Things to do in Atlantic Coast
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Island Watercraft Rental
Offers pontoons (half-day $250), fishing boats (two hours $90) and motorboats (half-day $225), as well as inner-tubes and skis.
reviewed
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A
Fat Snook
Hidden inside an uninspired building and decorated in cool and calming blue and green hues with a minimalist and modern flair, tiny Fat Snook stands out as an oasis of fine cooking. Yes, there's a distinct air of food snobbery here, so don't even think about asking for any tweaks to what the chef is preparing. But it's so tasty, no one seems to mind.
reviewed
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B
Aix
Bankers and Beautiful People dine on fashionably fusiony Mediterranean dishes at Aix, whose location – inside a nearly unmarked brick building in an ungentrified area of San Marco – adds to its charm. The menu bursts with global flavors – start with, say, Moroccan lamb meatballs, move on to white-truffle pizza, then finish with locally raised duck with mushroom bread pudding. Reservations recommended; service can be slow.
reviewed
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C
Spanish Quarter Museum
Spanning 2 acres, this multi-building complex is a recreation of 1740 St Augustine. Walled off from the street, you're encouraged to wander the garrison's restored buildings and speak to the craftspeople (re-enactors) who use 18th-century technology to operate recreated 'storefronts': a blacksmith, a leather shop and a carpentry studio. Explanations of the centuries-old procedures are in 21st-century vernacular, but the craftspeople live out their period roles, often camping for weeks in nearby wilderness areas using only materials available in the 1700s, road-testing the clothing and tools you see them make here.
reviewed
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Floridian
Though it oozes hipster-locavore earnestness, this new farm-to-table restaurant is so friggin' fabulous you won't even want to roll your eyes. The chef-owners scour every corner of North Florida for produce, meat and fish, which they turn into whimsical neo-Southern creations – fried-green-tomato bruschetta with local goat cheese, Vietnamese bahn mi sandwiches with acorn-fed pork, catch-of-the-day with Florida citrus–sweet potato salsa. The dining room is oh-so-cool, with vintage turquoise Formica tables, mix-matched chandeliers and an old rowboat suspended from the ceiling like modern art.
reviewed
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D
Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art
The focus of this ultra-modern space extends beyond painting: in the cavernous white halls, you'll get lost in sculpture, prints, photography and film in excellent rotating exhibits of post-1945 creations.
reviewed
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E
Oldest House
Also known as the González-Alvarez House, this is the oldest surviving Spanish-era home in Florida, dating to the early 1700s and sitting on a site occupied since the 1600s. The house is part of a complex that also contains two small historical museums and a lovely ornamental garden.
reviewed
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Pasha Middle East Cafe
Chow on falafel, kabob, hummus, tabbouleh – and of course baklava – in a casual, family-run cafe and deli.
reviewed
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Pirate & Treasure Museum
An interactive treasure hunt, animatronic pirates (including a decapitated Blackbeard) and periodic cannonball blast noises make this brand-new spot seem halfway between theme park and museum. But don't be mistaken: there are plenty of historical treasures here, from a genuine treasure chest to 17th-century gold-and-silver plunder. It's all the private collection of Pat Croce, former Philadelphia 76ers owner and sports commentator.
reviewed
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Richard Petty Driving Experience
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Rose Villa
In-the-know local B&B owners frequently steer their guests to this lovely new under-the-radar bistro, in a renovated Victorian house a few miles north of Daytona. The menu is charmingly old-fashioned 'Continental' – veal chop in cream sauce, Scottish salmon with caper butter – and the setting (vintage wallpaper, heavy carpets, bone china) enchanting. If it's nice out, try for a table in the tree-shaded backyard gazebo.
reviewed
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St Augustine City Walks
Super-popular and extremely fun, these walking tours range from the Haunted Pub Crawl to the Savory Faire Food Tour (exploring the culture and history behind the city's cuisine) to the History, Mystery, Mayhem and Murder tour of the city's cemeteries, pirate hangouts and other dark spots.
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Gamble Place
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Hot Stuff Mon
Dozens of types of hot sauce made from St Augustine's famous datil pepper and other great gifts for foodies.
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Hyppo
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La Herencia Café
On St Aug's oldest street, this brightly painted Cuban cafe serves breakfast all day and killer Cuban sandwiches. Relax here with a cup of café con leche, just like in Old Havana.
reviewed
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Mai Tai Bar
A party-happy crowd downs crayon-colored rum drinks at this fun Hawaiian-themed bar.
reviewed
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Mango Mango's
It's hard not to be charmed by this cheery lime- and coral-colored beach bistro, with a menu of likeable Caribbean-fusion fare – crunchy coconut shrimp, chicken with mango sauce, tons of sandwiches and wraps.
reviewed
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Mission of Nombre de Dios
Just north of downtown on 1A, the mission dates back to the earliest days of Spanish settlement. Today, the peaceful memorial gardens feature a replica of the original altar, a tiny ivy-shrouded chapel and a small museum.
reviewed
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Oyster Pub
Perpetually crowded, this sporty pub has a zillion TVs, tons of outdoor seating and all the fresh Gulf oysters you can suck down.
reviewed
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PGA Tour Golf Academy
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Plaza de la Constitution
In the heart of downtown, this grassy square, a former marketplace for food (and slaves), has a gazebo, some cannon and a Civil War memorial, as well as the remains of the town well.
reviewed
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Spanish Military Hospital Museum
Not for the faint of heart, guided tours of this museum discuss Colonial-era medical techniques in all their gory glory: amputations, leeching, the whole shebang. Housed in a reconstruction of the original hospital, the museum will make you very glad you're not a patient in 1791!
reviewed
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St Augustine Outlets
Dozens of name brands, including Saks, BCBG and Kate Spade, just down the street from St Augustine Premium Outlets. The outlets are a 15-minute drive from downtown along FL-16.
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St Augustine Premium Outlets
Name brands like Gap, Banana Republic, Nike and more, at steep discounts. The outlets are a 15-minute drive from downtown along FL-16.
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