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Things To Do in Saint Augustine

Welcome to Cool St. Augustine, where you can review the best St. Augustine tours and attractions then plan a perfect visit to America’s oldest city. St. Augustine is a must-see Florida destination, with cobblestone streets, Spanish colonial architecture, incredible historic sites, and miles of pristine Atlantic Ocean beaches. All in a welcoming small-town setting that makes it so easy to get around and enjoy every minute of your visit.

Set along the northeast Florida coast, just a few miles south of Jacksonville and the Georgia state line, St. Augustine is a uniquely historical American destination. The coastline here was first charted by legendary Spanish explorer Ponce de León, who came ashore in 1513 just north of Matanzas Inlet where the Matanzas and Tolomato Rivers break through the sandy barrier island to connect with the sea. In 1565, Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés put in at Matanzas Inlet, declared possession of the land in the name of Spanish king Philip II, and founded the settlement of St. Augustine on September 8, 1565.

Serving as the capital of colonial Spanish Florida for over 200 years, and designated as capital of the Florida Territory in 1821 after the Spanish ceded Florida to the United States, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously-inhabited European settlement in the U.S. This makes the city a magnet for history buffs. The original Spanish mission and shrine site, the 17th-century Fort Matanzas and Castillo De San Marcos, the 18th century Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, a jail and school house that are both well over a century old, a wide variety of museums, and a re-creation of an early 20th century general store are just a few St. Augustine highlights.

Historical ambiance combines with a variety of family-friendly attractions and 42 miles of some of the most beautiful beaches in Florida to make St. Augustine a top Florida visitor destination. Cool St. Augustine brings the best things to do in St. Augustine Florida right to your smart phone or tablet. Our fast, 100% secure online booking, instant confirmation, all-digital vouchers, and responsive customer service make booking the best St. Augustine tours and attractions a breeze.

St. Augustine Attractions

To get a feel for the deep history of the St. Augustine region, start with a visit to the Ponce de León Fountain of Youth Archaeological site. Nearby, you will also find several other important sites including remains of the first Spanish settlement and its fortifications. The Mission Nombre de Dios Museum, the Great Cross, and the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche mark the site where Admiral Menéndez erected a cross before raising the flag of King Phillip II and claiming the land for Spain. A 280-foot stainless steel cross, a bronze statue of expedition fleet chaplain Fr. Francisco Lopez de Mendoza, and a historic shrine building are just a few interest points here at the spot where the Spanish Catholic mission in America began.

At the north end of the St. Augustine Historic Bayfront District, the Castillo De San Marcos sits in strategic overlook of the Matanzas Inlet and river mouth area. Built by the Spanish between 1672 and 1675, it is the oldest masonry structure of its kind in the United States and the only 17th century military fortification left in the country. The fort features ancient rooms and hallways that were once home to soldiers and prisoners, a gun deck with excellent views of the city, and expansive green lawns perfect for picnic lunches overlooking the water. The Castillo is considered to be the most significant historic structure in St. Augustine.

Near the Castillo you can find the Colonial Quarter, a 2-acre section of the Old City where living history exhibits mix with antique buildings, interesting shops, and tempting eateries. The 200-year-old Spanish Colonial Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse is just short walk away. Ancient cemeteries, a variety of historical markers, the Cathedral Basilica, the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, Flagler College, and the St. George Street Historic Walking Mall are all within easy reach.

So much more is on offer and convenient to pleasant walking tours in this small town. And harbor cruises, fishing trips, watersports, a lighthouse and maritime museum, and of course the beaches of Anastasia State Park and beyond are minutes away. Fresh seafood, simple snacks, steakhouses, and fine dining await appetites sharpened by the sea air. Many bars, breweries, and distilleries deliver a nice variety of libations.

At Cool St. Augustine we have put together a curated collection of the best of St. Augustine so you can browse with pleasure and plan with confidence whether you are already in the city or designing a future vacation from home. Our team blends decades of experience in travel and tourism with deep technical skills to make simple, secure online booking available for your convenience. And our friendly customer service staff is always available to answer questions by email, text, live chat, or phone.

Recommendations: The Best Things to Do in St. Augustine

The Castillo de San Marcos, or the Fort as locals call it, is a St. Augustine must-see. Construction on the Fort began 107 years after the city’s founding—it was ordered by the Spanish Colonial Governor in response to a raid by Robert Searles, an English privateer operating out of Jamaica. Searles and his crew destroyed much of St. Augustine and damaged the existing wooden fort, prompting the use of coquina limestone quarried on Anastasia Island for the massive walls of the Castillo. Completed in 1685, the fort saw military use for over 250 years until it was transferred to the National Park Service in 1933.

Three other highly-recommended St. Augustine interest points include: (1) The St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, founded in 1893 and the only park in the world to feature all 23 recognized crocodilian species. Exotic birds and mammals, Florida native reptiles, fossils, wildlife shows, and an over-zoo zipline make this a great family stop. (2) The original St. Augustine general store operated by C.F. Hamblen in 1908 has been re-created with over 100,000 items including 19th century tools, machinery, and consumer products to produce a highly entertaining, interactive living history experience. (3) The 1891-vintage St. Augustine Old Jail, in use for 60 years before it closed, is one of very few surviving 19th century jails. Visit the cells where prisoners were housed, the quarters where the sheriff and his wife lived, and see a large collection of used weapons.

If you are a fan of ghosts and hauntings, St. Augustine has an informal reputation as one of the most haunted places in the country. A very long history includes many military actions on land and sea, pirate raids, and all the disease, misery, outlawry, and tragedy to be expected from an outpost in a wild, hostile land. The city's numerous ancient buildings and long-abandoned cemeteries provide excellent settings for exploring the paranormal. A night time walking ghost tour is also a nice way to have some evening fun and get to know the historic Old City a bit better.

Browse through the pages of Cool St. Augustine and enjoy a virtual preview of your visit with our catalogues of the best St. Augustine tours and attractions. It’s easy to find fun activities to suit any visitor’s tastes and needs. Then all it takes are a few clicks and a little information, always stored securely on our private servers, and you are ready for an unforgettable experience in historic St. Augustine Florida. All necessary confirmations and vouchers arrive nearly instantly by email and if any questions arise, our customer service staff is just a text or email away. Welcome to Cool St. Augustine!

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