I had a fantastic visit to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine. This is one…read moreof those places where history, nature, and storytelling all come together in a really engaging way. The park is built around one of the most historically significant sites in the United States the location tied to the early Spanish settlement of St. Augustine in 1565, the oldest continuously occupied European founded city in the country. I especially enjoyed the peaceful waterfront views along the riverwalk and the chance to explore the shaded paths filled with peacocks roaming freely. The exhibits and demonstrations add a fun, educational layer without feeling overly formal.

It is so beautiful and amazing history and fun experience for all ages and I learn so much history…read moreand culture it is remarkable and fun and incredible i love it so much and absolutely amazing perfect for schools and community thank you so much for everything i appreciate it so much devotion to determination and education! Hugs From Lauren

What a beautiful, peaceful place! I loved coming here during our trip to St. Augustine this past…read moreweekend. The historic chapel (as well as the newer, larger chapel) are such beautiful places to pray and contemplate the image of Our Lady of La Leche. We didn't get to attend Mass or adoration here, but we came two days in a row and explored the grounds pretty thoroughly. We especially loved the Rosary garden, which has what's essentially a giant Rosary, so you can walk through as you pray. For one person in our group, it was her first time ever praying the Rosary! So the written mysteries on each Our Father "bead" were very helpful. There's also a lovely outdoor Stations of the Cross path, with the tallest cross we'd ever seen. When we looked out over the neighboring water (a bay?), we saw dolphins! While the grounds are open from 9am to 5pm, note that the museum/gift shop building (where the new chapel is) is only open from 10am-4pm. This was a bit of an issue for us because we showed up here at 4pm, then again at 9am the next morning. The gift shop has a good selection of Rosaries, prayer cards, art, and other things you'd find in a Catholic gift shop. If you are Catholic in any capacity, especially if you have a Marian devotion, you will LOVE this place! It reminded me of a much smaller, calmer, and less crowded version of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Add this to your Catholic bucket list, or stop by if you're planning to visit St. Augustine!

I came here with a friend to get a special prayer card for a friend who is trying to get pregnant…read more Do I believe in this, not really as I am not catholic but she claims it works and so we came here . Ultimately God is in control of all creation if you are a believer, .in my opinion. About this church On the Grounds: Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche - Old Town Trolley ... The Chapel of Our Lady of La Leche is a historic chapel at the Mission Nombre de Dios, St. Augustine, Florida, that houses the first shrine to the Virgin Mary in the United States. It is dedicated to the image of Mary nursing Jesus, and the site is a popular pilgrimage destination for prayers related to fertility, child health, and safe delivery. The devotion is ancient, and the current chapel, built in the Spanish mission style after a 1914 hurricane, reflects the long-standing faith of the community.

These gates were constructed of coquina stone pillars in 1808 as the sole entrance into the…read morehistoric district of St Augustine. Today, it still remains the main entrance into the area of St George Street. Vehicles are strictly prohibited and the entry is for pedestrian use only. The Castillo de San Marcos fort is directly across from the gates.

If you're heading to the Colonial Quarter, it is almost impossible to miss the City Gates…read more While no actual gate remains, you do get to see the pillars and stonework that were part of the wall back in the 1800's, and ponder what it was like to live inside a walled city prone to attacks by land and sea. It's a great (free) photo op and, incredibly, not that busy! 108/2025

Came to the fountain of youth on a whim. It looked fun, and was on plenty of YouTube videos, so we…read moredecided to try it out for ourselves. The admission prices: 22.95 for adults, seniors 20.95, children 6-12 9.95, and children under 6 are free. They do offer military discounts which was nice. The parking looks like it could be hectic, but on a Friday afternoon we found a spot easily. We parked, and entered paying the admission. Once you walk in there is a great place to take a selfie, and possibly see peacock's. We walked in, to the building where the fountain is, and saw some cool replicas, and were able to cool off from the Sept heat. We decided to try the water, it was said to be safe to drink. There is cups next to the fountain, and we took turns. The water is heavy with sulfur odor, didn't taste the greatest but definitely cool to say you did. After that you walk around the park, going to see different things, monuments, and different buildings where employees dressed in period attire show different aspects of 16th century life. There is a blacksmith, cannon displays and a few other shows. You can climb one of the observation towers and look over the inlet. You can also walk along the water front, on a board walk. The peacocks roam freely, and were spotted all along the trail at different spots. The gift shop was pretty nice, with friendly staff. The BBQ joint on sight looked good, we ordered ice cream to cool down. Overall nice place to visit, and to check out.

Visited the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park this weekend and honestly found it pretty…read moreunderwhelming overall. I went in expecting something a bit more magical or historically immersive, but it felt very tourist-driven and a little overhyped--especially the fountain itself, which is basically a man-made setup that didn't really live up to expectations. That said, the park itself is actually beautiful from a nature standpoint. The grounds are peaceful, shaded, and really nice to walk through, and I enjoyed just exploring the outdoor areas more than the main attraction. We did the Old Town trolley in St. Augustine earlier in the day, which was a blast and honestly set the bar pretty high for the rest of the weekend. Compared to that, the Fountain of Youth just didn't feel worth the ticket price for what you get. If you're already in St. Augustine and love history or scenic walks, it might be worth a quick stop--but I wouldn't call it a must-see.

I stopped to see The Old Senator Tree while exploring St. Augustine, and it was definitely worth…read morethe quick visit. This massive live oak is incredibly old and impressive in person, with huge twisting branches. It's located just off San Marco Avenue near a hotel parking area, so it's easy to access and doesn't take much time to see. Even though it's not a formal park or attraction, the tree itself is the main highlight and really captures the history and natural beauty of the area.

We took an Old Town Trolley tour on Christmas Day 2024 in St Augustine…read more One of the amazing things that we got to see was The Old Senator Tree, which is now about 650+ years old and still doing well and continues to grow in the courtyard of Villa 1565 on San Marco Ave, just a few blocks north of the Historical District in St. Augustine. It is well worth seeing. There are so many other old trees in the vicinity of the Senator and lots of photo opportunities. You get to drive along Magnolia Avenue, which houses many live oak trees, beautiful old mansions, and is a very picturesque street. The Fountain of Youth Archealogical park is also on the way to the Senator. During the Night of Lights, the Senator is beautifully lit up at night and is a huge attraction for tourists.

This is one of my favorite parts of St. Augustine, this sea wall definitely has its flood…read moreprotections purpose but it also provides an opportunity for the public to explore the river front safely and presents some great photos of the Lion's Bridge and the Fort as well as the ancient city's beautiful water front. One of the things I love about St. Augustine is the abundance of parking throughout the city so you can always if you are patient find a parking spot close enough to all the sights around the city to explore it's beauty and the sea wall is no exception with the public parking lot just in front of the historic fort. It's also nice to see a number of safe pedestrian crossings along the sea wall walk to access the heart of the city. I rarely visit the city without walking the sea wall...

The Matanzas River lines a portion of the City of Saint Augustine. The Sea Wall helps to protect…read morethe city from countless hurricanes over the centuries. The major threat to St. Augustine has always been water from flooding, the tides or storm surge. The dangers of water were first addressed by the Spanish in 1696. They built a coquina and limestone seawall to protect the settlers and soldiers. The US Army rebuilt the wall from 1837-1846 with coquina and cement (Florida became a state in 1845). It held up well for 160 years. In 2012, with the help of a FEMA flood assistance grant, a new 1,200-foot reinforced concrete seawall was fabricated and finished in 2014. This past year on 7 Oct 16, the new and improved seawall got its first test when the Category 3 Hurricane Matthew hit the Florida coast with a seven-foot storm surge on St. Augustine. Water went over the top of the seawall and caused flooding. The wall was built to withstand a Category 1 hurricane. However, if the wall was not in place, the flooding and damage could have been worse. Like many other locals and tourist...we like to walk on these walls but we never really take into account their full purpose or history. Close to the Marina there are some historical markers and information. It is well worth it to walk down the sidewalk or wall to read this information and take it all in. On a side note, these walls are very pretty to include in your pictures at any time of the day. Enjoy!...It's Free! For more reading: https://www.visitstaugustine.com/history/glimpses/seawall.php http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2015-08-03/st-augustine-seawall-gets-national-recognition

Recently, Jeff Gray, a kind and quiet activist and first amendment auditor who has a YouTube…read morechannel with hundreds of thousands of subscribers, stood with his handmade sign that says, 'God Bless the Homeless Vets'... not panhandling or being loud an obnoxious... outside the library. On public land, totally legal. Sarah, the manager at the library told him he wasn't wanted and he must be at least 50 feet away, across the street. He respectfully told her that he was on public land and that he was fine were he was. She sent security out to tell him to leave. He stayed. A gaggle of 'Karens' came out to tell him how wrong he was and one called 911, lying to the operator by saying he was getting loud, though he was the quietest one there. The police came, and informed the library staff that they were wrong and that Jeff was right, that he didn't have to leave just because they didn't like the way he looked or his message, 'God Bless Homeless Vets'. Betcha none of them served our country as they look down upon others who have. Maybe they should read the Constitution there at the library. You embarrassed yourself, Sarah, for all to see. Here is the video, and please notice the kindness that was bestowed on Jeff by a caring resident before Sarah and the Karen gagglers entered the chat. Sarah, you are not a king or tyrant but a public servant. Learn. Grow. Do better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqa-GH46xbw

Art by the…read moreocean The Anastasia Island Public Library is a small library that is part of the St. John's Country library system. Actually part of St Augustine, it is somewhat isolated from the city and is on Anastasia island A library that is very mundane and boring seen from the outside, it becomes simply stunning once you start to look around the interior. Incredible birdhouses, lighthouses, fantastic scenes of indigenous birds and wildlife and other incredible works of art are everywhere. The kid's room is a wonderful place where young imaginations can run wild. Sure the library has books and computers but it is the art and decor that makes this library very, very special. An ordinary place for books that was turned into a very, very cool place to walk slowly and see unique things that will stimulate and excite.

Great place to take pictures of the marina and the Saint Johns River. Conveniently located near the…read moreFresh Market and the Julington Creek Fish Camp. You can also ride your bike or walk because there is a separate area blocked from the road.

Fantastic place to view the Julington Creek Boat Light Parade, the first Saturday of each December!read more