Things to do in St Augustine
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O'Reilly House Museum
Caught in the grip of a severe offshore hurricane in the late 1800s, the desperate captain of a supply ship heading from the Minorca Islands to St Augustine ordered most of the cargo to be thrown overboard to save the ship from sinking in the tumultuous seas.
It was then that the crew found a little statue of the Madonna, 3ft high with human hair curls and silk and Spanish lace petticoats. They prayed to it for their safe passage and, as the story goes, the winds dropped and they were able to make it to port.
The statue was passed down through the generations of Minorcan families, who prayed to it when hurricanes threatened the town. Its last caretaker, Sister St Charles o…
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Historic Remains
Opposite the Bridge of Lions, in the heart of downtown, the expansive, grassy Plaza de la Constitution, a former marketplace, has a gazebo, a couple of cannons and a Civil War memorial, as well as the remains of the town well. It was the central market for food, but also for slaves.
Other historic remains include the Old City Gate, at the northern end of St George St, built in 1739 to defend the northern St Augustine line from British attacks; and the Rosario Defense Wall (opposite the Huguenot Cemetery), a re-creation of a section of the original Spanish-built earth barrier - spiky yucca plants and prickly-pear cacti along the top successfully fended off the Brits.
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Fountain of Youth
Almost 500 years old (but not looking a day over 450) the Fountain of Youth was the original tourist attraction, drawing Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León for a visit in 1513. It still serves the nasty sulfur water in tiny paper cups - and that's absolutely as much as you'll want - but this is more than a five-minute pit stop. Educational exhibits, gorgeous grounds and the approximate spot where the explorer came ashore make it more than just a tourist trap - OK, well a little more, anyway.
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Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Maximo – a 1250lb, 15ft, 3in Australian saltwater crocodile – is the biggest of the reptiles at the Alligator Farm Zoological Park, the world’s only facility with every species of crocodilian in residence. Look for albino alligators, freaky gharials and seven different species of endangered monkey, including the world’s smallest, the pygmy marmoset (the size of a mouse). There are talks and shows throughout the day; catch hungry alligators snapping their jaws at feeding times (noon and 3pm).
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Cap’s on the Water
Overlooking the Matanzas River, the setting sun streaks through an unobscured sky offering the region’s best sunset. Featuring new coastal cuisine (Southern dishes with Asian-European influences) in an Old Florida setting (this former fish camp was built in 1947), this restaurant has three seating areas (inside, waterfront, oyster bar). You’d think that’d be enough, but the wait often exceeds two hours. Arrive early or be prepared to linger.
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Manatee Café
Despite its move out of town to Westgate Plaza and the fact that you're dining surrounded by shelves of vitamins, Manatee's scrambled tofu, hummus pitas, soy-cheese pizza and other veggie creations (Cajun-style chicken's also on the menu for the non-converted) remain as hugely in demand as ever - reserve ahead or phone in your to-go order well before hunger strikes or you'll be in for a wait, albeit well worth it.
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Café Eleven
Decorated by an Ikea-ophile, this slick hangout is a full-service coffee shop/restaurant during the day. At night, the tables get shoved aside and it transmogrifies into a theater for some of indie rock’s biggest names (recent acts include Vampire Weekend, Modest Mouse and the Walkmen). Super-intimate but roomy enough to avoid crazed dancers, it’s simply the best small venue on the east coast to catch a live show.
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Collage
Inside the terracotta walls of this alluring place you’re transported far from St Augustine’s tourist commotion. The head chef, 24-year-old Melody, is a wizard in the kitchen, working her magic over (mainly) seafood and steaks. There’s a carefully assembled wine list and each course is separated by a homemade tropical sorbet as a palate cleanser. The wait staff can be a bit hovery, but service is impeccable.
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Santa Maria Restaurant
Right out over the water at the end of a wooden pier, where hungry catfish wait for diners to open the trapdoor in the window sill and drop breadcrumbs (bowls are brought to your table with your meal). All sorts of blackened, broiled and fried seafood is on the menu, as well as steaks and pasta. In October and November and during the spring you'll often spot dolphins, which come right into the bay.
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World Golf Hall of Fame
Even nonfans of the game will enjoy the World Golf Hall of Fame. There are 18 exhibits (like 18 holes), the front nine covering the history of the sport and the back nine examining modern professional golf. Separating them is the Hall of Fame itself, with multimedia exhibits on inductees. Admission includes nine holes on a real grass putting green designed to PGA specifications, and an IMAX film.
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Old St Augustine Village
The nine homes in Old St Augustine Village are Florida’s largest collection of historic homes. Dating from 1790 to 1920, highlights include the delightfully crooked Carpenter’s House; the crayon-colored windows of the Spear House; and the Murat House, which was the one-time home of Prince Achille Murat, Napoleon’s nephew. Yes, that Napoleon.
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St Augustine Eco Tours
For some truly engaging time on the water, try St Augustine Eco Tours, which has certified naturalists who take kayakers on 3-mile ecology trips. If you don’t feel like paddling, their 1½-hour boat tours explore the estuary and use hydrophones to search for bottlenose dolphins. A portion of profits go to environmental organizations.
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St Augustine Lighthouse
The light produced by this 1870s striped lighthouse beams all the way downtown. A great place to bring kids over six and more than 44in tall (since all climbers must be able to ascend and descend the tower under their own power), the lighthouse operates ‘Dark of the Moon’ paranormal tours on weekends at 8:30pm (adults/child $25/20).
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Surfing & Kayaking
About three blocks south of St John's Pier, the end of A St has - as Florida goes - some mighty fine waves. For the lowdown on surf conditions, or to rent or buy a board or sink into the comfy couch in the screening room for a free surf film to inspire you, make a stop at Pit Surfshop. Owner/surfer Clint Richardson also rents kayaks and skimboards.
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Our Lady of La Leche Shrine
The first Mass was held at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, also the site of Our Lady of La Leche Shrine and the 208ft-tall stainless-steel cross visible from many parts of downtown. First built in 1797, the coquina church became a cathedral in 1870, but a fire destroyed much of it in 1887. Pirates torched the cathedral's congregation several times.
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St Augustine Beach
The 7-mile stretch of St Augustine Beach is a great place to get a tan, and the strip of Hwy A1A fronting it has budget hotels, family restaurants and boisterous bars. Driving on the beach is permitted.
Take Anastasia Blvd to Hwy A1A right out to the beach; there's a visitors information booth right at the foot of the St John's Pier.
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Pizzalley's on St George
The aroma of homemade dough and melting imported Italian cheese wafting from Pizzalley's baking ovens accounts for the long lines for a table. Vine-draped arched mirrors deceptively enhance the size of the elongated dining room; there's also a hidden covered courtyard out back, but the best seat in the house is the tiled rooftop terrace.
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Old Drugstore
Built in 1739, the Old Drugstore offers a unique collection of antique vials and tonics in sepia-colored bottles, as well as some other curiosities, like vintage suppository molds. Adjacent to the artifacts is an extensive assortment of herbal remedies for sale (from stevia leaf to lotus flowers) for homeopathic use.
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San Sebastian Winery
Free hour-long tours at this winery are capped with wine tastings and a video about Florida winemaking since the 1600s; there’s wine and live jazz from 7pm to 11pm at the rooftop Cellar Upstairs. If you’re around in August, join the squishy fun during the annual grape-stomping competitions.
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Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church
Henry Flagler, his daughter and her stillborn child lie in the mausoleum at Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Flagler’s own, magnificent Venetian-Renaissance edifice. The floor is Sienna marble, the wood is Santo Domingo mahogany and the pipe organ (played 8:30am and 11am Sunday) is colossal.
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Old Jail
Built in 1891, the Old Jail is the former town prison and residence of the town’s first sheriff, Charles Joseph ‘the terror’ Perry (towering menacingly at 6ft, 6in tall and weighing 300lb). Today, costumed ‘deputies’ escort visitors through cellblocks and detail the site’s arresting history.
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St Augustine Transfer Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours
Horse-drawn carriages regularly clip-clop through town to the chagrin of impatient motorists backed up behind. These actually aren't as hokey as they might seem, with knowledgeable, opinionated drivers; try St Augustine Transfer, which leaves from Av Menendez just south of the fort for a 2½-hour ride.
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St Augustine Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour
3 days (Departs St Augustine, Florida)
by Viator
Sit back as the talented Old Town Trolley conductors share the history, attractions and sights of America's oldest city. Founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles in …Not LP reviewed
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Mill Top Tavern
Located on the 2nd story of a 19th century mill that’s hugged by a huge oak, grooving at the open-aired Mill Top is like hanging out in a treehouse – that has a full bar and kitchen. The Mill Top boasts live music nightly, unmatched views of the Castillo and a cooler vibe than any bar in town.
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Sangria’s
On the 2nd floor overlooking the intersection of St George and Hypolita, the outside corner table is supreme for people-watching. Three kinds of sangria (the white Sangri-La is exquisite), a great tapas menu, and live music (mostly jazz) nightly. The kitchen closes around 9pm.
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