Add the Lightner Museum as a stop when visiting St. Augustine! The museum is located in the heart…read moreof the city in what use to be the Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age Resort. The building architecture and the gardens are beautiful. There were many collections to peruse, which were housed on 3 levels. It took us about two hours to make our way through, but you could easily spend 3 if you take your time and read everything. The floors all have a front and rear. The best suggestion we were given is to start on the 3rd floor an make our way down. The staff on hand were friendly and readily available to answer any of your questions. You can make a reservation for lunch at the Cafe, which is located on the lower level of what was once a pool.

Love coming here! The history of the museum is fascinating and the exhibits are amazing! If you…read morelove art this is a place you'll not want to miss! You might even want to continue to support them by becoming a member. TIP: You can become a member of the museum for as little as $50. per year. Membership supports everything they do at the museum, from exciting new exhibitions and engaging programs, to the preservation of their historic building and collections. According to their website, every membership to the Lightner Museum includes: * Unlimited free admission to the museum's permanent galleries and exhibitions for a full year * Invitations to Members-only previews of special exhibitions * Discounts on select events and programs There are many more perks and additional levels of membership. For additional information and to purchase memberships online, go to lightnermuseum.org Support your local arts.

This was the first time for both of us, and in our opinion, it was completely worth the time and…read moremoney. It is definitely graphic, so keep that in mind, but it's also very informative and well done. We learned a lot about historical torture methods and the context behind them. While it's intense, it's also fascinating in a "history is wild" kind of way. If you're into darker history or want something different to do in St. Augustine, this is a solid experience. It also wasn't very crowded, which made it easier to take everything in at our own pace.

This museum focuses on torture, punishment, and execution methods from medieval times and other…read moreeras. Displays include the rack, iron maiden, torture chair, Spanish boot, pillory, barrel for drunkards, scales for determining witch status, and more. The 100+ items are replicas or recreations, but they're life-size and historically accurate. The museum is part of a chain with locations in Chicago and LA, and admission includes an audio guide for your phone. It was interesting, but definitely dark and not for everyone. They also use wax figures to show how the devices worked, which makes it feel even more intense. Only complaint: Price is a bit high and less worth it IMO...

This family owned museum has so many treasures inside and outside. If you are interested in Arabic…read moreand Asian architure and accessories, then you definitely need to visit this amazing 2 story museum. There are no elevators. I tried to pick the best photos that I could but there is so much there to photograph that you will just need to visit to see it all for yourself. The audio tours average between 45 and 60 minutes depending on the pace that you are comfortable with. Touring the Villa Zorayda Museum requires standing and walking for the length of your visit. Limited seating is available in certain areas. The tickets are $15 with a discount for seniors. The family members,are there to answer any questions. There is parking nearby. This place is located across from the Lightner Museum. Make this a priority if you love all things Arabic and Asian.

I was humbled by this beautiful museum as i enjoyed the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the…read morespectacular Villa Zorayda. This is a family owned and operated museum and there were members of the family working this evening. They are there to answer any questions and to help you have an enjoyable visit. This is a lovely Gilded Age museum filled with beautiful visions in antiques of the time. Superbly maintained, full of knowledge... just waiting for you to absorb! I will not go into a detailed review of this museum, but instead, will leave you with a collage of fantastic photos for your enjoyment. The pictures speak volumes. There is too much information to put in a single review. Instead, go online and purchase a ticket for the beautiful Christmas tree lighting ceremony each Christmas season! There is a video of the tree lighting itself included. It is a beautiful humbling experience that is perfect for the holiday season located in the gorgeous Christmas town of Saint Augustine beach downtown historic district. The museum is also open throughout the year for regular viewing. For more information, the website is below. Enjoy! villazorayda.com

Very historic house museum that dates back to the 1700's. You check in at the gift shop and during…read morethe hot summer that's about the only room that has AC. They sell waters there but I recommend bringing your own water bottle because it gets hot. The house is 2 levels and you can scan a QR code or use one of their devices to do a self guided tour with a narration through each room. It was a very hot day so I went through the site pretty quickly. It was amazing to see very old things that have been preserved and just how they utilized what they had way back then. Each room was staged with many layers and cool pieces. If you follow the audio it can go by slower but you can read through it instead. It was quite fascinating and not very busy on that particular day.

Located on Aviles Street, which has the distinction of being the oldest street in America, is the…read moreXimenez-Fatio House. This historic home operated as a female owned boarding house from the 1830's to the 1850's. Filled with period pieces I was given a glimpse into the past. My docent has a knack for story-telling and she was able to give me a look into the by-gone days of Florida and the fascinating history of the house and some of the people who may have lived there. I love historic home tours and this one was excellent!

A love of history and religious significance brought us here. The Spanish founded Saint Augustine…read morehere in 1565 - 55 years before the Pilgrims! (Can't believe this was hardly mentioned in my schooling.). History abounds overseas, but this site lets you sample a bit of history here: the first Thanksgiving, site of the oldest Catholic Church, first mass. Definitely pilgrimage worthy. For anyone, it's a peaceful, relaxing break as well. The grounds are lovely and well maintained, a walking path goes throughout. A church, museum and chapel are on the premises. The Great Cross is immense and striking. Parking is free and available, a St Augustine rarity. A memorable part of our St Augustine visit.

Mission of Nombre de Dios is a peaceful and beautiful place that really captures the history and…read morespirit of St. Augustine. Walking the grounds feels calm and meaningful, with so much to take in from the monuments to the waterfront views. The Great Cross stands tall and is even more impressive in person. It's a great spot to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the scenery. Everything is well kept and easy to explore, making it a nice stop whether you're into history or just looking for a quiet place to walk. Easy five stars. A must visit when you're in the area.

Decided to chaperone my 2nd grader's field trip here today and kids and adults alike had a good…read moretime. The educational tour with charismatic guides were informative and fun filled. In over 2 decades of living in the area, I am floored it took me this long to visit. Kids had the chance to role play to learn about Ponce De Leon, Pedro Menendez de Aviles and the various Indian tribes of Florida (some friendly, some not so!). Kids got to make craft shell necklaces, get their face painted, played games of old, learn the art of candle making, and so much more.

Blegh! This is terrible unless you're two years old and gullible! The guide did not let us explore…read moreon our own, our group was only adults and he did not know how to translate his speech to adults. The things he said were not factual at all - Natives did not live to be 110 years old and were 8 ft tall and spaniards were not "Dwarves with bearded ladies". The woman at the front desk probably drank a little bit before coming to work, and I accidentally bought a groupon for 4 people, and was not reimbursed. The Dubloons they give you as store credit aren't even enough to buy greeting cards! Update, on second thought maybe this is a skip for adult only parties, but looks nice for kids.

My sisters and I had to stop by Ripley's Believe It or Not! St. Augustine while we were in town. We…read morehave such nostalgic memories visiting the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Atlantic City when we were younger, so seeing one here brought back a lot of fun memories for us. The museum was just as quirky and fascinating as we remembered--full of oddities, interactive exhibits, and interesting facts that make you stop and say "no way!" We had a great time walking through the different rooms together, laughing and pointing out all the strange and unbelievable things on display. It was such a fun and nostalgic experience for us, and we're really glad we decided to visit while in St. Augustine. If you enjoy unusual exhibits and a bit of weird history, this is definitely a fun stop to add to your trip.

This review is for the Ripley's Believe it or Not Red Train Tour…read more We were able to purchase our tickets about 30 minute prior to our departure online. The tickets are reasonably priced for what you get. For almost an hour, you tour the local area and learn about its history. Cheyenne was our tour guide and she was great. Her voice and delivery are exactly what you would expect from a top-tier tour guide. Unfortunately, and through no fault of her own, the city streets are incredibly noisy so there were large portions of the tour that we were not able to hear in the back. They do have speakers and when the noise of the city is at a reasonable level, you can hear the tour guide perfectly fine. We have done lots of trolley tours and I have to say that this was definitely the bumpiest of any tour we have been on. There are a lot of cobblestone streets and uneven pavement. The tour is dog friendly and we love to bring our pup with us. I don't think this one was her favorite though because she kept climbing in our laps, which she typically does not do, most likely because of the very bumpy ride. But again, Ripley's is not responsible for paving the roads. It's just an observation. The train is open air, so even though it is incredibly warm and humid, the intermittent breeze and shade make it comfortable enough. Something we didn't realize until after we purchased our tickets and received our email confirmation however, is that you have to pay for parking as well, which we were not anticipating. Once we arrived in the area, we realized that virtually everywhere charges for parking, however, most attractions offer free parking if you are paying for tours or utilizing their services and it would be nice if Ripley's followed suit. It is $5 per hour and when you have to be at your hour-long tour a few minutes early, you'll end up paying at least $10 for parking in addition to your tickets. Still, if you are not sure what to do when you are arrive in town, I highly recommend this tour because there are so many options it can get overwhelming. This tour actually took us to multiple locations we were already considering visiting and helped us decide on our plans for the rest of our trip. It was quite helpful.

Wow, what an amazing experience and a wealth of information I received from the Fort Mose historic…read morestate park. My parents and I came here for a Black History Month event as they are commemorating the month with the flight of freedom. This is a journey of how enslaved people came to Fort Mose to obtain freedom. I only knew of this place as the Underground Railroad, based on my ancestry, knowing that my ancestors came from the Carolinas and Georgia down to this area, but I learned so much more in the short period of time I was there. This particular weekend showcase a reenactment, and teaches the story of individuals who trekked the long and perilous paths to be free from enslavement. From different stops with a real Yamasee Indian who was the chief of the tribe. He gave us a deep and in depth history of the Yamasee Indians and their role in the flight to freedom. During the reenactment, we made different stops along the way and the end we got to watch a demonstration of the soldiers shooting and firing off the canon. It was a very emotional experience and much needed - we need to learn from the past and continue to teach this type of history. Before the experience, my parents and I did have the opportunity to stop into the visitor center, which cost about $2. It definitely gives a timeline of events during the start of colonization and Florida, however it also has a lot of artifacts that were discovered in Saint Augustine from the 1700s and onward. Definitely make a stop here while visiting the city!

Went to the park to see a concert Robert Cray. The venue is nicely set up outdoors doesn't hold a…read morelot of people, but the acoustics were very good. The scene were really close together. I prefer to stand. I'm glad I chose to for this event. It was my first time there. I didn't realize there was an area where you would park your vehicle about two blocks down the road and then they shuttle you in. That was pretty nice. No waiting for that. I would go there again and enjoy the historical state park as well.

So much fun for all ages bring family and friends you learn so history come early beat the crowds…read moreit is magical fun amazing come on the weekdays so important the staff is very nice and friendly and helpful and knowledgeable sweet understanding so clean and organized fun joyful unbelievable remarkable wonderful inspiring awesome I love coming here! From Lauren

Cool and educational experience. I definitely think if you have kids they will highly enjoy it! I…read moredefinitely learned a ton and had so much fun.