Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is a must-see while in St. Augustine. Construction began…read morein 1672 and ended in 1695, making it the oldest masonry fortification in the United States. While there used to be nine other forts in the area, they were all destroyed during years of conflict. Six different flags have flown over this fort in the last 350 years: Spanish (twice), British, U.S. (twice), and Confederate. The fort itself is constructed from coquina--a unique type of sedimentary rock formed from microscopic shells of tiny marine animals--and you can still see the shells embedded in the walls as you walk around. Once inside, you can wander from room to room to view the soldiers' quarters, powder magazine, and original graffiti drawn on the walls by Spanish soldiers centuries ago. Outside, we climbed the steps to the top level to see the cannons and defensive positions along the walls, which offer great views over the town, inlet, and beaches. At night, the illuminated fort walls are a beautiful sight to see. Park rangers run educational classes throughout the day, including firearm demonstrations (though we missed those on our visit). Parking here can be a nightmare with limited spaces and paid meters, so we took the trolley and were dropped off right at the site. After our tour, we checked out the gift shop--it's small, but did the trick. Every staff member we encountered was knowledgeable, friendly, and polite. I would definitely recommend visiting this incredible landmark. Entry fees: $15 for adults; children 15 and under are free. National Park Service (NPS) passes are honored

So far the highlight of my St Augustine trip. It ended up being a free entry day due to the…read moreholiday. So it was a bit crowded; combining that with the heat of Florida summer was a bit uncomfortable. The band was there and it was nice to hear them play live while we walked the top of the Fort. We were able to spend about an hour or two exploring and learning about the Fort. We read the majority of the signs and informationals. Gorgeous view of the bay and very informative about the history of the fort and the city. There were a few rooms playing videos about the history and a specific space for "ranger kids". It seems very well preserved and taken care of. The gift shop has AC but is very small and could use an upgrade. The parking area is very limited and the bathrooms were locked there. We found a parking garage about a mile away and it was the perfect location for the other activities planned.

We had an amazing time touring the Old Jail in St. Augustine! Our guide, Louis (Lewis), the…read more"trustee inmate," absolutely made the experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable, super informative, and one of the funniest, most entertaining tour guides we've ever had. His storytelling, sense of humor, and interaction with the group brought the history to life. Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of our trip to St. Augustine. We couldn't stop laughing while still learning so much about the jail's fascinating history. I highly recommend this tour to all of our family and friends. If you get the chance, make sure you see Louis--he's definitely a character! We can't say enough good things about the experience. Employees like Louis are a huge asset and deserve to be recognized and taken care of. Thank you for making our visit so memorable!

If you're in St. Augustine, The Old Jail should absolutely be on your list of things to see. It's a…read morefascinating little trip into Florida's history and conveniently located within walking distance of the Fountain of Youth. Of course, if you actually drank from the Fountain of Youth, then technically everything is within walking distance. The Old Jail itself is well maintained and gives you a real glimpse into what life was like behind bars back in the day. There's plenty of history here, and it's the kind of place that makes you appreciate modern conveniences like air conditioning, comfortable beds, and not being locked in a tiny cell. Our guide, unfortunately, tried a little too hard to get into character and crossed the line from entertaining into just plain creepy. I appreciate the effort, but there were moments when I wasn't sure if we were learning about the inmates or about to become them. Even with that, I'm still giving The Old Jail four stars. With a more relatable guide, this could easily have been a five-star experience.

Uncle Vince was a fantastic guide. My daughter and I really enjoyed this tour. It was definitely…read morememorable and we learned a lot! Uncle Vince kept us laughing and informed.

This was one of the most fun things we have done in town. The guide Orivel that we had was so funny…read moreand knowledgeable. He made the experience so much fun for me and my daughter. If you go to visit the Oldest store I hope you get Orivel as your guide!

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.

So much potential!! Unfortunately it feels a bit abandoned. The staff were tired and ready to go;…read morewhich the ambiance makes you feel like they're closed lol. The best thing were the beautiful peacocks. We purchased peanuts for them in the gift shop. Do not bring your own. Beautiful scenery, although enclosures and exhibits are abandoned. Perfect for bird watching, bring binoculars and a couple of bucks for bird & peacock food. Overall 5/10

This was such an unexpected highlight of our trip. The story behind this place really resonates…read morewith me, women supporting women. The self guided tour is great, very easy to navigate and quick and interesting facts. I didn't find myself getting bored at all quite the opposite I was entranced by Anna Burts story. All the women that work there were very kind and helpful. Truly a hidden gem. If I was in a place financially that I could donate I would've but, I hope this expresses how special of a place this is!

We visited the Peña-Peck House in St. Augustine and really enjoyed the experience overall. It's a…read morebeautifully preserved historic home dating back to the late 1700s, and it offers a nice glimpse into Spanish colonial and early American life in the area. The house itself has a lot of charm, with period furnishings and rooms that help you imagine what life was like in early St. Augustine. The guided tour was informative and gave a good mix of history, architecture, and stories about the families who lived there. The garden area is also a peaceful highlight and adds to the overall atmosphere of the property. It's centrally located downtown, making it an easy stop while exploring other nearby attractions.

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.

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

We had a nice time on the water today, but we were glad that they offer an enclosed lower deck as…read moreit was quite windy. The trip was the advertised 75 mins. It is a narrated trip and the speakers can be quite loud if you are sitting close to them. The trip never leaves the bay, but there is plenty to see, including dolphins that were swimming near us. We used an online booking system which charged my account but never sent a confirming email and we ended up buying tickets at the dock and will have to contest the double charge at a later date. I also question the information on the narration, as I caught at least 3 inaccuracies. It was a pleasant trip and we enjoyed it, even with a couple of hiccups.

Everytime we go on this cruise we love it. So interesting all the facts they share about the area…read moreand its history. You will see osprey, dolphins, we saw like 6 baby sharks. It's really so awesome the staff is really great. The boat has upstairs and a coveted down stairs also an outdoor area. It's a very comfortable and they serve beer, wine, prosecco, chips and snacks. You will definitely enjoy this boat ride.