DISCOVER ST. AUGUSTINE

Spanish explorer, Don Juan Ponce de Leon, claimed the land now known as Florida in the name of Spain on March 27, 1513. Originally the land was named La Florida, which means Land of Flowers. The city was founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565.

St Augustine is a small jewel of a city on the east coast, full of romantic ambiance and old world charm. It is best known for its remarkable historic streets, Spanish style architecture, and panoramic bay. Do take time to wander down St. George street, a promenade of sorts, and enjoy the art galleries, quaint shops, and restaurants.

Walking will allow you to see most of the historical buildings and shops with relative ease. There are also horse drawn coaches and tourist trains (trams) that give narrated tours of parts of the city.


THINGS TO SEE IN ST. AUGUSTINE

• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. This old fort was built by the Spanish in the late 1600s of Coquina limestone to defend Spain's interests in the area. Living history demonstrations on weekends. Lower level is handicapped accessible.
  
  
• Alligator Farm Zoological Park.
  
  
• Florida's Oldest House, 271 Charlotte St.
  
  
• Fort Matanzas National Monument. The small watchtower was built by the Spanish in the 1740s on a small island to control the southern entrance to St. Augustine via the Matanzas River. There are daily ferries to island. There is also a half-mile boardwalk nature trail on adjacent Anastasia Island.
  
  
• Flagler College, 74 King St. Located on 19 acres downtown, the Spanish Renaissance architecture is highlighted by the former Ponce De Leon Hotel, built in the late 1800s as a winter resort by Henry Flagler with the interior designed by Louis C. Tiffany. The liberal arts college was created in 1968.
  
  
• Fort Mose Historic State Park. The park is currently closed to vistors while a visitor center is being constructed, but is expected to open in 2007. The park is where the first free black settlement in America was established in 1738 by the Spanish for black slaves of British masters seeking asylum in Spanish Florida. The settlement is located about two miles north of St. Augustine.
  
  
• Fountain of Youth, 11 Magnolia (off San Marco Ave N).
  
  
• Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse St. George Street.
  
  
• Ripley's Believe It or Not!
  
  
• San Sebastian Winery, 157 King St.
  
  
• Spanish Quarter Village, 29 St. George St.
  
  
• St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, 81 Lighthouse Ave. near the Bridge of Lions. Built in the 1870s on the northern end of Anastasia Island. The museum contains exhibits about living and working at the light station.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS IN ST. AUGUSTINE

• Night of Lights More than a million little white lights outline the Bayfront and buildings of the historic downtown fromlate November to the end of December.
  
  
• A Spring and a Fall Arts and Crafts Festival A wide variety of crafts will be on display all day at the Special Events Field.
  
  
• Christmas Parade A parade with bands, floats, and Santa Clause arriving downtown at San Marco Avenue and the Bayfront.
  
  
• Regatta of Lights Holiday parade of boats in the Bayfront between the Bridge of Lions and Castillo de San Marcos.
  
  
• Summer Concert Series The downtown Plaza becomes a showcase of musical talent, with free concerts given each Thursday evening.
  
  
• Kingbuster Tournament A Southern Kingfish competition held at the St. Augustine Municipal Marina.
  
  
• Gamble Rogers Folk Festival Held at the St. Johns County Amphitheater, the musical event features a variety of local and national bands, storytelling and songwriting workshops.
  
  
• Great Chowder Debate Annually in November, local restuarants compete, in various categories, for the best chowder, with samples tasted by the public.
  
  
• Rhythm & Ribs Festival The last weekend of March at Francis Field on Castillo Drive. Features championship BBQ and musical entertainment.
  
  
• Blessing of the Fleet First Sunday in April. Commercial and pleasure craft alike receive a blessing from the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. Ceremony begins at noon with a procession from the Cathedral Basilica.
  
  
• Easter Parade A parade downtown of marching bands, floats, drill teams, clowns, Royal Family and the city.s carriage horses wearing hats.
  
  
• Gamble Rogers Folk Festival April. A three-day celebration of the music, stories and dance ny local and national artists celebrating the Gamble Rogers legacy.
  
  
• Concert in the Plaza Summer. Weekly concerts in the Downtown Plaza are free of charge and those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating.

ST. AUGUSTINE HOTELS & ACCOMMODATION

ST. AUGUSTINE TOURS, TRAVEL AND ACTIVITIES