How to Get the Most Out of Your St. Augustine, FL Vacation

We know we can’t possibly fit everything that makes St. Augustine special in a single article- but we will certainly try! Below is our guide to making sure you don’t miss a beat as you navigate from one top city attraction to another, find the best-hidden gems, and save a lot of time. Plan a vacation to St. Augustine Beach when you stay at one of our waterfront St. Augustine vacation rentals.

Local Favorites

St. Augustine is generally divided into two main parts. This is the historic downtown and the beachside, near our St. Augustine Beach rentals. Our rentals are located right on the Atlantic, so you will need to navigate about 10 minutes into town. 

The best thing for any visitor to do is to start at one side of downtown St. George Street and walk to the other end. This is the heart of the historic district. Off St. George rests innumerable bars, cafes, galleries, and boutiques. Grab a signature cocktail from the Prohibition Kitchen, St. Augustine’s de-facto industrial and steampunk bar. Grab a bag or five colorful popcorn from Popcorn Kernels. 

You can also check out the famous Castillo de San Marcos, perhaps the city’s most iconic site. As the backdrop of St. Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos is a gorgeous fort dating back to the Spanish rule of the region in the 1600s.

There are lots of really cool clothing shops and other stores right here in downtown. Be sure to take random lefts and rights off St. George to see pirate stores, weapon shops, a gag novelty shop, and a courtyard area specializing in antiques.

Travel Tips

Getting to the historic district isn’t hard if you plan a few steps ahead. The drive takes about 10 minutes depending on traffic. There are three main things to know about parking. Firstly, the meters are available all throughout the town. They are $2.50 per hour and monitored until 5 p.m.

Secondly, you can find many parking lots scattered about the city. The rates of the lots vary because they are mostly independently monitored. You are likely to see day passes available and an attendant ushering traffic in. Rates for lots are usually about $10 for the day.

Finally, St. Augustine has developed a huge parking garage. It is your best source for convenient parking right at the edge of St. George St. The lot is $15 for the day and is located at 1 Cordova St. it is an extremely helpful source and invaluable during peak holiday travel season.

Speaking of the traveling season, visitors can get a travel pass. The travel pass is great for visitors who only have a day or two in the historic district. It includes admission to three of the city’s top attractions: Old Jail, the St Augustine History Museum, and the Oldest Store Museum Experience. It also includes special discounts and some exclusive offerings to many top attractions. 

But perhaps the best feature is the hop-on and off unlimited travel on the city trolleys. This lets you easily park at a single location and explore the whole city for the day. 

Guest Favorites

St. Augustine is filled with some of the coolest and most interesting sights and sounds. You are bound to miss a few on your travels. But we covered a few top things you have to see as you explore the area.

• See the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. Don’t miss out on this top city sight, with its hundreds of alligators, birds, and other peculiar sights, like the albino gator family.
• Don’t miss out on a Ghost Tour. Go on a trolley ghost tour and see the hidden nooks of the town or go on a walking ghost tour by the town graveyard and the castle-like, Flagler College.
• Make sure you save some time for a stop at the dazzling St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum.

Have Questions? Contact Us

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about St. Augustine’s attractions. We can get you connected to the big and epic world of the ancient city.