EXPLORE
The oldest oc
10 ST. JOHNS COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
St.S
Augustine
Ponte Vedra Beach
Anastasia Island
Vilano Beach
World Golf Village
The oldest continuously-occupied European
settlement in the continental United States, St. Augustine
was founded by the Spanish in 1565 (42 years before the English colonized
Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock).
St. Augustine is situated a mere 40 miles from the
glassy skyscrapers of downtown Jacksonville, 100
miles from the rocket ships of Kennedy Space Center
and 100 miles from the fantasy theme parks of Orlando
– but the city’s rich history and cultural diversity make
it seem worlds away.
The city has more than 50 attractions including
historical sites and points of interest, living history
museums, animal parks and ghost tours. Many are
located within walking distance of one another in
downtown historic St. Augustine, while others in the
uptown antiques area or across the Bridge of Lions on
Anastasia Island are accessible via tourist transportation,
making it possible to see it all without having to
move your car!
Guided walking tours as well as those conducted
via tram, trolley, horse-drawn carriage or cruise boat
all offer unique narratives of the story of historic
St. Augustine, covering some of St. Augustine’s most
popular landmarks.
Highlights include:
The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument,
a living history museum which interprets
life in colonial St. Augustine circa 1740.
The Fountain of Youth Discovery Park, where
it is said that Ponce de Leon went in search of
everlasting youth.
The Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels, built by
Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler in the late
19th century. Today those grand Victorian structures
house Flagler College, and St. Augustine
City Hall and Lightner Museum, respectively.
The original 1888 Casa Monica Hotel, restored
into a luxury hotel providing world-class
accommodations.
Shopping in St. Augustine is a buyer’s delight
with boutiques, gift shops and antique stores
waiting to be discovered on nearly every downtown
street.
Accommodations are plentiful and range
from splendid resorts to charming bed and
breakfast inns.
Dozens of unique restaurants dotted throughout
St. Augustine, compose a varied collection
of quaint cafés together with four-star rated
dining establishments.
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