Experience the sights and sounds of a colonial Spanish town when you visit St. Augustine's Colonial Spanish Quarter, an exciting living history museum. Interpreters in period clothing illustrate what day-to-day life was like for Spanish soldiers and their families in 1740. You'll witness blacksmithing, food preparation, leatherworking, candle making and more in the nine buildings that are spread over the 1.5-acre campus. The museum store makes the perfect place to purchase educational gifts or historic souvenirs.St. Augustine Lighthouse
St. Augustine's first lighthouse was actually a watchtower built by the settlement's founder, Pedro Menendez, in 1565. Since that time the lighthouse has been rebuilt and additions made. Today it is a stunning black and white spiral structure with a red top that towers 165 feet above the ground. Over 200 steps lead visitors to an observation deck that affords awesome views of the area. Maritime exhibits tell the story of the lighthouse's history both in the lighthouse, visitor's center and keeper's house.
Lightner Museum
Originally the lavish Alcazar Hotel built by Henry Flagler in 1887, the Spanish Renaissance structure now houses the interesting Lightner Museum, which displays an eclectic mix of exhibits. Inside the ornate museum you'll find a varied collection including Native American artifacts, Oriental art, American sculpture, an extensive glass collection including stunning Tiffany pieces, musical instruments and more. Two cafes on site offer lunch and snacks.
St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
One of Florida's oldest visitor attractions, The St. Augustine Alligator Park is more than 100 years old and has awed over one million guests throughout the years. A magnificent display of fearsome alligators and crocodiles, as well as delightful exotic birds occupy the Zoological Park. Interpretive programs including feedings will please both young and old alike. A gift shop and eatery are provided on site for guest convenience.
Castillo de San Marcos is a 17th-century fort built to protect the settlement of St. Augustine. The fortress is the oldest masonry fort in the United States. Boasting 12-foot thick walls that are 33 feet high built of coquina (a local shell rock), a moat and a drawbridge, the edifice has never fallen to an enemy during attack. Today, visitors will find well-kept exhibits portraying the fort's history. A movie and ranger programs are available daily, and most weekends and holidays feature reenactments complete with musket and cannon firings.
Fountain of Youth Discovery Park
Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon heard from natives about a beautiful island of Bimini and set out to find it and possibly also a fountain that would yield eternal youth to those who drank from it. The Fountain of Youth Discovery Park marks the spot where the Spanish explorers including de Leon came ashore. Archaeological discoveries at the site include a springhouse, landmark cross, saltcellar and artifacts remaining from an Indian village. Period reenactments, a large gift shop and planetarium also occupy the 15-acre area that memorializes the natives and explorers who occupied the land so many years ago.Anastasia State Park
This breathtaking state park includes five miles of sandy beaches, a tidal salt marsh, varied wildlife and numerous outdoor pursuits. Wildlife includes a host of interesting birds including bald eagles, blue heron, osprey and more. Camping, nature trails, water sports and an archaeological site where coquina rock was mined to build the city's fortress, Castillo de San Marcos, are a sampling of the activities available to visitors. Guests may explore the area's natural beauty year round as the park is open twelve month each year.
Marineland
St. Augustine's Marineland, the world's first oceanarium, affords guests a window to the ocean by allowing them to observe breathtaking dolphin habitats by way of a 1.3 million gallon series of tanks. A myriad of interactive programs (at additional cost) allow visitors to interface with dolphins in an up close and personal way in both shallow and deep water. Scientific marine research are other ongoing activities performed onsite.
Potter's Wax Museum
Check out these amazing life-like figures carved from wax. Michael Jordan greets you at the door, a preview of what you will find inside. Take a peek, I find the process and finished works fascinating.
Oldest House Museum Complex
The oldest house in the state has its home in St. Augustine. Occupied since the early 1600s, the site now houses a dwelling that dates to the early 1700s, a garden replete with plants common to early colonists, a museum featuring changing exhibits that outline the home's history and a museum store offering one of the finest selections of local and Florida history books around. This attraction brings history alive and allows visitors to catch a glimpse of what day-to-day life was like when our country was just beginning. Tours are also available every half hour. Call for details. Oldest school house
Officially America's oldest institution of learning, this little wooden schoolhouse has stood the test of time and remains stationed near the historic city gates as a testament to colonial habitation. Built over 200 years ago of red cedar and cypress wood held together by wooden pegs, the structure is an excellent example of colonial construction methods. Guests often ask about the large chain and anchor fastened to the building. Nervous residents, afraid it would be blown away by a hurricane, added these in 1937. The schoolhouse is a favorite of children and families.
