Anybody been to St. Augustine Florida?

[gregintenn]

My wife wants to go on a trip for our anniversary in June. I'd like to take her somewhere we haven't been. Would this be an interesting place to spend a few days?

 

Do you have a particular place to stay that you'd recommend?

 

I'm open to other suggestions as well.

[Lowpower]

The place where the grass that looks like weeds comes from? :)

 

Yep, around 1976 when my folks lived down there. Don't remember much about it other than it's way too hot 

and humid for my taste.

[leftyk82]

if you golf, go.  if not, you might be pressed to find something besides the beach.

 

except for Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth  (spoiler alert..........that water is nasty)

[Randall53]

It's been a good while since I was there, but I really liked the city. There's a lot to do if you get out and look around. There's a dog track not too far away in Orange Park that was always fun. Tons of great seafood, beaches, some great fishing also out of St. Augustine. Castillo de San Marcos is a very old fort like from the 1700's that I really enjoyed.

[peejman]

if you golf, go.  if not, you might be pressed to find something besides the beach.

 

except for Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth  (spoiler alert..........that water is nasty)

 

 

Right.  You either need to both enjoy golf or sitting on a quiet beach with little else to do.  There's not much there, but some like it that way. 

[JWC]

That fort is pretty cool. And the lighthouse

[tennesseetiger]

No matter where you stay...You have to go to Columbia in the old part of St. Augustine...hands down one of the best Spanish restaurants you will ever go to in your life. Guarantee it.

2 things you have to try...Sangria...Filet Mignon "Chacho".

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/

[Jonnin]

its a nice place but the fort proper took up maybe 2 hours tops, and that would be going extra slow.  The rest of the *immediate* area is not too exciting as I recall.  We were on a grand tour when we did it and hit Disney (sigh... we were kids...)  and busch gardens (awesome, but its hours away in tampa) and some other stuff in that big triangle.   Theres a LOT within a few hours drive in several directions, but if you are sitting in saint A, youll have to dig to fill more than a couple of days.  I would grab a web-map, look for attractions that interest you, in some radius of some main attraction, and depending on how much driving you want to do once already that far down, and go from there...

[tennesseetiger]

They have an alligator farm and a fort lol...I used to live in Jacksonville so I know the area pretty well. Not a whole lot to do, but its a nice little get away from the normal places people usually go in the Carolina's or the gulf coast.

Cool restaurants and a few little tourist things to do, but mainly its just an old "oldest in the country" little town on the beach. The ghost tours are pretty cool also.

Edited January 12, 2015 by tennesseetiger

[Erik88]

How long are you looking to stay Greg? The Fiance and I really like going to St. Augustine but it's not a place I could spend more than a few days at. Honestly, you can see the whole thing in a day or two and then probably be pretty bored. Also, I've never been but I don't think the beach is all that special there.

 

My suggestion would be to hit it on the way down. Spend a day or two and then move on to someplace with more to do.

 

What does your wife enjoy the most? Is she the type that likes to site on the beach all day or does she like shipping/attractions? I would recommend Siesta Key beach on the gulf side and then a visit to St. Armands Circle where they have shots and restaurants.

[leroy]

Greg... I'm gonna change it up... go to Charleston... Plenty to do, plenty to eat, close to the ocean... I never get tired of goin....

 

leroy

[R1100R]

We usually stay at St. Simons Island on the coast of Georgia and make day trips from Savannah to St Augustine. I have been going to the island with family for 40 years. I never get tired of it.

[Erik88]

Greg... I'm gonna change it up... go to Charleston... Plenty to do, plenty to eat, close to the ocean... I never get tired of goin....

 

leroy

 

Good call. Savannah GA is also really nice. It's probably one of my favorite cities I've visited. I really like history and looking at old homes. 

[toby1304]

We have been going every year for the last 5 or 6 years and plan to go again this year. We always rent a house close to the beach in St. Augustine BEACH. The beaches are pet friendly. We are to the point now where we just go and bum around. The lighthouse is cool. If you like country music ( Thompson Square) that is where they filmed their video Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not. There is definately a lot of history there in the city. It's worth just walking around the old coblestone streets. The tours are awesome such as Flagler College and the hotels. The architecture is amazing. The history behind Mr. Flagler is pretty interesting. They also have a pretty cool cemetary there with some pretty messed up stories. A church where MLK preached, the original Woolworths and cool restuarants. The Santa Maria is a novelty restaurant that sites over the water, the food sucks but they give you a basket of bread to feed the fish from your table. My wife always makes me take her to O.C .White's there in the harbor for our anniversary. Beach Combers in St.Augustine Beach is right on the beach behind The Pit Surf Shop, it's a dive but has great food. Another one we always hit up is Cap's On TheWater. I also believe they have an IDPA club down there. I've been married long enough that I may be able to check it out this year.

[Chris]

+1 on Savannah. Great town.

St. Augustine has some cool bits, but you'll have to dig. The fort is cool, several lighthouses in the area are fun, also check out the National Guard Armory. It's just down from the fort and is the oldest armory in the country. They also have the distinction of being the first place a militia was raised in what would become the U.S. and parts of the current structure date back to that first muster.

It doesn't take long to see it, but I thought it was a neat bit of history. 

[gregintenn]

Good call. Savannah GA is also really nice. It's probably one of my favorite cities I've visited. I really like history and looking at old homes. 

Thanks everybody! I'd thought maybe a couple of days in St. Augustine, then move on up the beach to Savannah. She's been to Savannah, but I haven't.

 

 

Greg... I'm gonna change it up... go to Charleston... Plenty to do, plenty to eat, close to the ocean... I never get tired of goin....

 

leroy

Thanks Leroy. We've been to Charleston many times. I love that old town, but looking for something new to us. Sort of like Gulf Shores; if I go one more time, I'm eligible to run for mayor!

 

Eric, If you've never been, you've GOT to go to Charleston, SC. Hell, spend a month there. You'll not run out of things to see and do.

 

I had a great aunt and uncle who lived there. He was in the Navy, and stationed there. After he retired, they just stayed. I used to love to go and spend time with them there in the summer. He hated kids, but for some reason, he and I always got along great.

Edited January 13, 2015 by gregintenn

[peejman]

If you go to savannah, you need to visit Fort Pulaski and Fort James Jackson. Fort Pulaksi is a big place and takes a few hours to get through. Fort James Jackson is much smaller but still very interesting. If you're like me, the reenactor will drop an 1855 Enfield rifle on you. :)

The Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum is really cool too.

Charleston is really nice too, lots to do. For us, HHI has become the "go to" beach vacation spot.

[Hiker]

Stay at the Kenwod Inn (b&b) and walk to downtown. A1A Ale Works has tasty suds and good casual dining.

Out on the beach, there is a restaurant called Southbeach Grill (sit upstairs for dinner). Another favorite is Saltwater Cowboys.

Love St. Augustine. Edited January 13, 2015 by Hiker

[Erik88]

Thanks everybody! I'd thought maybe a couple of days in St. Augustine, then move on up the beach to Savannah. She's been to Savannah, but I haven't.

 

 

Thanks Leroy. We've been to Charleston many times. I love that old town, but looking for something new to us. Sort of like Gulf Shores; if I go one more time, I'm eligible to run for mayor!

 

Eric, If you've never been, you've GOT to go to Charleston, SC. Hell, spend a month there. You'll not run out of things to see and do.

 

I had a great aunt and uncle who lived there. He was in the Navy, and stationed there. After he retired, they just stayed. I used to love to go and spend time with them there in the summer. He hated kids, but for some reason, he and I always got along great.

 

I think that's a great idea. It should only be a 2 hour drive up to Savannah. I've been to Charleston before but I was 17 and it was cold(march) so I didn't have a great time. I think I would enjoy it more now honestly. 

[Loon160T]

As Hiker said, the Kenwood Inn is a great B&B (stayed there twice).

 

Check out the San Sebastian Winery for really good muscadine wine.

 

The Old Town Trolley is an easy way to get around town and each driver has their own perspective on things.

 

I also second the Saint Simon's Island recommendation. I've lost count of how many times I've been there.

[dawgdoc]

Having lived near Savannah and gone to St. Simons several times, I would suggest St. Simons over Savannah.  Partly for me is that the charm that people see in Savannah becomes mundane when you see it all the time, so someone who visited it as a tourist might have a different opinion.

 

Without a doubt, Tybee Island (so-called "Savannah Beach") is one of the worst beaches that I have ever gone to.  There was clay in the sand; it was weird.  They have a horrible parking situation and not much else to do.  Some of the locals call it the Redneck Riviera because those same locals go there for the day in the summer.  I can't understand it as a vacation destination, though, especially when there are other nearby places.

 

Amelia Island/Fernadina Beach is another location between St. Augustine and Savannah.  Its basically the first island on Florida's Atlantic coast.  When we stayed at Amelia Island, we would do a day trip to St. Augustine.  The one thing I remember about St. Augustine is it is home to the 'oldest everything" in America--oldest jail, oldest school, oldest fort, oldest city, etc.  If you like ghosts, it is probably a good city for that.

 

Come to think of it, all these beach towns seem to run together in my mind.  I think St. Simons is the ritziest of the them.

[MacGyver]

Between St. Augustine and Savannah, it's worth taking the NPS ferry out to Cumberland Island National Seashore. It's pretty uninhabited, and you can watch the descendants of the Carnegie's old horses run the beach.

Heck, if you're going for your anniversary, I'd spend the night at the bed & breakfast on the island, The Greyfield Inn - greyfieldinn.com

[Lowpower]

Here's me and my sister back around 1957 or so. 

 

[url=http://s587.photobucket.com/user/ren1795/media/mesis3_zps9ebffab2.jpg.html][/URL]

 

Adults   .25 cents.    kids free.  :D !

Edited January 13, 2015 by Lowpower

[Mike.357]

if you golf, go.  if not, you might be pressed to find something besides the beach.

 

except for Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth  (spoiler alert..........that water is nasty)

 

fart water.  The secret to youth!

[waynesan]

Been to St. Augustine twice and loved both trips. But I love looking at old stuff and museums. Get tickets for the trolly tour and you can hop on and off where you want and get back on when you want. Here is a list of things from tripadvisor that may give you some ideas on what's there and what you might like.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g34599-Activities-Saint_Augustine_Florida.html