Because of its wide-open spaces, beautiful parks, beaches and dynamic downtown good for walking and sightseeing, St. Augustine was recently voted No. 2 travel destination in the nation in a TripAdvisor poll.
The city has had 456 years to get it right – longer than any other in the U.S. – and it has. From grace that exudes Southern charm to downright fun in the sun, America’s oldest city draws history buffs, sun-lovers, families, couples looking for romance and anglers looking for their next big-fish tale to experience the vibe that keeps St. Augustine one of the top destinations in the Sunshine State.
It’s easily accessible from Chattanooga. Fly into Jacksonville, rent a car and take a leisurely drive down Highway A1A; St. Augustine is just about an hour south. Or, drive the entire way, a little more than seven hours from Chattanooga, so you don’t have to worry about a rental car.
The Historic District is the perfect spot for experiencing all that St. Augustine has to offer. There, you’ll find historic lodging options such as the luxurious Casa Monica Resort and Spa-Autograph Collection (marriott.com) and the HGTV-featured Bayfront Marin House B&B (bayfrontmarinhouse.com), as well as familiar chains like DoubleTree (hilton.com).
Photo courtesy of VisitFlorida.com / Some of the best seats in the house can be found on sidewalks along the streets in St. Augustine’s Historic DisctrictA Piece of History