St. Augustine is one of our favorite Florida towns. There is so much history – with it being the oldest city in the United States! It’s an easy day trip from Orlando which makes it the perfect trip whether you’re a local or just visiting. Here is how to do St. Augustine in one day!
Trolley Tour
We’ve been to St. Augustine so many times, but only recently tried out the Old Town Trolley tour. This tour is roughly $37 a person, and kids under 4 are free! But, is it worth it? Absolutely!
This is a hop on/off tour which you can take until 4:30 PM. With two kids and two disabled people in our group, this made it easy to see the city at our pace. If you ride on in one shot, it’s about an hour and 40 minutes with over 20 stops. It is a guided tour with history tidbits and we learned so much, like St. Augustine’s civil rights history we didn’t know about! You can check out a breakdown I made on Instagram.
Historic Places to Visit
Considering St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States, there is a lot of history that happened here. From colonialism to civil rights, St. Augustine has huge historical significance for hundreds of years! Here are some of the most iconic places to visit on your trip:
Castillo San Marcos
This is the oldest fort in the United States, and it never fell to any enemy army despite being controlled by 3 different governments (Spanish, British, American). Military members receive free entry, it is stroller and wheelchair accessible (in some parts), and an absolute must-do when visiting.
The Old City
It’s easy to walk around the old city walls and step back in time. There are some key places you might want to stop by and spend a little extra time exploring. St. George Street is a pedestrian street with shops, local businesses, and historic places like the oldest wooden school, the oldest house, and oldest street in the United States.
Potter’s Wax Museum
We get it, everything is old. So it should come as no surprise that St. Augustine was the first in the United States to have a wax museum! At one point, Potter’s Wax Museum was even bigger, but have since moved locations to a smaller one. If you ride the Old Town Trolley, you’ll get $3 off the $15 entry fee.
Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
The Basilica of St. Augustine is the first Catholic Church built in America in 1797. It’s located on the north corner of the Plaza de la Constitución, the center of multiple historic sites in the city’s history. The chuch did suffer a fire and had to be rebuilt in the late 1800’s, but three of the church’s walls are original to the 1700’s.
Plaza de la Constitución
At the center of the city is Plaza de la Constitución which has been a central part of it’s history since 1573. Today within the park you will find monuments in tribute to soldiers and POW from the American Revolution, WWII, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War, and the Foot Soldiers Monument to honor the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine. Surrounding the plaza is the Catedral Basilica, Trinity Episcopal Church, and the Government House.
Trinity Episcopal and the Civil Rights Movement
St. Augustine was pivotal during the civil rights movement in the 1960’s. There is a Civil Rights Freedom Trail located past the Old Town. We learned so much on the trolley tour and saw where Dr. Martin Luther King delivered a speech, as well as the Accord Civil Rights Museum and the Lincolnville Museum. Trinity Episcopal was the first church to allow Black congregants in 1964. Father Charles Seymour was threatened and forced to resign by segregationists, but his impact is forever memorialized outside the church.
To Eat and Drink
I have to say, I was so surprised at how many good restaurants there are in St. Augustine! While, yes, there are a bunch of kitschy shops and chains on St. George Street, even the biggest foodie will find something they’ll love.
Columbia
I start off this section talking about chains and yet here I am with Columbia, I see the irony! But while Columbia Restaurant has multiple locations around Florida, they are family-owned and have been since 1905. You will find the same great quality and consistency at the St. Augustine location with a side of stunning architecture. Be warned, reservations are highly recommended, or be prepared to wait over 3 hours if there even is space.
Casa Reina
Located within a landmark home, Casa Reina infuses Mexican, Latin American, and Floridian coastal cuisine. They have an amazing menu and tequila list. You won’t be disappointed with a meal.
St. Augustine Distillery / Ice Plant Bar
St. Augustine Distillery makes gin, vodka, rum, and whiskey – and I urge you to do a tour and tasting! They have won numerous awards, and for good reason. You can either do a free, self-guided tour, or choose from guided tour and tasting options. When done, or maybe before, grab a bite at the attached Ice Plant Bar. I hear their brunch is amazing!
San Sebastian Winery and Tasting
With tastings as low as $5 and an awesome rooftop brunch, San Sebastian should be on your radar. If on the trolley tour, there’s a stop right here, so take advantage. It is a little ways away from the Old City center, but close to the St. Augustine Distillery.
Prohibition Kitchen
This place was PACKED! It is right on St. George Street, meaning it’s an easy choice for tourists and travelers. The food is modern American gastronomy and a refreshing choice when it’s neighbors are chains and kitschy souvenir shops.
The Cuban Cafe and Bakery
Right in the middle of old city is some of the best Cuban food I’ve had in a long time. I stopped in for a cortadito and croquetas, and quickly ordered pan Cubano and a Cuban sandwich, and switched my order to stay. Highly recommend if looking for a quick bite.
O.C. White’s
Tourist Traps and Must Dos
I am a firm believer that tourist traps have their time and place! Sometimes, like in St. Augustine, the history and culture they help to educate on make it worth it. Sometimes, it’s more for fun – either way, keep these on your radar.
The Old Jail Museum
Located where the Oldest Museum and the Old Town Trolley is, you can find The Old Jail. Built in 1891 by Henry Flagler (aka the man who owned half of St. Augustine), it housed prisoners for over 60 years. Walk the cells and experience actors recreating scenes from the times. It is a family-friendly tour, too!
Medieval Torture Museum
You might not even want to walk up the stairs with kids here. The Medieval Torture Museum depicts very graphic recreations of ancient weapons and, well, torture. Minors under 18 can’t even walk in without an adult, but I highly recommend discretion here. Tickets are about $25 per person.
St. George’s Row
A quaint indoor shopping mall with rows of tiny shops filled with souvenirs to beef jerky and even samurai swords. Take a break from the Florida weather inside of here. It’s a nice place to stroll and window shop. We also found an incredible free mini museum housed inside.
Karpeles Manuscript Library Mini Museum
The Karpeles Manuscript Library is an organization that protects and preserves written works from influential figures from around the world and throughout history. Here, you can find original Disney illustrations, compositions from Ludwig van Beethoven, and letters from Sourjourner Truth, Helen Keller, and even the first Queen Victoria! There are articles preserved from the 1500s! Did I mention this is absolutely free!? Please, do yourself the favor and spend 15 minutes here.
Villa Zorayda Museum
Built in 1883, this once private home was built to 1/10 to scale of a section of the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. There is incredible Spanish and Arab Mediterranean architecture, art, and even items that were found in an Egyptian pyramid! If you’re a fan of culture and architecture this is worth the stop!
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not
I don’t care if you go inside of this very obvious tourist trap. However, I will say if you have kids it is a great place to get wacky and hide from the heat or rain. Either way, what I want you to do is head to the left of the building and behind the tall green hedges. There you will find a giant replica of the Statue of David. Even cooler? It was made from the same marble as the original. As were the lions you see adorning the bridge in the city.
However you decide to see St. Augustine, the important thing is that you make the trip! More than 500 years of history are within the city walls, and so much more to explore. St. Augustine was a vital part of this nation’s inception.
Next time I visit, I do plan on making a longer trip. Still, St. Augustine can be done in a day without rushing and without missing anything! Let me know in the comments your favorite St. Augustine spots. Did I miss one?
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