10 Things You Must Do in St. Augustine

If you’re a history buff, St. Augustine is the one city you have to put on your Sunshine State bucket list.
Established by the Spanish in 1565, this town less than an hour drive south of Jacksonville is the nation’s first enduring settlement. It predates Jamestown in Virginia by more than 40 years.
Flash forward to the 21st century and it’s estimated some two-million people from all over the world visit St. Augustine every year. They come here for the history, the diverse shopping, the quality food options and the natural beauty of the bay and the beaches. There’s so much to experience here, you might need a little help sorting it all out, knowing where to start, especially if its your first time.
We’ve put together this list to make it simple for you, 10 things you must do in St. Augustine. As always, be sure to use our website ChadGallivanter.com as a companion resource to this video. There, we provide helpful links, maps and other information that will make your trip to St. Augustine a lot easier to plan.
#StAugustine #travelguide
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[@scottgunnerson]

One of the most important things when you visit Saint Augustine is the parking garage north of Saint George Street. I have found that it is better to park there quickly and then use the time saved to explore the old city, rather than exploring for a parking spot.

[@TomMaxwell756]

Agreed. At $15/day, it's hard to beat.

[@mayrazambrano2644]

Yup!! For a flat rate of $15.00 you can’t beat it! There’s so much to see!’ Beautiful city

[@Vlad-ue8vh]

Always!!!! ❤❤❤

[@user-rv3fu9js8p]

Thank you, can you drop a Google location for the parking garage

[@Samhain606]

Looks like everyone had the same thought...good luck finding a place to park

[@InfectiousGroovePodcast]

I moved to Jacksonville in April 2022. We've been to St Augustine a few times and it's really a lot of fun. Being from Michigan, the area reminds me of the Mackinaw area in the northern part of the state.

[@bennyjosey6974]

I was born in Ypsilanti and now live in St Augustine

[@helgabullabong]

I'm an architecture nerd and this place looks awesome. Thanks Chad, another place added to my bucket list! Cheers

[@ChadGallivanter]

I thought for sure you had been to St. Augustine before, Helga! Definitely need to visit the next time you’re over.

[@NativeNYer]

I love St. Augustine!!!! The best place 2 visit!

[@russsaunders7154]

I am probably biased because I live here, but St Augustine is the greatest! Great coverage of a great city Chad!

[@ChadGallivanter]

Thanks Russ!

[@eh4236]

I am a young Boomer :) but still am interested in visiting St Augustine which will most likely come next summer when my husband's son and grandsons move to the Jacksonville area. We plan to make a few visits to the area. Enjoyed the video. Thanks.

[@ChadGallivanter]

Have fun!

[@sharkscrapper]

We live in the area and love spending time in St. Augustine. I also highly recommend the BEE, a helicopter tour of the area flying out of the St. Augustine airport and the Alligator Farm.

[@marydugan3399]

St Augustine is on my bucket list

[@KJFTravelAdventures]

We stayed at the Renaissance St. Augustine shortly after they opened and really enjoyed it - and truly the location cannot be beat. We have a vlog of our experience on our page if anyone wants a closer look at the hotel!

[@janeellis5136]

My favorite place.

[@celtpilot]

We love it too.

[@michellearseneau8119]

Mine too!!

[@sharonwilson2450]

The Alligator Farm on Anastasia Island is a great daytime visit. Bird lovers love the rookery and there's a zip line that goes over the gators for the adventure lovers.

[@jasond.2147]

Great video! I live right in between both Jacksonville and Saint Augustine in Saint Johns County. Its great that I have both a large modern city 30 minutes away and the oldest city in America, an amazingly beautiful and historical landmark in our country! Definitely a top tier city for tourists and locals with the amazing beaches, the Castillo de San Marcos fort, the haunted lighthouse and of course the amazing Saint George Street with many different amazing shops and restaurants!

[@robertbabcock7110]

We also live about an hour and half away in Ocala and go as often as we can. We like to camp at Anastasia State Park and ride bikes into town and just wander around. We will be trying the chicken food truck next time we go. A side note ….I use your videos in our history club in a retirement home. Your clear way of speaking and top notch content has been a real hit. Thanks!

[@ChadGallivanter]

I’m honored Robert. Thank you!

[@robertbabcock7110]

If you would ever like to give a shout out to the gang we would love it! We have guest speakers via zoom, FaceTime or video message at times. We would love to hear about the work and effort that goes into producing a top quality video!

[@ChadGallivanter]

Sounds good Robert!

[@TomMaxwell756]

I would add dinner at the St. Augustine Fish Camp just for the experience. Best to have a reservation.

[@stevelinscome728]

I've been appreciating your coverages and tips for St. Augustine. I am coming for a visit in later October '22. I'm spending 3 nights in S.A. then traveling on a touring sized motorcycle south along the coast completely to Key West. Then ride over to the west side to Tampa then back to Orlando for flight back to the (left) west coast(WA state). Thanks again for your helpful tips. 🙋‍♂️ 🏍💨

[@ChadGallivanter]

Thanks Steve. Glad the videos help!

[@juliejensen7370]

We enjoyed the Columbia Latin restaurant and drinking red sangrias at outside bars at night.

[@windyblueofthestellaryjay6341]

thank you, I am turning my Oregon friends who have family in FL onto Saint A. I grew up 20 years in FL am a GenXer and Saint A is my favorite town in FL. When I was 8 my mother got me and my brother who was 11 bus passes and $40 bucks each and set us free to explore the city on our own. I actually went to the prison museum and it was empty and so I sat in the first Electric Chair. I even saw a ghost when I did!!!!! Will share your videos. Thanks

[@Bryankirshon]

i just was at the st Augustine aquarium i snorkeled in the giant tank with a bottle of fish food there was a stingray in there too but it's stinger barb was cut so I was not in any danger it was on my birthday awesome the year before I was at the st Augustine lighthouse

[@juliejensen7370]

The Old Town Trolley's two routes are well worth it. Make sure and go to Anastasia Island.

[@ingridrinaudo3215]

Just went on this trolley this weekend. Definetley worth every penny.

[@lisacentonze1001]

I love the way you enunciate and speak slowly. Your voice is very clear.

[@ChadGallivanter]

Thanks Lisa!

[@aaronsanson4224]

I love going to Saint Augustine I go there like eight times a year

[@fran2177]

Thank you, we're going to St. Augustine for Labor Day weekend and stsying at the beautiful LaFiesta motel on A1A, our favorite place to stay when we go to St. Augustine. You showed us a few places we've never been to and some great new ideas.

[@ChadGallivanter]

Thanks Fran!

[@troymartin4260]

How was it?

[@BrianAdams-dt1ks]

We've visited several times. Historic obviously, and nice to visit probably once. The town is a bit of a clip joint for tourists though. The only place I have ever seen that has parking meters that don't allow "piggybacking". IOW, if a car parks and pays for say two hours, but leaves after ten minutes, their system is set up to make the next car pay for the time also, starting at the time they parked. This is, in effect, double/triple/or more, charging for the same time, same space. A complete ripoff of visitors. Also amusing are their trollies. The seats specifically. They are hard metal, which is okay, but the shape of the back is, I believe, deliberately designed to be very uncomfortable, so the rider doesn't just sit there and ride around town, but is compelled by those damn seats to get up occasionally and visit the stops the trolley makes, and SPEND MONEY. These seat backs are curved so that the top of the metal back rams into your back. I guess if a person had a bad, natural slump, they might be okay, but for most people, you don't want to sit there very long. Clever, but sleazy trick I think.

[@mikefelix932]

Love Hyppo!! - Shel

[@crucialsmoker]

Used to live in saint augustine for like 13 years and the thing i miss most is a1a burrito works aka Taco shop! And of course the ocean

[@crucialsmoker]

I used to work at the scarlett oharas as a cook before i left to go work at caps on the water both amazing restaurants and im still sad to hear scarletts closed after 70 something years.. also restaurants like hurricane patties, aunt kates and the back 40 cafe are good resturaunts as well

[@paulsoxl7739]

I saw a guy drop dead in Scarlett O’ haras in the mid 90’s never forget it

[@minimalista7762]

Oohhh... I need to try Mayday while I'm here! I'm an ice cream lover so I found this little mom n pop place called Carnival Sweets. Marshmallow ice cream is to die for. I'm going back to get some of their popcorn-25 flavors! Great video as usual!

[@goodcitizen4587]

The best!

[@kevinluschak5241]

I plan on going there!

[@nathanielheustis687]

Damn I’m local and I didn’t know about some of this stuff. Good ideas Fr Fr

[@peterpalmer7014]

Favorite ice cream is Mayday all day long.

[@ChadGallivanter]

We agree

[@BradM766]

Surpised you didn’t mention St. Augustine Distillery, San Sebastián winery, or any of the many Irish pubs like Chatsworth. Lots of night life stuff to add to the list.

[@ChadGallivanter]

They’ve been featured in other lists or videos on this channel. We do need to get back to all those places though!

[@asylumlover]

I DON'T LIKE FLORIDA, BUT I LOVE ST AUGUSTINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE IN 43 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@eloiseparker6160]

Can you do a video on fun things to do and eat at Fernandina Beach. We are going in December.

[@ChadGallivanter]

We actually made a video on Fernandina Beach back in May. Here's the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpraZIR7ptmobrc

[@RAND0MGUY11]

As someone who’s moving from New York to St. Augustine, I am very pleased to know that a New York style pizza place is there lmao

[@pigybak]

Fort Matanzas…

[@user-vg1wx9fz4b]

Just got accepted to Flagler College

[@ChadGallivanter]

Congratulations! Flagler is a great school!

[@BhupinderSingh-jt9ln]

AMEN AND AMEN

[@sternthomas7924]

You are trying to stay at the KOA over there on the other side on Anastasia side it's beautiful and fun for kids too I think y'all would like it if y'all stay the night

[@NativeNYer]

A1A ale house restaurant near lions Bridge. Pizza time St. George St.

[@bennyjosey6974]

Horrible place to eat

[@leiladesilva]

Thank you for chanel

[@tonydoinstuff]

Cool video! Very helpful. Are the tram tours worth it? Got any you recommend that aren't too pricey?

[@Silver56131]

I live here

[@juliejensen7370]

We old folks enjoy it as much as Gen Xers!

[@travism9339]

OK? You old folks who visit are more disrespectful and entitled than the younger people who come.

[@fabiairizarry551]

Q LINDO.

[@trmcmann82]

Do you have a link for the Florida Stories app? I can't find it in the Google app store. Going this coming week and very excited to explore.

[@ChadGallivanter]

Here’s the link for Google Play: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.toursphere.floridastories&hl=en_US&gl=US&pli=1

[@AllTheWorldIsSleeping]

Culture shouldn't be available to only those who can afford it, so blees the places that don't charge admission. I know what you mean though when you said that they should charge admission. Just that it's worth paying for.

[@mohammedbouayad415]

Please add timestamps

[@JohnSmith-kg3im]

What? No mention of the Lighthouse?

[@ChadGallivanter]

There’s a new video of the Lighthouse in our library from about 3 or 4 weeks ago

[@melvinnieves9221]

Is April a good month to visit St Augustine?

[@mcspikes1]

A trip to St. Augustine without a visit to Hazel’s Hot Dogs is not a visit to St. Augustine.

[@doubledang9219]

Yes! So much goodness coming out of the tiny shop on US1

[@kellykell7871]

Where are they located?

[@raizedbynerdz8718]

Firsty

[@dons1069]

Saint Augustine Alligator Farm

[@ElectrickSoundz]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@catherinemuthoni6417]

Is it easy to get an Uber driver from St. Augustine Beach to the downtown area?

[@ChadGallivanter]

Yes, Uber is available from the beach to downtown

[@catherinemuthoni6417]

Thanks for the info.

[@cheherazademimoun]

Saint Augustine is the name of an Algerian Christian saint

[@maryannfriend7854]

So where did you get that strawberry kiwi donut? I watched the video but cant find it! We will be there 12/31

[@ChadGallivanter]

I believe the Strawberry Kiwi donut was at a shop called Fiction Donuts. They sadly closed a few months ago.

[@maryannfriend7854]

@@ChadGallivanter Thank you. I went thru videos again last evening and found it. They looked so good...now will try pineapple coconut fritter! Your information about St Augustine has been very helpful to us in planning our trip. See another donut shop is opening Set 16th...

[@cheryldodd-marko9787]

🕊🇺🇲💕

[@Truckerkris32]

Paranormal is crazy there

[@richardwernars5327]

Looks like one big tourist trap.

[@celticmco5672]

It is...

[@NTEDOG561]

depends how you see it. every state has something to attract outsiders

[@MichaelDiSalvoSATandACTTutor]

It’s where the first mass or Thanksgiving was set in the USA. Like it or not Catholicism is the root of civilization. If you wanna find the opposite of this just visit a place like Detroit

[@joinjen3854]

@@MichaelDiSalvoSATandACTTutor the 1st Thanksgiving was in Plymouth, not anywhere in Florida.

[@MichaelDiSalvoSATandACTTutor]

@@joinjen3854 We can keep this brief. The First M mass (i.e. Eucharist) was conducted by Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales on September 8, 1565. This first mass in what would become the United States was conducted when Spanish Admiral Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore to establish the City of St. Augustine. The term “Eucharist” originates from the Greek word eucharistia, meaning thanksgiving. I admit there may have been a Mass before that as some Vikings appear to have been Catholics.