Accommodations

St. Augustine offers a relaxing, historical getaway with a variety of condos, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of St. Augustine's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful beaches and historical sites at affordably priced rates.

View our St. Augustine Vacation Rentals or St. Augustine Resorts

Activities

History buffs will want to visit the many museums in the area. The Lightner Museum is the most unique, featuring items such as shrunken heads, mummies, and collections of stained glass and crystal. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is a nationally accredited zoological park, with more than 1,500 live alligators, including all 23 species of crocodilians that inhabit the world. Potter's Wax Museum opened in 1948, the first wax museum in the United States, with lifelike wax figures of over 160 of the world's most famous personalities. The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, as well as  Fort Mose and Fort Matanzas have served as the city’s outer defenses since as early as 1695.

Events

Drake’s Raid is held in early June and relives the attack in 1586 of the English corsair, Sir Francis Drake.  Featuring displays of the periods arms and armor, crafts, and lifestyle, the raiders camp will be at the Fountain of Youth Park and a mock battle will be held in the early evening. Help celebrate the birthday of the City of St. Augustine! The day begins with a reenactment of the landing by the city’s founder at the Mission of Nombre de Dios, the landing spot of the Spanish colonists in 1565. The event ends with Mass on the site where the first Mass was held in the United States. The day concludes with a variety of musical entertainment and birthday cake for all at the Colonial Spanish Quarter on St. George Street.

Water Sports

The pristine beaches of St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra are perfect for swimming, surfing, or catching up on your tan. You can also find powerboat and sailboat rentals, as well as jetski rentals. The warm Gulf Stream waters are inviting for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Golfing

St. Augustine golf is famous for offering world-class golf and is home to the World Golf Village, PGA Tour, TPC Sawgrass, ATP Tour International Headquarters and the World Golf Hall of Fame.

History

Pedro Menéndez de Aviles, a Spanish admiral established the colony of St. Augustine among the native Timucua Indians on September 8, 1565, forty two years before the successful English settlement at Jamestown and twenty one years before the ill-fated Roanoke settlement. The city remained under Spanish control until 1763, suffering periodically from raids by pirates and the British. The treaty of Paris gave control of the city to the British for twenty years, then the Spanish regained it after the American Revolutionary War. In 1821, the American government purchased the territory of Florida from the Spanish, and in 1845, Florida became the 27th State in the Union.

During the American Civil War, St. Augustine remained in Federal hands for most of the four year duration of the war. The Reconstruction Era was a difficult period for all of the South, but St. Augustine had escaped major damage during the war. The railroad reached the town in the late 1800's and in 1883 Henry Flagler began to invest in hotels in St. Augustine, transforming it into a winter vacation destination.