Three Days in St Augustine...

[Minnesota!]

Anastasia Island is a great beach. The water is clean and there is a little snack bar there. DD#2 got married there.

There's a wax museum and a Ripley's Believe it or Not, if you like that kind of thing.
San Sebastian Winery is a good place to stop. Also, the St. Augustine Distillery Company.
I love Fort Matanzas and Castillow.
Marineland is ok. Haven't been to the new aquarium yet, as it's just opened.

There is a little place in "historic ST Augustine" that makes the most amazing empanadas. Just a little hole in the wall. Can't remember the name of it, but it is amazing.
ETA: DD said it's Spanish Bakery Cafe.

I have been eyeing up that Spanish Bakery Café for a few weeks - it looks fantastic!

The best seafood is O'Steen's - best known for their fried shrimp and fresh vegetable sides and homemade pies. Lines frequently two+ hours, no reservations, cash only. Closed on Mondays. Get there around 10:30 for first seating at 11 or come after lunch rush for early dinner before seeing the lights, perhaps.

Most other places have been mentioned. Dessert First Bistro is up near Vilano beach and is great for breakfast and lunch and desserts (no dinner).

Prohibition Kitchen is just plain fun - burgers and such in a 1920s speak easy style setting, with live period jazz on weekends. Reminds me of a Disney themed restaurant - you could drop it into Disney Springs tomorrow and nobody would bat an eye.

Definitely try to do the Flagler history tour - it's gorgeous inside.

The Winery and Disterllery are good visits, and just behind them, across from the distillery, is Rype n Ready urban farm, where they have lots of local food items but also sheep and goats and chickens and things the kids may get a kick out of - you can feed the sheep for $2 a bag.

Behind the Lightner is an area of old Victorian houses that do a nice job decorating for Christmas.

Walk around old town, all the streets, not just St. George.

It will be busy. The Plaza and St. George Street on the first night of Nights of Lights is like Main Street for fireworks.

PM me if you have any other questions. We live here.

Thank you!!! I will definitely PM you should the need arise. Question - are there any areas to avoid? My husband is a Christmas light junkie and is SO excited for the Night of Lights!

 

[Golf4food]

I have been eyeing up that Spanish Bakery Café for a few weeks - it looks fantastic!



Thank you!!! I will definitely PM you should the need arise. Question - are there any areas to avoid? My husband is a Christmas light junkie and is SO excited for the Night of Lights!

Don't venture too far south of the Lightner/Casa Monica area at night, same west of A1A on King Street but that isn't really old town anymore.

Do walk along the waterfront at night - the Tini Martini Bar/Casablanca Inn is over that way and is my favorite of all places at Christmas for their decorations on the exterior.

 

[Wendy31]

The best seafood is O'Steen's - best known for their fried shrimp and fresh vegetable sides and homemade pies. Lines frequently two+ hours, no reservations, cash only. Closed on Mondays. Get there around 10:30 for first seating at 11 or come after lunch rush for early dinner before seeing the lights, perhaps.

Most other places have been mentioned. Dessert First Bistro is up near Vilano beach and is great for breakfast and lunch and desserts (no dinner).

Prohibition Kitchen is just plain fun - burgers and such in a 1920s speak easy style setting, with live period jazz on weekends. Reminds me of a Disney themed restaurant - you could drop it into Disney Springs tomorrow and nobody would bat an eye.

Definitely try to do the Flagler history tour - it's gorgeous inside.

The Winery and Disterllery are good visits, and just behind them, across from the distillery, is Rype n Ready urban farm, where they have lots of local food items but also sheep and goats and chickens and things the kids may get a kick out of - you can feed the sheep for $2 a bag.

Behind the Lightner is an area of old Victorian houses that do a nice job decorating for Christmas.

Walk around old town, all the streets, not just St. George.

It will be busy. The Plaza and St. George Street on the first night of Nights of Lights is like Main Street for fireworks.

PM me if you have any other questions. We live here.

Don't venture too far south of the Lightner/Casa Monica area at night, same west of A1A on King Street but that isn't really old town anymore.

Do walk along the waterfront at night - the Tini Martini Bar/Casablanca Inn is over that way and is my favorite of all places at Christmas for their decorations on the exterior.

I am so envious of you! DH & I would love to live in (or near) St. Augustine! I've been going to St. Augustine since I was a little girl, & your beautiful city is in my soul!

And, out of all the times we've been, we've never eaten at O'Steen's! I know it's a favorite of the locals, &, every time we're there, we say we're going to try it, but we always end up some place else. Our new favorite is The Floridian.

And the Casablanca Inn is my favorite too of all the bayfront buildings at Christmas!

 

[ont/ohana]

My family is flying into St. Augustine on Christmas Day. My parents are coming too! We were so excited to find this thread and all the wonderful information everyone has shared. My eldest daughter is a history major in an Ontario, Can University, she loved her American History course and can't wait to see all the amazing history. Thank you all so much!