St. Augustine

[tiggerificamanda]

We are planning a trip to St. Augustine Florida this summer! Any suggestions for resorts and must dos? I am not the one planning the trip. My friend is, but I am currious what is so great about it. Really looking forward to our Disney Day, since it is only supposed to be an hour away!

Amanda Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Upatnoon]

We are planning a trip to St. Augustine Florida this summer! Any suggestions for resorts and must dos? I am not the one planning the trip. My friend is, but I am currious what is so great about it. Really looking forward to our Disney Day, since it is only supposed to be an hour away!

Amanda Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

St. Augustine is a great place to visit, especially if you love history. but I would allow about 2.5 hours driving time from WDW.

 

[hsmamainva]

We stop in St. Augustine every year when we drive down to Disney!

We can reach St. Augustine from our house in 10 hours -- we stop for the night -- go out for dinner & drinks with college friends of my hubby -- spend the next day at the beach & pool and do a little bit of sight seeing -- and then drive 2 hours or so to Orlando.

It works out really well because we stay off-site and can't check into our townhouse in Orlando until 4pm anyway.

Favorite place to stay? St. Augustine Beachfront Resort -- runs around $100 per night (May rates -- yours may vary) and it's right on the ocean with an indoor pool (just in case it rains)

Favorite things to do? Tour Flagler College (my hubby's alma mater!) It used to be a resort hotel back in the early 1900s and is gorgeous! Tour Castillo de San Marcos which is a fort built by the Spanish and fascinating! (And supposedly haunted, although we never saw anything!) They do offer ghost tours of all sorts in the town of St. Augustine (by tram, horse drawn carriage, train, walking tour, etc.) We like to go to St. George's Street and visit the restaurants and shops.

This year, we're doing the Alligator Farm -- which we haven't been to before. The kids want to see it.

Gorgeous, gorgeous town!! We're talking about retiring there in 5 years or so.

 

[spiceycat]

my brother lives there.

he does volunteer work for the Lighthouse
here the website
http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/

 

[DCbride]

We have gone several times and usually stay at the Hampton Inn on A1A or the Hilton on A1A. Both are really nice. Sea Oats is a cute breakfast/lunch restaurant that serves over 20 different types of pancakes.

 

[jeff968]

We've been there a couple of times and it is a great place. There is an old fort to walk around, a center, closed off street with many great shops and restaurants. We've done the ghost tour at night which was fun. Of course, the place has never been the same since they closed the American tragedy museum in the late 90s (just kidding).

 

[CoopTroop6]

We live about 45 min away from St.Augustine (in Palm Coast) and visit there often. Are there any kids in your group? There's tons of fun stuff to do there! The lighthouse is a wonderful place, and the view from the top absolutely can not be beat! If you reserve ahead of time, they have Moonlight Climbs on the full moon! They fill up fast but are great! But be aware that the climb up is looooong - you'll be sore the next day! lol
Someone mentioned the Alligator Farm. It's fun but be warned - it's stinky! lol
The fort is a must-see. Try to be there during the cannon fire - loud but really fun! They have the soldiers march in in full dress, do a presentation and they fire off the canon. Historically accurate too! There's usually a schedule available at the ticket desk.
There's a Ripley's Believe It or Not that's interesting too, but not as good as the one in Orlando. However - it is the FIRST Ripley's! They also do a trolley tour that I hear is fun - never been myself.
I also highly recomend the Whetstone Chocolate Factory tour! We went there last year w/my son's 2nd grade class and had a great time! They have tours for adults-only groups too. Try the chocolate liquer - it's to die for! San Sebastian winery is also nice.
The Fountain of Youth is also interesting, but IMHO it's not worth the $ to get in.
If you have kids in your group, make sure to visit Davenport Park. It's a nice little playground w/a carousel that runs 7 days a week. Rides are only $! The park is fully enclosed w/a fence so little ones can't run off into the street or anything.
The pier is the best place to watch the sunrise! There's also a fun splash park & playground - free!

Sorry - long post! I adore St. Augustine though! Hope you have a great trip!

 

[CoopTroop6]

Forgot to mention - it's definitely more than 1hr to Disney. Like pp said, I would allow 2.5hrs, maybe even 3 if you'll be here during any holiday! Getting through Orlando can be fast or take f-o-r-e-v-e-r

 

[travelcoupons]

I also highly recomend the Whetstone Chocolate Factory tour! We went there last year w/my son's 2nd grade class and had a great time! They have tours for adults-only groups too. Try the chocolate liquer - it's to die for! San Sebastian winery is also nice.

Wow, didn't know they had a chocolate factory there too.
Here's the link: http://www.whetstonechocolates.com/chocolate-factory-tours.php

There's also one here in Daytona Beach for those who don't want to drive quite as far from Orlando.
Link: http://www.angellandphelps.com/tour.php

 

[tiggerificamanda]

We live about 45 min away from St.Augustine (in Palm Coast) and visit there often. Are there any kids in your group? There's tons of fun stuff to do there! The lighthouse is a wonderful place, and the view from the top absolutely can not be beat! If you reserve ahead of time, they have Moonlight Climbs on the full moon! They fill up fast but are great! But be aware that the climb up is looooong - you'll be sore the next day! lol
Someone mentioned the Alligator Farm. It's fun but be warned - it's stinky! lol
The fort is a must-see. Try to be there during the cannon fire - loud but really fun! They have the soldiers march in in full dress, do a presentation and they fire off the canon. Historically accurate too! There's usually a schedule available at the ticket desk.
There's a Ripley's Believe It or Not that's interesting too, but not as good as the one in Orlando. However - it is the FIRST Ripley's! They also do a trolley tour that I hear is fun - never been myself.
I also highly recomend the Whetstone Chocolate Factory tour! We went there last year w/my son's 2nd grade class and had a great time! They have tours for adults-only groups too. Try the chocolate liquer - it's to die for! San Sebastian winery is also nice.
The Fountain of Youth is also interesting, but IMHO it's not worth the $ to get in.
If you have kids in your group, make sure to visit Davenport Park. It's a nice little playground w/a carousel that runs 7 days a week. Rides are only $! The park is fully enclosed w/a fence so little ones can't run off into the street or anything.
The pier is the best place to watch the sunrise! There's also a fun splash park & playground - free!

Sorry - long post! I adore St. Augustine though! Hope you have a great trip!

LOTS of kids in my group! Thanks for the awesome suggestions!!!

Amanda Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[tiggerificamanda]

We have gone several times and usually stay at the Hampton Inn on A1A or the Hilton on A1A. Both are really nice. Sea Oats is a cute breakfast/lunch restaurant that serves over 20 different types of pancakes.

Um - That is too Cool!!! Thanks! My dd will love this neat surprise

Amanda Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[auger]

OP, be sure to watch Groupon, Living Social, etc. for discounts.

Yesterday I got guided tours at the lighthousse for $7pp on LivingSocial.

I know either last year or the year before there was a Groupon for the lighthouse.

 

[wishicouldgomoreofte]

We stop in St. Augustine every year when we drive down to Disney!

We can reach St. Augustine from our house in 10 hours -- we stop for the night -- go out for dinner & drinks with college friends of my hubby -- spend the next day at the beach & pool and do a little bit of sight seeing -- and then drive 2 hours or so to Orlando.

It works out really well because we stay off-site and can't check into our townhouse in Orlando until 4pm anyway.

Favorite place to stay? St. Augustine Beachfront Resort -- runs around $100 per night (May rates -- yours may vary) and it's right on the ocean with an indoor pool (just in case it rains)

Favorite things to do? Tour Flagler College (my hubby's alma mater!) It used to be a resort hotel back in the early 1900s and is gorgeous! Tour Castillo de San Marcos which is a fort built by the Spanish and fascinating! (And supposedly haunted, although we never saw anything!) They do offer ghost tours of all sorts in the town of St. Augustine (by tram, horse drawn carriage, train, walking tour, etc.) We like to go to St. George's Street and visit the restaurants and shops.

This year, we're doing the Alligator Farm -- which we haven't been to before. The kids want to see it.

Gorgeous, gorgeous town!! We're talking about retiring there in 5 years or so.

A gorgeous resort hotel until 1967 or 1968, I believe. We stayed there the last spring or summer before it converted over to the college---way later than "early 1900's".

 

[hsmamainva]

A gorgeous resort hotel until 1967 or 1968, I believe. We stayed there the last spring or summer before it converted over to the college---way later than "early 1900's".

I stand corrected! It was built in the early 1900s, I believe. That's what I should have said.

I just looked it up! Built in 1888. Converted to a college in 1968.

 

[meggiebeth]

Thanks for posting this thread! It has been really useful for me, as we are planning a day trip to St Augustine's on our next trip to WDW. Is the beach worth a look or are the other attractions more worthwhile for a day trip?

Meg~ Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[goodfood4ursoul]

We stopped in St. Augustine for a few hours on our way to Orlando in October and decided we had to come back!

So on our next Orlando visit we are taking a couple of days to stay in St. Augs on our way back home and are staying at the Pirate Haus Inn- it's a hostel in the historic area.

http://www.piratehaus.com/

We really wanted to be close to everything to minimize our driving- it can be really hard to find a place to park there.
We are so much looking forward to this part of our trip and hope it will ease the "I can't believe we're leaving Orlando again so soon" blues