Must-Do Attractions In St. Augustine ?

We were there briefly a few years back. Really didn't get to see the sights too much, but if we were to go back, I'd love to visit Ripley's Believe it or Not, also, an evening horse & buggy ride's a must. Have a great time!!

Saint Augustine - Fountain of Youth


Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

It was here on April 3rd, 1513 that Ponce de Leon came ashore to
landmark and record for all time the first monument in our nation's
history... The discovery of the continent of North America.

The Spring House
The Salt Cellar
Grandfather Crow
Carvelle Down
The Discovery Globe
The Planetarium
Timucua Indian Exhibit
Indian Burial Ground
The Grounds
Gift Shop

Do something there you can do nowhere else:
walk down the OLD TOWN -
Go to Ponce de Leon's
the St AUgustine lighthouse is interesting
the Castillo!!!!!!

really fun - free boat ride too - sinceit's a national monument
Ft Matanzas

We own 5 weeks at St Augustine Beach and will be there weeks 2,3,4 this year

The Lightner Museum

Lightner Museum (in the former Hotel Alcazar built in
1887) is located in historic downtown St. Augustine.

Include in your visit - Lunch at the Café Alcazar.

St. Augustine Timeshare

RE: The Chief Of Staff & I will be happy just enjoying
some time away together in St. Augustine FL next week

Alan Cole - Enjoy your trip to Florida
Which timeshare resort and unit size
will you be staying at in St Augustine

There is a tourist "train" ride (similar to the Conch Train in Key West) that we found informative to do early on. We also like the Columbia restaurant (Cuban menu) in Old Town. There is also an old fort that you can tour.

Taking A Chance On A BlueGreen Timeshare.

Marty Giggard said:

Which timeshare resort and unit size will you be staying at in St Augustine

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Resort At Golf World Village (RCI No. 4929) 1BR 4/4 Instant Exchange (7,500 points) . . .

. . . not that there's anything wrong with that.

Well actually, there could be something wrong with it. The most recent TUG reviewer hated it based on a 2006 Memorial Day weekend stay. That review is so bad (...Stay Away! Stay Away!...) that it left me wondering how I managed to sign us up for RCI No. 4929 (bad review) instead of No. 6212 (good reviews).

Retracing my Internet steps, I noticed that on the BlueGreen timeshare company web site, it's treated like all 1 St. Augustine BlueGreen timehshare. The existence of 2 separate RCI numbers, therefore (just guessing) must mean that there are 2 sections (or, in timeshare lingo, 2 phases), even there's no hint of that over at DubDubDub-Dot-BlueGreenOnline-Dot-Com. So it goes.

So now I can only conclude that I placed over-reliance on the BlueGreen website such that I did not realize till after the moment of truth that I had snagged No. 4929 while I was actually aiming at No. 6212.

When I confessed what I had done to The Chief Of Staff, her response was basically Don't Worry About It -- It'll Be Fine. Here's hoping she's right. When we get back home, we'll write up all the details for the TUG Resort Reviews section. (Hey, maybe our new TUG review -- positive or negative mox nix -- will be judged so outstanding that once again we win the coveted TUG Resort Review Of The Month Award. Wouldn't that be something?)

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Eat at the Saltwater Cowboy, in the south part of St Augustine BEach on A1A

get there when they open at 5 p.m. tp get a corner window table forthe sunset over the marsh

great shrimp

Also try Osten's, just over the bridge toward the beach. It is a local favorite for seafood. We tried to get in on Sat. night and the wait was 2.5 hrs!!! We took the takeout home to our RV and it was delicious. Fried shrimp,sweet potato casserole and great hush puppies.
I second the Columbia also. We have one in Sarasota and it is great, too.
We enjoyed downtown...altho, it was very busy.
Must sees are the Lighthouse, fountain of youth, the fort and Castilio and be sure to take the train to get an overview and history of the town.
Sherry

Outlet Malls

Besides the historic stuff, I like the two outlet malls north of town.

Nancy

Seconding what others have said, Columbia is great. No-one has mentioned the Raintree Restaurant, we've been there several times, the latest only at the beginning of Dec.
It's located at 102 San Marco Ave., next to a Dairy Queen and not far from the Castillo. Food is excellent - you go to enjoy the dining experience, a little like Columbia - not to rush in and out. Lightner Museum worthwhile as well as the Flagler College, which is opposite the Museum. Then, of course, the less time consuming things, like the oldest school, etc.etc.
We stayed at the Bluegreen resort at the WGV earlier in the year (2007) and it's location is good. We had a lovely view of the golf course and the unit we were in was fine. Although the layout was a bit strange. You came in the front door directly into the living/dining room, so that window overlooked the open passageway. You proceeded through that area which also incorporated a small kitchen to the bedroom. It was from the bedroom that you had the view, small patio. You have a Publix supermarket and a couple of fast food place, within a 2 minute drive, this plaza is on the left as you come into the WGV complex. There's a good restaurant in the complex, as well as a pub and a large golf store. Plus 2 excellent golf courses if you're golfing.
There the WGV Hall of Fame (golfers) and there's an IMAX theater. If you haven't been to one, it's worthwhile.

WGV

We stayed there in '05 and used both designations. We were in a 2BR with one number (forgot which one without looking it up) and our daughter and her family were in a 1BR with the other number. We loved the 2BR - top floor, high ceilings, view of the golf course... the 1BR was fine too - just smaller and had the same layout mentioned below with the balcony off the bedroom. Our daughter and SIL thought it was great until they saw ours - and realized there was something much largers so it was plenty good enough for them. I'm really glad we had the 2BR when both of our children and their families visited we had 6 adults and two children in the unit and it was plenty big enough. I'd stay there again any time. Yes, I'm guilty - I haven't written a review.

what to do in St Augustine

AwayWeGo said:

The Chief Of Staff & I will be happy just enjoying some time away together in St. Augustine FL next week -- 1st stop on our 2-week Florida after-Christmas vacation. (Week 2 will be in Orlando / Kissimmee FL.)

My fleeting impression of St. Augustine when I was there briefly without The Chief Of Staff a couple of years ago is that it's basically pretty much like Williamsburg VA, except with palm trees added.

That's got to be grossly incomplete & doofusly oversimplified. So if there are favorite must-do St. Augustine attractions that TUG folks can recommend, we would much appreciate knowing about them.

TIA

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

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Tour Flagler College- it is a relatively new university, founded in 1963, in buildings that were designated as National Historic Landmarks. The college is housed in the fomer Ponce De Leon Hotel, built by railroad magnet and visionary Henry Flagler in the late 1800's. It is a must see

you are staying north of the city, and this attraction is south. It is another national historic park, like the castillo, but they take you in a boat across to an island to an old civil War site, and it was a great tour.
We did not like our stay at the bluegreen resort, we were promised a one bedroom deluxe, shown a room diagram of a nice unit. got there and got a lockout, small, cramped, balcony that you could stand on but not sit int he chair because there was no space between the chair and the railing for your knees. RCi moved us to the resort on the beach instead.
We did the train tour, the Flagler college tour, the Lightner Museum, lots of the small touristy things.
This is one place where the purchase of the Entertainment book may pay off, In the past, lots of two for one for touristy things, and some restaurants out by the Bluegreen resort, and lots of other good places.

Delayed Departure -- Bad Back -- So It Goes.

Instead of basking in timeshare luxury starting last Sunday evening, we've been stuck at home dealing with painful back spasm.

Chiropractor said we'd never be able to get as far as Richmond VA, never mind driving all the way to St. Augustine FL. Physician said X-rays show no serious injury -- recommends physical therapy. Advil, Aleve, etc., have taken the edge off. Bed rest has helped

We phoned the resort to say we would be arriving a day or so late. Then we phoned again to tell'm the delay would be extended another day.

Condition is greatly improved, though not entirely cured.

ETD to Florida by car is now Wednesday morning.

Wish us luck.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Let's hope you're soon on your way. Back problems can't be taken lightly and a long journey doesn't help. That's too bad.

Sorry to hear this....and I hope that you get to enjoy some of the week in St. Augustine!
Connie

RE: Delayed Departure -- Bad Back -- So It Goes.

Alan - Hope you are feeling better
Did you make the drive to Florida?

Away We Go

Hi Alan

Hope you were able to make it to Florida. This week is supposed to be warmer than last.

Get well soon.

We're Ba-a-a-a-a-ack.

Marty Giggard said:

Alan - Hope you are feeling better
Did you make the drive to Florida?

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Shame on me for not making it clear that my back is fine -- but The Chief Of Staff's back was hurting her so bad we had to delay our St. Augustine Sunday check-in till Wednesday.

Not only that, to ease the rigors of road travel on The Chief Of Staff's aching back, we left the Dodge minivan & the PT Cruiser home & drove to Florida & back in The Chief Of Staff's sister's outstanding Lincoln Town Car.

After our truncated St. Augustine Instant Exchange timeshare week, we drove over to Orlando FL for a complete Last Call timeshare week -- had a nice time in both Florida locations.

The Chief Of Staff's back is feeling lots better -- here's hoping she stays healthy & pain-free.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

Town Car Adventures.

As we were zipping down I-95 in luxury-car comfort aboard The Chief Of Staff's sister's Lincoln Town Car, we received a cell phone call from The Chief Of Staff's sister. We were closing in on Lumberton NC when the melodic ring tone started chiming.

"Hello?" The Chief Of Staff said.

Sister said, "I forgot to tell you the tags are expired on the Lincoln Town Car."

Turning to me, The Chief Of Staff said, "The tags on this car are expired."

"Whoa!" I said.

"Didn't you check before we left?" The Chief Of Staff said.

"No," I confessed.

Immediately, I let off on the gas, dropping our speed about by 6 m.p.h.

"OK," the Chief Of Staff said over the phone. "Are you getting new stickers pretty soon?"

"Today or tomorrow," sister said.

"If you could fax us a copy of the new registration card at the resort's fax number, I would appreciate it," The Chief Of Staff said.

"OK," sister said. "And I'll have the registration & new stickers with me when we're in Orlando next week. If we meet I'll hand them to you so you can put the new stickers on the tags."

In due time, we got the fax. That was no help with the expired stickers on the tags. That big "07" in the upper right corner loomed out more & more conspicuously every time I approached the car. But with a copy of the renewed registration on board, at least I had some documentation available to hand any trooper or deputy who might pull me over.

"Officer," I decided I'd say, "I'm willing to take my medicine. But 1st, I'd like to tell you my story."

On our final night at our Orlando timeshare, The Chief Of Staff's sister & her husband & their granddaughter joined us in our spacious suite. Their Disney Wilderness Lodge RV Park reservation was goofed up. They thought it was for check-in Saturday. The park thought it was for check-in Sunday. So, instead of spending the night in their AirStream 1500 motor home parked in a Wal*Mart lot somewhere, they stayed in our Last Call timeshare unit with us.

The front desk gave us a parking permit for them to use, so their van-size (E-350) AirStream 1500 was OK to park down in the vicinity of their Lincoln Town Car that we were driving. They handed me the the new registration card & stickers, so I covered over "07" with "09" right away, front & back, & put the card in the glove compartment with the fax.

Up in the timeshare unit, there was plenty of room for everybody. Our grandniece (age 9) snuggled right down in her sleeping bag on the lounge section of the big sectional sofa. Her grandparents opened up the queen sleep sofa & sacked out there in their own sleeping bags. Everybody was snug as a bug in a rug.

Next morning, our overnight guests packed up & headed over to Disney's Fort Wilderness RV Park. The Chief Of Staff & I packed up & checked out of the timeshare.

With good stickers on the borrowed Lincoln Town Car, I pushed the speed limit just a little during the drive home -- never got stopped.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

How many days does it take to "do" St. Augustine Old Town? Spending whatever time needed, not rushing. I have read 3-4 days...?

I am trying to decide whether to stay in town and drive to the beach a few days or stay at the beach and drive into town for the needed days. Any input anyone?