Taking a Day Trip to St. Augustine

St. Augustine is a beautiful, historic city on the northeast coast of Florida. It claims to be the oldest city in the U.S. Even if its claim isn’t true, St. Augustine still has a lot of amazing history and can be a fun day trip or overnight trip as it is a short drive from Orlando.

Our family has always enjoyed every trip to St. Augustine. In fact, at Christmas time our elves were curious about our St. Augustine adventures and tagged along for some fun.

During the Christmas holiday, the entire city of St. Augustine lights up for its annual Night of Lights holiday display. The trains and trolleys offer special tours during this time and you can even take a carriage ride through the beautifully lit city.

We opted to just explore the city on foot and thoroughly enjoyed our adventure. With over 3 million white lights, you will find plenty of photo opportunities throughout the historic town. The holiday season in St. Augustine is absolutely magical and that is why Night of Lights is our favorite activity when taking a day trip to St. Augustine.

Here are some of our other favorite activities when taking a day trip to St. Augustine.

2. Castillo de San Marcos. The oldest and largest masonry fort in the continental United States, the Castillo de San Marcos, and its coquina walls can be explored during park operating hours and is a popular tourist destination. The Junior Ranger program, for children ages 6-12 is a fun way for young visitors and their families to get the most out of their visit. After the kids complete all of the activities in the book they receive a certificate and their very own Junior Ranger badge. There are also performances and demonstrations, including shooting off the historic cannons. All in all, The Castillo de San Marcos is a must do attraction when visiting St. Augustine.

3. The Historic District. From the Old City Gate that still stands to the oldest wooden schoolhouse, when you walk the historic streets of St. Augustine you will feel like you have stepped right into history. Along the city’s main pedestrian street of St. George, you will find plenty of shopping, dining, museums, and historic sites. There is something for everyone to enjoy!

4. Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. From historic downtown, you will need to take a trolly or short drive if you want to sip from the Fountain of Youth. My kids and I couldn’t get the anti-aging water from The Fountain of Youth past our noses so I guess we will age normally. Besides the historic watering hole, there are many exhibits and shows throughout the day.

4. St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. Climb the 219 steps to experience what it was like for the lightkeeper daily to maintain the lighthouse all of those years ago. Once there, enjoy a beautiful panoramic view of the area. After your descent back down to land, be sure to visit the Maritime Museum. There are several hands-on activities for the kids throughout the museum.

5. Ripley’s Believe it or Not. Set inside the Warden residence castle that was constructed in the late 1800s, we have a blast exploring all of the oddities that Ripley’s has to offer. We have visited several times but have yet to do their evening Ghost Tour. Something that now that the kids are older we need to consider.

6. St. Augustine Beach. White sandy beaches with clear waters…ah, my absolute favorite elements of an awesome beach experience. With roughly 2 miles of beach and even a splash pad area for the kids, St. Augustine Beach is a must-do day trip.

7. Chocolate Tasting Tours at Whetstone. Okay, I felt a little I Love Lucy in the chocolate factory episode, but getting to tour the chocolate factory and of course sample the chocolates at Whetstone’s was quite the experience. Yum, Yum!!

With all of the history of St. Augustine, multiple day trips would be needed to take in all of the sights and activities. Our family has still barely touched the surface of all that St. Augustine has to offer. From the Old Jail to Flagler College, trolly rides and more, taking a day trip to St. Augustine is one of our family’s favorite fun things to do in the great state of Florida!