St. Augustine off 95

[Brook1099]

any suggetsions for a one night stay. Clean and safe. Looking to explore St. Augustine for a day. Any touring ideas and restaraunts too.

 

[wen8jr]

We loved St. Augustine.

My biggest suggestion is if you are blessed with fair weather is to do a sunset cruise with Schooner Freedom, you'll never forget it. Never seen a harbour as pretty as St. Augustine from the water.

Also El Galeon Andalucia is docked there until July 15th and you can board and tour.

Trolly Tours are a pretty good way to get around and learn some history.

Castillo de San Marcos is a must see.

Lightner Museum

Old Town

We stayed at Casa Monica, which is pricey unless you can get a good rate but you can walk to just about anything from the hotel.

 

[mom4fun]

We were just there last month. If nice place that is very reasonable in price, I would suggest I 95 hampton. If you want to stay in historic district then hilton but expensive. I would go to the alligator farm and do the ziplining.

 

[dennise]

We have also styed at the Holiday Inn Express and the Marriott Courtyard. both were very nice. HI includes breakfast, the Marriott does not.

 

[i*heart*minniemouse]

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites just off 95. It was convenient to drive into old town...parking garage and also convenient to the outlets. We stayed 2 nights and would do it again. It is a lot less expensive than staying right in old town.
The A1A Ale House was delicious!!

 

[JKLLady]

I can't help with hotel recommendations, because I live in the area & have no experience with them. However, I can help with restaurants,

First, stay away from any around the outlets/95; they're just tourist traps & nasty. In town, try Mojo's on Cordova St. for terrific BBQ, Carmello's on King St. (near Flagler dorms, closer to Rt.1 & attached to a convenience store/gas station) for pizza & basic Italian (without braking the bank), Salt Life Seafood Shack in St. Aug. Beach (wonderful shrimp & chorizo nachos), The Bunnery on St. George for lunch/snacks, and Kilwin's on St. George for ice cream.

I'd be happy to make more suggestions if you need them.

 

[GEM]

I'd be happy to make more suggestions if you need them.

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a question! We are passing by St. Augustine on our drive home, and I've always wanted to visit. We won't be able to do more than just a quick stop-off there, maybe three hours or so. Would that even be worth it? Is there anything we could see or do in that amount of time, even just a nice area to walk around in and see some sights? What would your suggestions be for a very quick stop?

 

[nessz79]

We stayed at the Fairfield Inn and Suites just off 95. It was convenient to drive into old town...parking garage and also convenient to the outlets. We stayed 2 nights and would do it again. It is a lot less expensive than staying right in old town.
The A1A Ale House was delicious!!

Yes, I agree with the Fairfield Inn right off 75. A small drive to the historic area.

 

[HopperFan]

any suggetsions for a one night stay. Clean and safe. Looking to explore St. Augustine for a day. Any touring ideas and restaraunts too.

What is your date? and your budget? and I will try to give you some suggestions. We LOVE it there, visit often and stay in hotels and condos often and hope to buy there in next couple years.

 

[HopperFan]

I hope you don't mind me jumping in with a question! We are passing by St. Augustine on our drive home, and I've always wanted to visit. We won't be able to do more than just a quick stop-off there, maybe three hours or so. Would that even be worth it? Is there anything we could see or do in that amount of time, even just a nice area to walk around in and see some sights? What would your suggestions be for a very quick stop?

YES! Many years ago I told my DH I wanted to stop there a couple nights on our way to S. FL to my Mom's. I had gone many times growing up. He wasn't so keen on "another Florida town". Well he was shocked there was anything like it in Florida, fell in love and wants to live there.

You need to go to the Historic area, park your car and spend the time walking and having a nice meal. If during the day you might want to go into the Fort that is right there and on the water. There is parking tucked in the historic but often easier to park just outside on a side street at meters or sometimes free.

 

[JKLLady]

Gem,

You can certainly see an overview of Old Town in 3 hrs or so. Park in the Visitor Centers parking garage ($10.00 flat fee), and head to the Castillo across the street on the bay, then walk down to the Bridge of Lions, and cross back over to walk up Cathedral Place to St George Street. On St. George Street, there's shopping, some historic sites, and dining. If you have any additional time, a tour of Flagler College's main building is magnificent. It was originally built as a hotel by Henry Flagler, and has more original Tiffany glasswork than you can count, the electrical work was done by Thomas Edison, and the students who lead the tours are great.

Hope this answers your question.

 

[HopperFan]

I suggest you spend all your time in the historic area walking around and exploring, and don't forget your camera. There is tons to do all around there but some top picks in a short time:

- Tour Flagler College, great history, beauty and Tiffany glass. http://legacy.flagler.edu/pages/tours
- Tour CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS http://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm
- Colonial Quarter, newly reconstructed! http://colonialquarter.com/
- Explore side streets and "alleys" for some of the best small restaurants.
- Lots of small boutique shops.
- Walk along the bay wall for the scenery, historic Bridge of Lions and the marina which may still have two reconstructed galleon ships.

Be sure to check your dates for any special events. One day we were on the St. George street in historic area and we heard yelling. We looked up the street and all these people in colonial clothes, and weapons and cannons were rolling down the street. We followed them to the park and they had a battle. It was awesome!!

http://staugustine.com/visitors-guide

 

[Brook1099]

What is your date? and your budget? and I will try to give you some suggestions. We LOVE it there, visit often and stay in hotels and condos often and hope to buy there in next couple years.

we will be there Friday Dec 19th for one night. We should be in St. Augustine around 11 am we will have the rest of that day and night to explore. So not a lot of time so wanted to keep the hotel budget on the low end of 150 night.

 

[HopperFan]

we will be there Friday Dec 19th for one night. We should be in St. Augustine around 11 am we will have the rest of that day and night to explore. So not a lot of time so wanted to keep the hotel budget on the low end of 150 night.

You are going during a popular time because the holidays are big there and they do the Nights of Lights events. The entire historic district, bridge, parks, boats are trimmed in white lights and it's beautiful. We went last year for a week (stayed at beach)! That said you will want to enjoy the area upon arrival and in the evening so I would stay close to downtown. There are many bed & breakfasts, the Marriott Casa Monica & Hilton (love this one) that are expensive, some mid range hotels, then many lower range hotels but if you don't know the area they can be hit or miss.

I would suggest you book something asap so that you don't get shut out but pick something that can be cancelled so if you find a really good rate elsewhere you can switch. Here are a few I would safely suggest in your range and in walking distance of Historic.

- We have often stayed at the Country Inn & Suites Historic district. Good location, we can walk downtown, breakfast. "Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, St. Augustine Downtown Historic District, FL" It's rate without discounts is $149.

- Another newer one that is walking distance is the "Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites St. Augustine-Hist. District." It's rate without any specials is coming up $136.

- Also there is a brand new Doubletree opening up in November in a great location but so far they aren't open to book. "DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District"

- Worth looking at and watching for discounts, rates etc is the Comfort Suites Downtown and Best Western Spanish Quality Inn.

About Nights of Lights: http://www.simplystaugustine.com/st-augustine-nights-of-lights/

 

[Brook1099]

You are going during a popular time because the holidays are big there and they do the Nights of Lights events. The entire historic district, bridge, parks, boats are trimmed in white lights and it's beautiful. We went last year for a week (stayed at beach)! That said you will want to enjoy the area upon arrival and in the evening so I would stay close to downtown. There are many bed & breakfasts, the Marriott Casa Monica & Hilton (love this one) that are expensive, some mid range hotels, then many lower range hotels but if you don't know the area they can be hit or miss.

I would suggest you book something asap so that you don't get shut out but pick something that can be cancelled so if you find a really good rate elsewhere you can switch. Here are a few I would safely suggest in your range and in walking distance of Historic.

- We have often stayed at the Country Inn & Suites Historic district. Good location, we can walk downtown, breakfast. "Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, St. Augustine Downtown Historic District, FL" It's rate without discounts is $149.

- Another newer one that is walking distance is the "Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites St. Augustine-Hist. District." It's rate without any specials is coming up $136.

- Also there is a brand new Doubletree opening up in November in a great location but so far they aren't open to book. "DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District"

- Worth looking at and watching for discounts, rates etc is the Comfort Suites Downtown and Best Western Spanish Quality Inn.

About Nights of Lights: http://www.simplystaugustine.com/st-augustine-nights-of-lights/

Thanks Hopper Fan for all the good ideas.. Im going to book ASAP.. Im super excited about the Night Of Lights. what a way to start our Christmas vacation.. I have a feeling I am going to have a hard time leaving St. Augustine.lol

 

[JimMIA]

Wherever we go in Florida, Columbia is our favorite restaurant. It's an old-line, family-owned Spanish restaurant from the historic Ybor City area of Tampa. Wonderful cuisine, great atmosphere and service. Everything I've ever ordered has been great.

And there is one in St. Augustine, at 98 St George Street. Here's a link: http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/st_augustine.asp

If you go, the 1905 Salad tossed at your table is truly legendary.

St. Augustine itself is one of Florida's real treasures. It is the oldest continuously inhabited city in North America, founded in 1565 (more than a half-century before the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth!). It is a treasure trove of many important periods in American history. The beaches at St. Augustine are also very nice.

 

[GEM]

Gem,

You can certainly see an overview of Old Town in 3 hrs or so. Park in the Visitor Centers parking garage ($10.00 flat fee), and head to the Castillo across the street on the bay, then walk down to the Bridge of Lions, and cross back over to walk up Cathedral Place to St George Street. On St. George Street, there's shopping, some historic sites, and dining. If you have any additional time, a tour of Flagler College's main building is magnificent. It was originally built as a hotel by Henry Flagler, and has more original Tiffany glasswork than you can count, the electrical work was done by Thomas Edison, and the students who lead the tours are great.

Hope this answers your question.

That is SO helpful!! Thank you. I really really appreciate it!

 

[floridagirl61]

There are so many activities to choose from, go to the visitor center for helpful info.

We really enjoy walking down George Street and exploring it.

We enjoy eating at O. C. White's, it's right on the bay. Also the Santa Maria restaurant, it is located over the water in the bay.

We stay in a beach house in S.Ponte Vedra Beach, so I don't have firsthand experience with the hotels but my sister stayed at Vilano Beach at the Hampton and loved it.

Vilano Beach is right across the bridge near the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.

 

[ShelliRenee]

We went last year and did the trolley tour. But we stopped at every church. They were amazing to visit and free. They have some of the most beautiful architecture and the most beautiful stain-glass Tiffany windows.