St. Augustine attractions

St. Augustine is literally packed with attractions of all kinds, from historic sites to family amusements. Chief among them is the Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas, wonderful remnants of St. Augustine's Spanish heritage. Many other St. Augustine attractions pay tribute to the area's long history, such as the Lightner Museum and the Oldest Schoolhouse. We've listed the best of St. Augustine attractions below, so be sure to plan to visit several of them.

The Castillo de San Marcos, built 1672-1695, served primarily as an outpost of the Spanish Empire, guarding St. Augustine, the first permanent European settlement in the continental United States. The Castillo was made a National Monument in 1924 and became part of the National Park system in 1933. The park consists of the original historic Castillo fortress itself with its attendant grounds, some 25 total acres. Each room or casemate within the fort focuses on a different theme or time period of the Castillo de San Marcos such as "The building of the Castillo", "Battles", "Artillery", and "Native Americans". Additionally, some rooms have been furnished to represent a Spanish barracks, British barracks, and storeroom. Various Spanish iron and bronze artillery pieces are exhibited on the gundeck or terreplein (roof).

Throughout its history, the story of Fort Matanzas has been closely intertwined with that of the city of St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos. This Spanish outpost fort was built to guard the Matanzas Inlet and to warn St. Augustine of British or other enemies approaching from the south. The fort represents a very well-preserved masonry watchtower fort built by the Spanish from 1740 to 1742. The tall tower provided a perch to observe vessels approaching St. Augustine from the south, and the cannon blocked potential enemy advancements up the Matanzas River, the backdoor to St. Augustine. Fort Matanzas now serves as a reminder of the early Spanish empire in the New World.

Relics of America's Gilded Age are elegantly exhibited on the museum's three floors. Costumes, furnishings, mechanical musical instruments and other artifacts give you a glimpse into 19th century daily life. The Lightner collection includes beautiful examples of cut glass, Victorian art glass and the stained glass work of Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Get your motor running, head out on the highway. If you're looking for adventure, Family Fun Factory has your ticket for fun! Enjoy over 80 games including pin-ball, bowling and air-hockey. Visit our gator feeding pond or test your putting expertise on a challenging 18-hole miniature golf course. Seven batting cages will get you in the swing of things. OR for exciting racing action, ride our Go-Karts or Dune-Buggies. Younger kids can join in the fun and drive one of our Kiddie-Karts. Test your racing skills with our super dragsters that will take you from 0-75 in 3 seconds!

A Ghostly Experience is a leisurely 1 1/2 hour walk through the historic district, stopping at several locations along the way to tell our tales of legends, lore, and ghostly experiences. We begin across from the Old School House on St. George Street at 8pm every night. Memorial Day through Labor Day we do an additional tour at 9:30 from the same location. We also offer the Haunted Lighthouse Tour every Friday night at 8:00 starting in front of the Lightkeeper's House. You may look forward to a frightfully good time!

Marineland of Florida is the Grandaddy of the aquarium-themed attractions, founded way back in 1937 as Marine Studios -- an innovative center for nature film production. Their system of using fresh seawater filtered through beach sand not only provided clear water for photography, but kept the fish in top condition as well. Today, Marineland offers their trademark dolphin shows, as well as the original big reef tank. A new program allowing visitors to interact with dolphins is attracting thousands.

At St. Augustine's only "Hands-On" history museum you can write with a quill pen, use an old corn mill, pump water with a pitcher pump, try your hand at roping at the lasso station, use colonial pump drills, play Native American games, work on a dug out canoe and much more! Rare breed animals live on site year round. Specialized programs available for school groups and adults group tours.

Replete with original houses and ancient archaeological sites, Old St. Augustine Village is one of America's most historically rich places. This area of the walled colonial city represents the general location of the 1565 settlement of St. Augustine, a city that was founded decades before the colonies of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and Plymouth Plantation in 1620, and one that has been continuously occupied since the 16th century. The Village's 10 houses, courtyards and gardens form an entire city block in St. Augustine's oldest historic district. Among the structures are rare Spanish Colonial period and Territorial period houses as well as stately Victorian era homes.

Explore St. Augustine's Wax Museum featuring over 150 wax figures including authors, artists, celebrities, inventors, scientists and explorers from the Founding Fathers to recent events. It's a chance to learn about world history face-to-face with those who lived it. Featuring a 12 minute theater show challenging every age group to strive for greatness! Group tours are always welcome with special rates available to groups of 10 or more. Potter's Wax Museum is a unique educational experience guaranteed to unlock your imagination.

The original museum, since 1950, offers hours of fun for all ages. Experience the thrill and adventure while exploring three floors of reality-based interactive exhibits. Ripley's is located in the Castle Warden, a beautifully restored landmark built in 1887. Laugh one moment and gasp the next! You'll be amazed and wonder why! Where sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. See the unusual, the unorthodox, and exotic collected from the far corners of the world by Robert Ripley.

The San Sebastian Winery opened in St. Augustine in December of 1996 and has been producing exceptional award winning wines ever since. Currently with twelve different varieties ranging from dry to sweet, red and white including a Port, a Cream Sherry and one Sparkling wine. Each wine is unique to itself, and there will certainly be one or more your liking. The Winery offers free tours and wine tasting seven days a week and you are sure to learn a little about wine while you're there. The relaxed atmosphere and wonderful wineshop will definately please every palate.

St. Augustine's and Florida's oldest continuously operating attraction, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm celebrated its centennial anniversary on May 20, 1993, with the grand opening of "Land of Crocodiles", a major exhibit featuring all 23 species of crocodilians from around the world. The Alligator Farm is the only place in the world where a complete collection can be viewed. In a century of operation, the Alligator Farm has played a major role in the growth of Florida's tourist industry, which dominates the state economy.

In St. Augustine's oldest residential neighborhood is the St. Augustine Historical Society and its Oldest House Museum Complex. The Gonzalez-Alvarez "Oldest" House is the area's oldest surviving Spanish Colonial house. The complex includes two other museums including the only exhibit in St. Augustine covering 400 years of St. Augustine's history; a gallery with rotating exhibits, picnic areas, and the Museum Store carrying unique items and books relating to the history of the area.

Take the challenge of climbing 219 steps to the top of the tower for a breathtaking and panoramic view of St. Augustine and the beaches. Learn more about St. Augustine's rich maritime past through interactive exhibits and hands-on activities. Explore the lives of the keepers and their families in the museum in the restored keepers' house. Browse the museum store and take home a unique lighthouse or maritime souvenir.

Visit St. Augustine Old Jail Complex and climb aboard a green and white turn-of-the-century trolley. Let the sands of time slip by as your St. Augustine Trolley winds slowly the narrow streets of Old St. Augustine. The completely narrated seven mile tour, given by our licensed guide, will acquaint you with the Nation's Oldest City from the landing of Pedro Menendez de Aviles in 1565, establishing America's first permanent European settlement, to our present day.

It's the Way to See St. Augustine! Our tours operate every day except Christmas from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. The 7-mile narrated tour of the city takes a minimum of one hour. During the tour, the train stops throughout the city at attractions, historical sites, restaurants, and shopping. Your train ticket allows you to step off and reboard the train at your leisure for up to 3 consecutive days.