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
With its brick-lined streets, centuries-old storefronts, some with coquina-shelled facades; charming cafes and the old city wall along the Matanzas River, it's as if St. Augustine were untouched by time. Founded on Sept. 8, 1565, it predates Jamestown, Virginia, by 42 years, making it America's oldest city.
Walking tours are a must, but if you'd rather see the city from a more comfortable position, jump aboard an Old Town Trolley Tour (trolleytours.com/st-augustine) that travels the streets with a guide onboard to tell you about the history. Whether walking or riding, you'll pass by sites such as the Lightner Museum, former home to the historic Alcazar Hotel; and the Oldest House Museum that includes Florida's oldest house. The oldest schoolhouse in the state is also in the Historic District and dates back to the 1700s when Florida was under Spanish rule.
St. Augustine's nickname is "the Ancient City," and for good reason. It's where explorer Ponce de Leon found the Fountain of Youth (you can actually go there and take a sip) and on the city's banks is the magnificent Castillo de San Marcos, a Spanish fort that's still standing after more than 300 years.
St. Augustine honors its Native American and Spanish heritage, and its sites are not only educational - great for teaching young children about our nation's heritage - they make memories for a lifetime.
Photo by Anne Braly / Capt. James Dumas of Drum Man Charters helps Anietra Hamper with her catch.Angling for Adventure
There are several full-service marinas in St. Augustine that offer deep-sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean and saltwater fishing in the Intracoastal Waterway.
Want that big-prize catch? Choose the former. But for flounder, black drum, trout and other such fish, the latter waterway is convenient and perfect for a half-day excursion on the water under the guidance of a professional captain, such as James Dumas of Drum Man Fish Charters (drummancharters.com) at The Conch House Resort and Marina. Dumas will take you out in his boat and show you all of his "secret" fishing holes. Choose catch-and-release, or he'll clean, filet and bag your fish for you.
You'll find a complete list of marinas and what type of services they offer at FloridasHistoricCoast.com.
Photo by Anne Braly / Surf fishing is a favorite activity on the beaches of St. Augustine.A Nature Cruise
For a more passive way to make the most of St. Augustine's waterfront, let local naturalist and marine researcher Zach McKenna cruise you around Matanzas Bay on one of the St. Augustine Eco Tours (staugustineecotours.com).
The tours focus on environmental education, conservation, and wildlife and habitat protection. As you navigate the waters, McKenna will tell you about the efforts being made to save the environment on the water and off, as well as give you insight into the history of the town, including the fort, the Fountain of Youth and what it really was, and other interesting bits of information about St. Augustine. It's a fascinating look at the city from a different perspective, and on the way, you may see dolphins, exotic birds and other creatures while learning about the area's delicate ecosystems.
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 DisctrictToasts and Tastes
St. Augustine has many top-rated restaurants from which to choose - barbecue; seafood; Cuban; Cajun; Southern fare - so you might want to plan ahead.
One of the best ways to do so is by taking a food-and-wine walking tour to give you small tastes and sips at several restaurants, after which you can pick one, make a return trip and have a full meal. There are several tasting tours, but Corks and Forks Strolling Tour (thetastingtours.com) was voted by Travel and Leisure as the top one in town.
If you'd like to create your own foodie tour, here are some good places to start:
* The Floridian (thefloridianstaug.com) is a St. Augustine staple. Located in an old frame building, The Floridian is known for its farm-to-table menu filled with twists on classic Southern fare, such as the Cornbread Stack, a tower of cornbread topped with blackened fish, chimichurri aioli and pea shoot salad served in a cast-iron skillet. Presentation is everything here. Dine in or eat outside in what resembles a scene from "The Secret Garden," only this one is filled with beautiful plates of food.
* At Catch 27 (catchtwentyseven.com), you'll find a fusion of flavors - something for which St. Augustine is known, thanks to a blending of cultures that bring on foodways ranging from Spanish to Southern, Cuban to Cajun, and others. The Cuban Rice Bowl is a prime example with guacamole, black beans, pico de gallo, chipotle sauce and spicy blackening seasonings on fresh fish plucked from nearby waters. This is just one of the fresh catches beautifully presented at Catch 27.
* With a name like The Conch House (conch-house.com), you'd expect to find a menu filled with seafood, and you do. But it's not necessarily brought in by local fishermen. It can be delivered by you, fresh off the boat. The Conch House is one of a number of restaurants in the city that offer "hook-and-cook," a growing trend in the Sunshine State. You bring your catch into the restaurant and the chef will prepare it any way you want: blackened, fried, jerk, sauteed. Or, if you've caught enough, The Conch House will serve it on a big platter prepared several different ways. Don't worry, there's a full regular menu, too, just in case the fish weren't biting.
Photo courtesy of St. Augustine Salt Spa / The salt cave at St. Augustine Salt Spa is a relaxing way to spend time before a massage or salt bath.Relax and Rejuvenate
Treat yourself to a couple of hours at St. Augustine Salt Spa (saltaugustine.com) and you'll come away a different person. Salt therapy has its origins in ancient Greece, but it wasn't until a Polish physician realized that workers in Poland's salt mines had fewer respiratory problems than others that spas specializing in salt therapy were born.
Start your experience in the salt cave, where you can lie back in zero-gravity chairs and listen to soft music. Your next step might be an hourlong massage with hot sesame oil or a total immersion in a salt bath for an amazing sensory experience. Floating effortlessly, you won't know where your body ends and the water begins.
No matter which route you go, your cares are sure to float away like the tide on St. Augustine's dog-friendly beach.
Photo courtesy of VisitFlorida.com / Kayaking is a great way to see St. Augustine from a different perspective.