I just arrived home from a wonderful beach vacation with my family to the beautiful town of St. Augustine, Florida. This is probably our fifth time going to this charming little beach town. I won’t bore you with a long post of why this town should be on your top list, but I will give you my top reasons to add this town to your next beach vacation.
1. St. Augustine claims to be the oldest city in the U.S. and was founded in 1565. This makes this town perfect for old southern charm and Spanish colonial architecture. Stroll along the streets such as St. George Street that are lined with shops and restaurants that may leave your pocket book empty.
2. St. Augustine boasts some of the best known Atlantic Ocean beaches. I love their beaches for several reasons but mostly due to the low crowds and family feel. You won’t find many spring breakers or rowdy groups covering these beaches. Also, how could I forget their beaches are one of the few where you can actually drive your car and park on the beach. You’ll need a four wheel drive to avoid ruining your beach day by getting stuck in the sand. And, you won’t have to drag all your beach gear. Just load it in the car, park on the beach, and you are good to go!
3. St. Augustine has so much to see and do with kids. Take a tour through the 17th century Spanish stone fortress, know as the Castillo de San Marco. Head across the street to the Pirate Museum and collect treasure on the way out. The kids also might enjoy the Alligator Farm which is located right outside downtown.
4. For all you history buffs there is much more to explore than the 17th century fortress, although that is a sight to see! Head over to the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum and enjoy views from the top. Speaking of museums, I’ll list my must see below.
5. Lastly, I’m all about traveling on a budget and you can stay in this quaint beach town for less than most of the surrounding beach locations in Florida. Combining old town charm, pristine Atlantic beaches and budget friendly choices, make this town hard to resist!
My Top Picks
- LODGING
- Best Western St. Augustine, Averages $100 nightly (value pick)
- Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa, Averages $200 – $500 depending on room, suite, villa, etc. (moderate pick)
- Check out Airbnb or VRBO for amazing deals. My personal favorite is The Spanish Trace which can average around $200 per night for an ocean view.
- DINING
- Prohibition Kitchen
- Mojo Old City BBQ
- The Floridian Restaurant
- OC White’s Seafood and Spirits
- Caps on the Water Seafood
- Harry’s Seafood, Bar & Grille
- THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS
- Alligator Farm
- Pirate Museum
- Medieval Torture Museum
- Ripley’s Believe it or Not
- Black Raven Pirate Ship
- HISTORICAL
- Castillos de San Marcos
- Cathedral Basilica
- Lightner Museum
- Old Jail
- Spanish Military Hospital Museum
Your Journey Starts Here 