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St. Augustine is a beautiful, historic city in Florida, United States. It is the oldest city in the country, founded in 1565. Many people look over St. Augustine, but that is a huge mistake! Everyone who comes here absolutely loves it, so you cannot go wrong with a visit. Here are the best things to do in St. Augustine, Florida!
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St. Augustine Beach
The beach in St. Augustine is absolutely gorgeous. Spanning 42 miles, the beaches are very clean and not crowded, even on weekends.
The coolest part of the beaches here is that you can drive your car on part of the sand. Once you park, you can tailgate in your car, or walk over to the pedestrian area and set up camp there. I did not do this since we stayed so close to the beach, but it looked fun and I want to do it next time I visit!
Alcohol is not allowed on the beach here, but all the locals we talked to said you should be fine if you hide it in a plain, plastic cup or bottle. But no glass to protect the wildlife!
Castillo de San Marcos
The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest fort in the continental United States, and the oldest building in St. Augustine.
In 1702, all the town’s residents had to hide in the fort for two months when the British tried to seize the city. The Spanish eventually overtook the British, but the entire city was burned down during the seize.
The cost to enter is only $15 for adults, and free for children who are accompanied by an adult.
Due to the pandemic, the castle is currently closed to visitors. You can get the
latest updates on reopening here.
A Ghost Tour
Since the city is the oldest in the US, it is a great place for a Ghost Tour!
I had never been on a ghost tour before, and I was skeptical of what it would be like. However, I absolutely loved it!
The tour lasted about 80 minutes and based on Google Maps, we walked almost one mile. It was all outside, so plan for the weather!
It was an interesting mix of history and ghost stories, and our tour guide was very enthusiastic. He was very open to answering any questions we had about ghosts or anything else in the town.
During the tour, they encourage you to take photos of the haunted areas and buildings in case you catch some orbs or unusual lights that could be ghosts. One person in my group got some interesting photos of moving lights.
I would highly recommend the tour that I took! You can find more info and tickets
here!
I do not want to give too much away, but the restaurant shown above is haunted! It is called Harry’s Seafood Bar & Grille, and we wish we had a chance to eat here. There are some great stories about the buildings in the historic district. Take the tour early in your visit if you want time to explore the haunted places after!
Shopping in Historic Downtown St. Augustine
The shopping area in downtown St. Augustine is abundant. From jewelry and cigars to wine, chocolate, and candy, there is something for everyone!
Some of the less common shops that you can find are a coat of arms shop, some crystal shops, and a few adorable dog-accessory shops.
Walking around and going into shops can easily take at least half a day.There are also plenty of restaurants and bars scattered throughout the streets.
I cannot tell you enough how much I adore St. Augustine. From the history to shopping to ghosts, there is truly something for everyone. Next time you are in Florida, make sure to take some time to visit, and make sure to do all the best things in St. Augustine that I listed above. You will not regret it!
If you are getting ready to travel during the pandemic, read
my post on how to prepare to travel in a pandemic here!
Don’t forget to find and book the cheapest flights using Skyscanner!
