Before I get to the itinerary, there are a few things you should be aware of when planning a trip to Florida's Historic Coast:
- Some businesses are closed on Mondays and/or Tuesdays
- I would highly recommend making dinner reservations during your stay because the popular restaurants can get very busy in the evening
- Parking in the city can be a bit of a headache. To avoid this, I would recommend either paying the $15 flat fee to park your car in the Historic Downtown Parking Garage for the day, or purchasing a ticket to use the Old Town Trolley which brings you to all of the main attractions in the city and allows you to park your car for free in their parking lot. Otherwise, you can try your luck with the metered parking, but I would download the ParkStAug app in advance to make paying for parking a bit easier. Also, in some areas of the city the street parking is free after 5pm so if you can snag a spot, you may not have to pay to park for dinner.
Alright, let's dive into the itinerary ⬇️
Day 1 -
Start the morning off with a coffee and pastry from The Kookaburra - one of the best coffee shops in town! They have gluten-free and vegan pastry options, as well as an array of alternative milks for drinks.
The Kookaburra Downtown
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I got the House Made Chai with almond milk and a slice of banana bread. My boyfriend got the Honey Badger as a beverage and a few pumpkin donuts. It was all really good!
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Or, if you're in the mood for something a little more substantial than a pastry, grab breakfast at Maple Street Biscuit Company.
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Head over to the starting point of the Old Town Trolley which is located in the same parking lot as the Old Jail. What's nice is that you can park your car there for free for the day as you use the trolley.
Old Town Trolley Tours St Augustine
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The price to use the shuttle per person for the day varies by day, but it typically ranges from $36-42. You can also purchase a 2-day pass if you plan on using the trolley for multiple days.
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Ride the trolley about 35 minutes to Flagler College (formerly Hotel Ponce de Leon)
Flagler College
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If you think the outside of this building is beautiful, wait until you see the inside. The college runs tours every day at 10am and 2pm. I would recommend buying tickets in advance online because the tours can fill up. Tickets cost $17 for adults.
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Next, walk across the street to The Lightner Museum (formerly Hotel Alcazar)
Lightner Museum
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Museum tickets cost $17 for adults. You can buy tickets on arrival at the museum.
I would recommend giving yourself about 1.5-2 hours to visit the museum, as there are several different exhibits inside, including what was once the largest indoor swimming pool in the United States, but now you can enjoy your lunch there!
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Hop back on the trolley to the heart of the city to grab lunch. I would recommend getting off at Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine to stop inside before heading to eat. It's a beautiful church! And it's free to enter.
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For lunch, you have to try the killer grilled cheese at Grilled Cheese Gallery!
Grilled Cheese Gallery
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I wish we could've tried this place, but sadly they were closed the day we planned to eat here. They have raving reviews though and their menu looks incredible! Mac & cheese-stuffed grilled cheese? What's not to love?!
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After lunch, hop back on the trolley and ride it to the last stop - Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.
Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
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Did you know that the famous Fountain of Youth is located in Florida? And guess what - you can drink from it!
To manage expectations though - it isn't a big magnificent fountain. It's actually a spring that they've directed into a small building onsite where you can grab a small cup and take a drink from it.
The grounds of the Archaeological Park are actually quite large with demonstrations and exhibits such as a cannon firing and a blacksmith exhibit.
Tickets are $19.95 for adults.
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When you're done exploring, take a walk behind the park to one of the most photographed streets in the United States according to National Geographic📸
Magnolia Avenue
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I would recommend going here either early in the morning or in the early evening before the sun sets for the best photo opportunities. This road leads directly to the Fountain of Youth Park, so it can get busier during the day. The park's last admission is at 5pm, so the road is a bit quieter around that time.
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Stop back at your accommodation to change for dinner (if you want) and then take a walk down St. George Street.
Saint George Street
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This street is one of the busiest in the city and is lined with lots of shops and restaurants.
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It's time to get to your dinner reservation at Columbia Restaurant!
Columbia Restaurant
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Easily the best meal I've had in a LONG time. The inside of the restaurant is beautifully decorated and the food is to die for! Their original location is actually near Tampa, FL, and the restaurants are still owned and operated by descendants of the original owner - Spanish-Cuban immigrant Casimiro Hernandez, Sr.
We had their freshly baked bread (comes out warm!), the Black Bean Cakes as an appetizer, and we tried the Pollo Manchego and Chicken Salteado as our main dishes with a side of plantains. Would highly recommend all of these dishes! Soooo good.
Reminder to make a reservation in advance if you plan to eat dinner here.
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If you're craving something sweet after dinner, be sure to swing by Mayday Ice Cream🍦
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Day 2
Hopefully you slept well, because here's another jam-packed day of activities and good food!
Start the morning off with a healthy smoothie or açaí bowl from Creative Juices Natural Cafe.
Creative Juices Natural Cafe
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We got the açaí bowls and they were so fresh and delicious!
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If the weather is nice (which it's rare that it isn't), spend the morning at St. Augustine Beach! And if you happen to be there on a Wednesday, be sure to check out the Wednesday Farmer's Market that takes place right next to the beach!
St. Augustine Beach
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Hunt for sea shells, watch the surfers, or just enjoy the sunshine and ocean.
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Next up, you'll want to check out the St. Augustine Lighthouse.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
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Standard adult tickets cost $14.95 and give you all-day access to the lighthouse and the grounds. They also offer separate tickets for sunrise/moonrise tours and ghost tours.
Besides being able to climb the tour, there are also interesting exhibits and museums on the grounds including one about shipwrecks in the area and one about the area's role in WWII.
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If all that sunbathing and stair climbing has made you hungry again, check out The Conch House Restaurant for lunch.
The Conch House Restaurant
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Ever wanted to have a drink or a meal in a bungalow? Well here you can! They have awesome cocktails and lunch options including seafood, sandwiches, soups and more. They're also open for dinner, so if you'd prefer that, it's a great spot to watch the sunset from!
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After lunch, it's time to head back into the city for some more exploration.
Oldest House Museum Complex
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Tours run every half hour from 10am-5pm. Adult tickets cost $12.95. The tour is packed with interesting information about the house, as well as the grounds and the city. On the grounds there is also a map gallery with some of the first maps of Florida, as well as a Surf Museum.
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Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
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One of the must-visits when in St. Augustine. This fort has so much history (nearly 450 years to be exact) which you can read about as you explore the grounds. Adult entrance tickets are $15.00. I would recommend budgeting 1-2 hours here.
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Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse
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Being one of the cheaper attractions in the city, don't miss the opportunity to transport back in history by visiting the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the United States. Adult entrance is $6.95.
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Head back to your accommodation to get cleaned up after your beach day and then head back into the city for dinner at Catch 27.
Catch 27
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They're known for their fresh seafood, but any dish you get will be delicious! We got the fingerling potatoes as an appetizer, and the spring risotto and blackened pasta as our meals. They were both very good!
Reminder to make a reservation in advance if you plan on eating here for dinner!
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To end the night, take a stroll down the oldest street in the nation - Aviles Street. And while you're there, stop for dessert at one of the most unique ice cream shops in the city ⬇️
Peace Pie
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Get a one-of-a-kind ice cream sandwich at Peace Pie! In addition to a cookie exterior and ice cream interior, they also have pie filling in them - which they've patented so their shops are the only place you'll find these sandwiches being sold. They have a few locations on the East Coast, but St. Augustine is their only Florida location.
They have tons of flavors, but we got the Salted Caramel Brownie and the Bananas Foster. YUM! The cookies and pie fillings are all homemade, and they're the only shop in the city that gets their ice cream directly from Hershey's - so you know it's the good stuff.
As if I haven't convinced you to visit already, the shop's decoration is really cute with tons of wall art and even a disco ball.
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