Location: St. Augustine
Top Things to do in St. Augustine
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What to do and see in St. Augustine, Florida (FL): The Best Museums
Saint Augustine is a luxurious, romantic vacation spot—you’ll find classic hotels and intimate restaurants. Those can be a dime a dozen, though. What sets Saint Augustine apart is its history—it’s the oldest European settlement in the U.S. And nowhere else in the world can you taste the waters of the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park (where Ponce de Leon may have landed). Who knows, if you vacation here, maybe you won’t need that Botox!
Restaurants in St. Augustine
1. The Ximenez-Fatio House
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 556 reviews
Dating to the Spanish town plan of 1573, the property is a centerpiece of St. Augustine’s oldest settlement and is a feature along the city’s first platted thoroughfare, Aviles Street.“The Ximenez~Fatio House museum is one of the first to interpret 19th century women’s history”William Seale, Ph.D.; author, historian, and consultant for interpretation since the 1970’s.
Reviewed By anthonypF7274UE
Shelby was a great tour guide as she led my husband and I into all the rooms of the house, explaining with great detail the events and occurrences that have happened there. She provided back story on the material used to build the house, to the beautiful dishes laid out in the dining room, to the delicate artifacts found in the upstairs bedroom. If you love history you will appreciate this tour as you see first hand how life was for the folk who lived and stayed in the historic Victorian home. A must see!
2. Metalartz Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 33 reviews
Reviewed By emilytW4018BD
You don't want to miss this shop! The prices and quality of artwork are amazing! We bought several pieces we have seen similar else where for less quality and more money! And the 2 ladies in the shop were helpful and knowledgeable of their artist and their work! Thank you! We will be back!
3. rembrandtz
4. Butterfield Garage Art Gallery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
5. Santa Barbara Hospital Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 14 reviews
The Santa Barbara Hospital Museum is a living history museum of medical practices and tools used during the 17th & 18th centuries. Guides in period dress present information and demonstrations of medical procedures during colonial times. Guests will visit the surgery room, recovery area and apothecary.
Reviewed By mdeetz167
I visited with my mom (who is a history nerd like myself), we were the only two on the tour and Grimm exceeded our expectations. The tour was supposed to go for an hour, but thanks to my many questions it went about 45 minutes past that. Grimm answered all my questions, and beyond. He did a fantastic job of going through the history of medicine in St. Augustine during the first 200 years after colonization, and even dipped into European medicine, and how far advanced medicine has become in the modern day. He kept us laughing and intrigued the entire tour. This is our third time coming to St. Augustine, and this is by far the best tour I have been on. Thank you so much to Grimm and the rest of the crew for not only making our trip out here, but also for giving us an unforgettable experience! To anybody making a trip out to St. Augustine, make sure this museum is a priority on your list of things to see!
6. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, Inc.
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 6,545 reviews
A visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is more than you might expect! Climb 219 steps for a breathtaking view of both St. Aug and the beaches. Or go below to discover a 1782 British shipwreck. Take guided tours, free with admission, on the hour 11 am - 3 pm. Check out the exhibits in the Keepers' House and Maritime Archaeology Center. Visitors also encounter ghosts on the nighttime Dark of the Moon tour, which is the only St. Augustine ghost tour that gets you inside the Lighthouse. Book in advance because it fills up fast, and book mid-week to avoid crowds. For general admission purchase your tickets on-line in advance w/coupon code LH15 to get a 15% discount off regular admission prices. Or join as a family member for discounts to local attractions, and 20% off in the Museum shop as well as free admission all year long. Step up and make a difference at our non-profit museum. You help keep the light shining when you visit.
Reviewed By 28beverlyd
A beautiful light house with amazing views, very informative presentation before we walked up the lighthouse and the other buildings on the property were amazing to walk through and learn.
7. The Oldest Store Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 750 reviews
Watch in amazement as our friendly clerks, butcher and Snake Oil salesman demonstrate the very latest inventions for turn -of-the century living. You will find over 10,00 essential and time saving items from the 1900s!
Reviewed By 308maritag - Merritt Island, United States
Really interesting. Our guides showed a different perspective at the turn of the last century. I was in no hurry for this Tour to end.
8. Lightner Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,836 reviews
Located in the heart of downtown St. Augustine, Lightner Museum occupies the historic Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age resort hotel built in 1888 by railroad magnate Henry Flagler. Founded in 1948, the Museum is home to one of the premier collections of 19th-and early 20th-century fine and decorative art in the country. Furnishings, paintings, leaded glass windows, cut and blown glass, and natural history specimens from the Otto Lightner Collection are exhibited against the backdrop of the magnificent Alcazar Hotel. Visitors to the Museum are invited to participate in an immersive experience of art, architecture, and design from America’s Gilded Age. We are open every day except for Christmas Eve (close at 1PM), Christmas day, and New Year's Day. Our hours are from 9AM-5PM with last entry precisely at 4PM.
Reviewed By lray56 - Cocoa, United States
I often visit St Augustine but had not toured the Lightner in years. It is in the old Ponce de Leon Hotel, a beautiful late 19th century era building. (even if you don't tour the museum it is worth a stop just to walk around the property) My friend and I like old ceramics, crystal, etc and this museum has lots of that on display, as well as a wonderful collection of antique musical instruments, and so much more. There are a couple of excellent antique shops on the property, and a good restaurant too. We thought this would be a "wuick stop" but we ended up staying more than two hours. I DO think this museum is better suited for adults more than for children, so do keep that in mind.
9. Old Florida Museum
10. Government House Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 130 reviews
Reviewed By loud976 - Valparaiso, United States
So the Spanish settled St Augustine 42 years before the British settled Jamestown ... Amazing! This exhibit tells the story of how hard it was and includes details about Native Americans and slaves too, quite rare in our Colonial-dominated culture. Well done University of Florida! I cannot recommend this exhibit highly enough!!!
