St. Augustine Beach Hotel Guide

A combination of Old World charm, historical sites, world-class golf and tennis facilities, numerous attractions, antique shops, art galleries, and miles of unspoiled beaches makes St. Augustine an outstanding family destination.

On the Atlantic Ocean in northeast Florida, St. Augustine is the nation's oldest continuously occupied European settlement. Spain's Juan Ponce de Leon landed here in 1513 in his quest for the Fountain of Youth. The city was settled in 1565 - 55 years before the Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth Rock.

St. Augustine's rich cultural history, preserved in numerous sites open to the public, includes contributions of the Timucua Indian, the Spanish, the English, and African-Americans. Their stories are told at the Historic Villages of St. Augustine on San Marco Avenue. There you will learn that Fort Mose was established in 1738 as the first free black settlement in the Americas. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1994, Fort Mose is now a premier site on the Florida Black Heritage Trail.

With more than 85 historic sites and 60 attractions, the city is a haven of activity for the entire family. Kids will have fun at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park, where they can stroll the boardwalk through wetlands to see alligators, crocodiles, wading birds, ostriches, and pot-bellied pigs. Established in 1893, it's the oldest and largest alligator attraction in Florida.

For a panoramic view of the city and beaches, climb the 219 steps of the candy-striped St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum. The state's first lighthouse still works as a navigational aid, beaming a strong stream of light that can be seen for 19 nautical miles.

If all the sightseeing is sapping your energy, take a sip from the fountain of youth at the National Archeological Park. A path inside the magnolia-lined 4.5-acre park leads to the natural springs from which explorer Ponce de Leon drank when he landed in America, according to lore. The park is also an Indian burial ground. Other historic sites include Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Oldest Store Museum, Oldest House, and the Old Jail.

Getting to the oldest city in the U.S. is relatively easy. St. Augustine is centrally located between two major commercial airports, Jacksonville International Airport and Daytona Beach International Airport. Both are about an hour's drive. By car, take I-95 to exits 95, 94, 93, or 92. Signs along I-95 and off the interstate provide clear directions and exit numbers for specific entry points into St. Augustine. The easiest exit into historic downtown St. Augustine is 95. If you prefer the scenic route, you can take A1A. You can also take a Greyhound bus into the city.

Upon your arrival, head to the Visitor Information Center, 10 Castillo Drive, to pick up maps and brochures. You may want to consider parking your car in the center's large lot for $3 a day because parking can be difficult along the congested, narrow streets.

This colonial city has 144 blocks of historic houses, many listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the heart of St. Augustine, anchored by St. George Street, visitors can stroll down 11 pedestrian-only blocks. The Old City generally starts at the Visitor Center, just north of the City Gates and the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, which endures as the nation's oldest and only remaining 17th-century stone fort. The eastern boundary of the Old City is Avenida Menendez (Route A1A). It encompasses Potter's Wax Museum and ends at Bridge Street near the Oldest Store Museum.

You can explore on your own or take a narrated sightseeing tour. Knowledgeable guides are available to lead you through a bygone era via walking tours, river cruises, trolleys, trains, and horse and carriage rides.

From historic downtown, the beaches are just over the Bridge of Lions. St. Augustine Beach, the closest beach to downtown, is on the northern end of Anastasia Island, directly east of town. Ponte Vedra Beach, a ritzy playground with world-class resorts, is 20 miles north of St. Augustine.

Visitors will find a wide array of accommodations, including gracious Victorian bed and breakfast inns, seaside guest hotels, chain motels, and luxury resorts. With more than 7,000 guest rooms to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect place to rest and play. The best locations for most travelers will be the historic district, St. Augustine Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach.

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