St Augustine attractions

With over 1 million alligators in Florida, it would be disappointing to come home from a trip to the Sunshine State without having seen one of these fearsome, massive creatures. Luckily, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park provides a safe and fun way to see—and learn about—the Florida gator. The park is home to more than 20 crocodile species, as well as a variety of other reptiles, mammals, and birds. For an additional cost outside general admission, visitors can zipline through the treetops on two challenging courses.In addition to educating visitors, the park works with other zoos and organizations around the world to ensure the survival of the species it houses. The park takes part in the Species Survival Plan (SSP) program, a cooperative population management and conservation program in North America, by breeding crocodiles to to maintain a healthy and self-sustaining population that is both genetically diverse and demographically stable.

This stunning contemporary church is widely considered one of the eight religious wonders of the world. Perhaps that’s because its stunning façade with towering spires, royal arch and smooth white stone are truly a sight to behold.Visitors who appreciate breathtaking architecture and attention to stonework detail with find a stop at Memorial Presbyterian Church worth the trip. Trained docents can unlock the art and history of the interior during a free tour, and religious travelers can participate in a Sunday morning worship where all are welcome.

A Spanish stronghold built to protect the city of St. Augustine, the Fort Matanzas National Monument was built in the 1700s and declared a national monument in 1924. It’s constructed from coquina, a limestone made of shells and sand that was also used to create the Castillo de San Marcos. Today, this island fort is open for tours.

St Augustine has grown up and around the González-Alvarez House, and so the home stands as an architectural time capsule of the city’s evolution. The two-story coquina stone house, built in the years after the English burned the city in 1702, is now a registered National Landmark with elements that typify the city’s varied occupants. Early Spanish colonial elements such as the house’s orientation to take advantage of winds and tabby floors—blend with later changes. A second story was added during the British colonial period, and a framed second floor porch and glass windows were included during the second Spanish period prior to statehood.Though archaeological evidence suggests the site has been occupied since the 1600s, the current home dates to the early 1700s. Its “oldest house in America” title has been contested and has since reverted to the “oldest surviving Spanish colonial house in Florida.” Regardless, visitors to the Gonzalez-Alvarez House will find plenty of unique historical elements here including some of its resident’s possessions: chipped Romanesque statues, simple wooden furniture, clothing, an ornately carved four-poster bed and a British tea setting. Outside, a replica coquina colonial kitchen features a brick hearth and period cooking implements. The larger Oldest House Museum Complex includes an ornamental garden and two separate museum buildings: the Mauncy Museum detailing the history of the country’s oldest city, and the Page L. Edwards Gallery’s rotating exhibits.

Learn all about the game of golf, its history, and its top players at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Located near historic St. Augustine at the World Golf Village resort, the museum celebrates the game and its greatest contributors through historical and interactive storytelling and exhibits that include memorabilia, artifacts, artwork, photos, audio, and videos.

Founded in 1565 by Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés of Spain, St. Augustine is America’s oldest continuously inhabited city settled first by Europeans. In the historic downtown, the Spanish Quarter, the Castillo de San Marcos, and the old schoolhouse and jail offer a glimpse into the past.

When you're in a city known for being one of the oldest in the country, you'll naturally be curious to know what it was like to live there when it all began. Now you can find out for yourself when you visit the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum, St. Augustine's only living history museum. Stroll along the streets of this recreated 1740s town and meet the local townspeople (all costumed actors).Watch a blacksmith welding, see a carpenter at work on his latest craft, or converse with a solider and his wife. The museum is the ideal place to discover what life might have actually been like for people living in St. Augustine in the 1740s. All of the houses and landscaping have been fashioned to transport you back to the era. When you're done with your walk through the town, be sure to stop by the Taberna del Gallo, a 1740s Spanish tavern located down the street. With no electricity, candles provide the only light source, making it a truly authentic drinking and dining experience.

Travelers don’t have to worry about walking the plank at this popular attraction located in St. Augustine. The Pirate and Treasure Museum is filled with galleries and exhibits that showcases the life and times of sea greats like Sir Francis Drake and Robert Searles. Visitors can learn about the role pirates played in early colonial America and gain a deeper understanding of life on the high seas.Travelers will venture back some 300 years to Port Royal, Jamaica when they enter this unique museum that’s perfect for the whole family. Children will love the well-designed treasure hunt that leads the younger set on a real life adventure.

Built in 1691, the Father Miguel O'Reilly House is not only the second oldest structure in St. Augustine (the Castillo de San Marcos being the first), but also one of the oldest buildings in the United States. While recognized now as a symbol of Florida's long connection to Catholicism, the house did not take on that status until 1785. In that year, the Irish priest Father Miguel O'Reilly purchased the house and converted it into a Catholic parish rectory and made sure that it would continue to serve as a center of education and religion for years to come.Today, the house O'Reilly House Museum focuses on three main themes. The first is the story of the house, the second is St. Augustine's Catholic tradition (which began when the area was first settled by the Spanish in 1565), and third are the Sisters of St. Joseph who have been the guardians of the O’Reilly House and educators in St. Augustine since their arrival in 1866. A visit to the O'Reilly House Museum allows you to admire its beautiful architecture, and immerse yourself in St. Augustine's proud and antiquated history.

Enjoy IMAX movies from educational documentaries to the latest Hollywood blockbusters on the largest IMAX 3D screen in the Southeast at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater. Featuring the latest digital projection system and state-of-the-art sound system, the theater delivers an incredible immersive movie experience.

Chocolate doesn’t immediately come to mind when you think of St. Augustine’s history of pirates and Spanish settlements—until you’ve visited Whetstone Chocolates. This delicious confectionery store near the historic district offers scheduled tasting tours that’ll introduce you to the sweet side of the city.

Explore a fascinating collection of some of the world’s tiniest artworks at the Micro Masterpiece Art Gallery. Located in downtown St. Augustine, the gallery houses one of the largest collections of micro-miniature paintings, etchings, sculptures, and books in the country, around 30 of which are displayed at a time on a rotating basis.

Marineland Dolphin Adventure is an oceanfront attraction bordering the cities of St. Augustine and Marineland. For more than 80 years, this accredited and certified oceanarium has protected and preserved marine life through on-site research and its diverse schedule of educational experiences.

For more than 25 years, the Old Florida Museum has invited children and adults alike to discover what Florida living was like from when the first colonial settlers arrived to the turn of the 20th century. Offering interactive activities and costumed guides, the Old Florida Museum sits on a 400-acre pioneer homestead property.