiliate.

St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum

Looking to learn about pirates? Look no further! This museum offers exciting and educational programs that will take you back in time to the Golden Age of Piracy.

St. Augustine Distillery

This cool distillery is distilling super premium, small batch spirits with local ingredients. This is hands down one one of the most beautiful and well-designed craft distilleries in America. They make some of the best spirits around. 

The Pirate Ship Black Raven

See Florida’s best live pirate show onboard a real pirate ship. Their goal is to provide a wide variety of dynamic and interactive entertainment programs that will suit all ages. The performance is rehearsed, but not scripted, allowing the pirates to improvise with the crowd. Ahoy Matey!

Catch 27

Catch 27 is conveniently located in the heart of historic St. Augustine, Florida. They only serve fresh, locally caught seafood and cook everything from scratch with seasonal ingredients and local produce.

The Floridian

At this cool spot they would describe their menu as ‘Innovative Southern Fare for Omnivores, Herbivores and Locavores.’ Everything is regionally-inspired and fresh from the source. This is a great place to go if you are looking for comfort food or a healthier, but still satisfying meal.

Ice Plant

Inspired by the historical period of the early 20th century, their idea is to reintroduce guests to a time where the experience of having a cocktail and a bite to eat was both healthful and enjoyable. They offer local ingredients in a creative way with a beautiful presentation. The farm to table restaurant and bar is open for lunch and dinner.

Author

Hi, I'm Paul, I'm a travel writer and I love everything about the salt life. I grew up in the northeast, but we visited family in Florida often ... and I was hooked! I've been writing about the Sunshine State for two decades. I enjoy helping travelers find the best places to stay, to eat, and to play in Florida.

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