A Day Trip in St Augustine, Florida
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. The reviews of the items in this article are based on my own opinions. Disclosure policy https://www.adoptinglifesjourney.com/blog/disclosure-policy
Touring St Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine, located on Florida’s northeastern coast, leads to lots of history and charm in this old city. This city is full of brick streets, centuries-old buildings, amazing restaurants, an historic old fort, and horse drawn carriage rides. Don’t miss the chance to climb to the top of the iconic lighthouse, where you will be awarded with panoramic views of the surrounding areas. This is one of the oldest cities in the nation making it a must visit when touring Florida.
The title may be a little misleading. Yes, we went to St. Augustine for a day trip but in reality, there is so much more to do here that it would take several days to see it all. We arrived in St Augustine around noon and spent about nine hours in this quaint city. Planning on staying a few days to explore more of the city? Book your accommodations at booking.com or on VRBO to save money.
Parking: You can use the Historic Downtown parking facility (garage) that is across from the visitor’s center.
Cost: $20 per entry per day from 7am to 5pm and $5 per entry between 5pm and 9pm.
Address of parking facility: 1 Cordova Street, St Augustine
Parking garage hours: Open 24 hours a day 365 days a year
Overnight parking: Is available for RV’s, large trailers, and tour buses in designated spots on Riberia Street. Overnight permits are $35 and can be purchased at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility business office. Office hours are 7am to 9pm.
Castillo de San Marcos
We started our day walking to Castillo de San Marcos which is an 11-minute walk from the parking garage.
In 1672 ground was broke to begin the construction of this structure to replace wooden forts previously standing in this spot for defense against the pirates which attacked the town in 1668. This national monument has a lot of history, it is fun to imagine what it would have been like during the time this was built. We were able to explore the grounds and take in the history as you view the stones used to build this monument and the massive moats and areas for the cannons. Surrounded by the sea makes this a beautiful location.
Hours: Tours of the Castillo are open 9am to 5pm daily (closed for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas day). Outside grounds are open from 5:30 am to 12:00 am.
Tours: 2 tours are available ~ Inside of Castillo is available for a fee. Outside grounds visit is free.
Cost: $15 per person for ages 16 an up. 15 and under are free with an accompanying adult. National Park passes are accepted at this location.
Parking: Onsite parking is available for $2.50 an hour or you can find the parking garage that is a block away.
Pets: Only allowed on the outside grounds on a leash.
You are still able to walk around on the grounds outside to view this site for FREE.
St Augustine Lighthouse
Next, we walked to the St Augustine lighthouse. The walk was 2 miles one way (46 minutes). You can choose to drive here first, complete the tour of the lighthouse, and then drive to the parking garage to explore the rest of the city if desired.
Visit the black-and-white striped lighthouse structure that stands 165 feet tall. There are 219 spiraling steps that lead to the observation deck at the top of the lighthouse. There were several landings to stop at and rest on the way up to the observation deck. Once at the top the 360-degree view is absolutely spectacular! You could walk all the way around the lighthouse taking in the views and you can see for miles all around. It is windy at the top but so pretty.
Address: 100 Red Cox Dr, St. Augustine
Cost: $14.95 for adults, $12.95 for kids 12 and under and seniors. Children under 44” are not allowed in the lighthouse. Ghosts and sunset tours also available for an additional fee.
Hours: 9am to 6:30pm daily (except Thanksgiving and Christmas) and includes FREE parking.
I would definitely encourage you to take your family to a lighthouse to learn about its history. This lighthouse was first lit October 15, 1874. The Keepers’ House is original and is open for self-guided tours. There are several exhibits and displays that will give insight into the keepers who once maintained the lighthouse.
Tin Pickle eatery
After you finish visiting the lighthouse head to the “garage” to visit the Tin Pickle for a drink and snack. The WW II themed eatery offers sweet treats, hand crafted drinks, and specialty hot dogs.
Yes, that is a lot of stairs, 219 to be exact, but there are several landings you can rest at as needed. The views are amazing, and you can see the whole area on a clear day.
Other city tours available
Enjoy a relaxing trip out on the water—on this sightseeing boat tour. You’ll see highlights like the Bridge of Lions, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche; can spot wildlife like dolphins; and will learn the stories behind the sights from your captain’s narration.
Ideal for families, this ghost tour of St. Augustine’s spookiest sites combines light-hearted fun with spine-tingling tales of the city’s past. You will visit cemeteries, the ground of the Old Fort, and other haunted locations to discover the little-known legends that surround the romantic venue.
Shopping in St. Augustine
After we spent some time at the lighthouse, we walked back to the historic town to look around, shop a little, and find something to eat. We walked down St George Street where there was an overwhelming number of shops to look at and explore. This area had an old-world charm about it with its brick streets and stacked buildings lined up together. There are plenty of shops to browse and to pick up a few small souvenirs at one of the little shops. I was able to purchase a new Christmas ornament for our tree which has become a new tradition when traveling. As we were walking through town it was weird to see a water wheel in the middle of the shops.
Food on St George Street
After we walked the area for a while we decided it was time to eat and chose to eat at Prohibition Kitchen. Due to popularity, it was a 1 hour and 20-minute wait. The wait at one point was over 2 hours so they stopped taking reservations so make sure to get their early for a guaranteed seat. The atmosphere has a speakeasy vibe with its original colonial structure and constantly busy with live music and live entertainment. This place is definitely worth the wait as the food was sooo good!!
Address: 119 St. George St, St. Augustine
Hours: Monday to Sunday 11am to 10pm. Late night menu Friday to Saturday 10pm to 1am.
Instagram @prohibition_kitchen
Inside of the restaurant
(left) The Bootlegger Burger, smoked bacon, fried pickled green tomato, pimento cheese. $16 (right) PK Signature burger with red dragon cheese, fried egg, red onion jam, and perfectly seasoned fries. $17 So so good! (2022 prices)
The food was so amazing!!! Did I say that already :-)
Christmas lights
We were lucky enough to visit St. Augustine during Christmas time and enjoyed driving through the streets to view the multiple Christmas lights. The theme was Nights of Lights. (2022) We drove through about a mile of lights. The lights were really beautiful to look at and seeing the houses and businesses lit up along the streets was really magical. The weather was cooler at night during this time so bring a sweatshirt or light jacket.
The pictures don’t show the beauty of the Christmas lights. You have to see it for yourself to see the magic the lights bring to the area during this time of year. I would recommend that if you are ever in Florida during December that you take a trip to St Augustine. The atmosphere was wonderful with so much to see and do. You would definitely need to spend more than one day to take in everything this beautiful old city has to offer. The weather gets cool at night so remember to bring a jacket.
Enjoy your journey,
Meet the author: Jennifer
I am a girl who loves to travel and enjoys sharing expert family travel advice. I am a content creator and influencer on Instagram with years of travel experience and provide readers with advice, tips, and details on adventurous family travel and tips on saving money while boondocking or traveling across the US.
Follow me on social media to discover more travel ideas
Instagram @adoptinglifesjourney
Pinterest /adoptinglifesjourney
If this post was helpful, follow me on Instagram @adoptinglifesjourney and
Hashtag your photos at #adoptinglifesjourney
Need help planning a vacation? I am also a travel agent. Follow me on social media and send me a DM @exploringsunsetstravel for more travel inspiration or for a FREE travel quote.
London is a city that provides an array of culinary delights, offering something for every palate and budget. Whether you are craving the classic comfort of fish and chips, seeking the elegance of an afternoon tea, or wanting to dine at the iconic first Hard Rock Cafe in the word, London’s food scene has you covered.