Staycation 2012
St. Augustine, Florida
It's that time again, where we all want to have that special vacation, yet can't find the time or the money (or both) to have it. Why not enjoy a Staycation instead? Why bother with packing, then forgetting something important, wasting time with long drives or delays at airports, not to mention the security hassle, when you could stay at home, yet have a wonderfully fulfilling experience?
Here are just a few tips for a successful Staycation:
- Set up the rules in advance. Are you taking time off from work? Then do NOT go in to work, don't call them, don't get guilted into coming in for "just a few minutes" and then staying all day, etc. If you were to leave town, they wouldn't be able to do that, so don't let them do it to you when you're home on leave.
- Don't be on the computer or cell phone constantly. This is supposed to be good quality time with family, make it so.
- Plan ahead. Would you want to do laundry or go grocery shopping if you were to fly 3000 miles away for vacation? No, you wouldn't, so have things ready as if you were actually going to leave town.
- Be sure to budget yourself accordingly. Our Staycation blogs are to help you out and show you free or inexpensive places to go and things to do. Try not to get too distracted and end up blowing a ton of money on a bunch of stuff, food, tours, etc. that you don't really need when the whole goal is to save while enjoying your family vacation. There's always that one special item or tour that may jump out at you that you really feel would just "make" the vacation, well, if that's so, then go ahead and do it. But remember, this is a "Staycation" for a reason. Keep a watch on the wallet, but don't stress yourself out.
- Don't forget the camera! Just because you aren't leaving town doesn't mean you aren't going to want to save the memories in picture form and add them to a scrapbook/Facebook/Tumblr/etc later.
If you're not from (or near enough to) St. Augustine, Florida to enjoy a Staycation here, check back tomorrow for a list of over 40 other destinations all over the US!
So, on with our Staycation 2012 in St. Augustine, Florida...
(these are in no particular order)
Park Now Card
First things first, if you are a St. Johns County resident and are going to be doing a lot of stuff downtown and either parking at the parking meters or in the parking garage, you might want to purchase a ParkNow card. You can get one at the Financial Services Office located behind the Lightner Museum. You can get hourly parking for .50 cents vs. the $1.50 and only pay $1 for the parking garage vs. the usual $10 charge. Call 904-825-1034 for details. You can also check out the brochure here.
First Friday Artwalk
This
is a FREE event that is held on the first Friday of every month, starting in
May 2012 and running through the end of the year. It runs from 5pm until 9pm and you can start
at any of the AGOSA participating galleries (see link for more details and a
list of the galleries.) and receive a free map to help you on your way. There is also transportation by the Old Town
Trolley Tours available during the event.
Please visit the website or call 904-829-0065 for more information.
Uptown
Saturday Night
Live
street music, wine tasting, art and antiques, all available for yet another monthly
event. This time it takes place on the
last Saturday of the month, from 5pm until 9pm along San Marco Avenue between
Ripley’s Believe it or Not and the Mission of Nombre de Dios. The Mission offers free parking as well.
The
Mission of Nombre de Dios
While
you’re in the area, why not visit the Mission at 27 Ocean Avenue, with it’s large
cross that stands 208 feet tall. Take a
walking tour, enjoy the grounds, check out the archeological excavation or
visit the Shrine gift shop. You can call
(904) 824-2809 or (800) 342-6529 for more information or to
book a group tour.
Fountain
of Youth
Come
see where it all began. This attraction
is not expensive and if you’re a St. Johns County resident, you can get in for
free with your ID. The park is also pet
friendly and they encourage you to feed the peacocks and squirrels who wander
around the grounds freely. Come visit,
drink from the Fountain of Youth, and learn about our country’s beginnings.
There’s
always the relaxing sport of fishing to enjoy in St. Augustine. Of course, you can always charter a boat, if
you don’t have one of your own already, but if that’s a little more than you
want to take on, there are two piers that are favorites to cast off of. One in Vilano Beach, the other at the St.
Augustine Beach pier. Don’t forget to
get your license, though! Shoreline
licenses are free to Florida residents, but be sure to check out http://www.sjctax.us/SaltwaterFish.aspx for details.
Beaches
Certainly,
don’t forget our beaches. You can’t
be in St. Augustine and not go to the beach. (Well, you can, but why would you?!) During the summer months, you will need a parking pass to drive on the
beach, but the fee is nominal and you can always purchase a yearly pass or just
a daily one at the toll booths at any of the on-ramps to the beach. Of course, there are other alternatives that
are free, with a little bit of walking.
Frank B. Butler Beach is a popular spot with picnic tables under
pavilions, restrooms, and a walkway from the parking area to the beach,
crossing over the dunes. Check out the
sea turtles below the walkway, as many times they can be spotted as you head to
the shore.
Flagler
College
The
college offers tours during the summer months for a nominal fee. These tours run hourly starting in the main
lobby and last about an hour. St.
Augustine residents receive a discount and children under 12 receive a coloring
and activity book as well. This is a
beautiful college and is worth it to witness such interesting architectural
design and history with a marble staircase and Tiffany windows.
One
of our most famous landmarks is the pedestrian section of St. George Street
from Cathedral Place to Orange Street, this walking street is home of many
vendors, restaurants and bars. Just like
our beaches, you really can’t visit St. Augustine and not stroll down this
coquina paved street and consider yourself as having seen St. Augustine. Although
some of the stores might seem a bit too touristy, many are very unique and
enjoyable to shop in or just even window shop.
The restaurants serve good food with good service and some even have
live music as well. This particular zone
can be as cheap (free if you’re just going window shopping) as you want or as
expensive as you can afford, (impulse buyers beware!) depending on how much you
buy, so be savvy, stay the course, and be sure that the souvenir(s) you
purchase will be the one(s) you will enjoy for many years to come. Personally, I can usually get away with
walking the whole street with only hitting one or two of the candy and ice
cream shops, but the temptations are many.
There
are also attractions down this street that you may decide you would like to
visit as well.
Oldest
Wooden School House
Oldest
House http://www.staugustinehistoricalsociety.org/
The
Historic Pena-Peck House (http://www.staugustinewomans-exchange.com/ )
St.
Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine (http://stphotios.com/ )
There
are also quite a few Ghost Tour options available:
Some
tours are decently priced, and may have discounts for online purchasing, etc. but
be careful, as some of the more fancy, private tours can get a little
pricey.
Music
by the Sea
Free
concerts at the St. Augustine Pier Pavillion every Wednesday evenings starting
in May and going through September go from 7pm until 9pm. Different restaurants sell dinners at 6pm for
$10 or less. Be sure to bring lawn
chairs or blankets for your own seat.
Music
at the Plaza
Memorial
Day through Labor Day, every Thursday evening at 7pm, enjoy yet another free
concert series, this time downtown at the Plaza. Remember, bring a chair or something to sit
on and maybe a picnic, but alcoholic beverages are prohibited at the Plaza.
Dow
Museum of Historic Houses
Nine
historic houses in St. Augustine await your visit for a very small fee. Tickets are free to St. Augustine residents
on the first Monday of the month. The
houses are all contained in one city block starting at 149 Cordova Street, near
the corner of Bridge Street. See the
website for more details.
British
Night Watch Parade
If
you’ll be around on December 1st, you won’t want to miss the British
Night Watch Parade and bring a candle if you would like to participate! It starts at 8pm at the Government house by
the Plaza
The
Lightner Museum
Formerly
the Hotel Alcazar, this museum showcases America’s Gilded Age, a period of
rapid transformation that led to America being one of the strongest nations in
the world. “Gilding” refers to taking a
cheaper metal and covering it with gold.
Located across the street from another former hotel, Flagler College,
architects and builders were commissioned by Henry Flagler to build both hotels
in the 1800’s. Admission is fairly cheap
at $10 or less. You can also enjoy lunch
at the Secret Café Alcazar at 25 Granada Street. It’s located in the Lightner Museum, but
entrance is on the side of the building.
http://www.thecafealcazar.com/
The
Markets
If
you enjoy visiting markets and roaming around local vendors, St. Augustine has
many flavors for you. The St. Augustine
Amphitheater hosts a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays http://www.staugustinefm.com/ from 8:30am until 12:30pm.
On
Wednesdays, there’s the Market at the St. Augustine Beach Pier. http://www.thecivicassociation.com/ from 8am until 12:30pm.
The
St. Augustine Flea Market is located off SR 207, the entrance is beside the
Racetrack gas station. The flea market
is open Saturdays and Sundays from 8am until 4pm.
Ponte
Vedra Concert Hall
Located
at 1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra, FL 32082, the pricing is a little more than
most of the events we’ve listed, but for a concert, they’re rather
reasonable.
The
St. Augustine Amphitheater
The St. Augustine Amphitheater also hosts many concerts and this summer,
some of the great names will be ZZ Top, 3 Doors Down, Ringo Star and
Boston. Although, these tickets will
cost you quite a bit, but sometimes you just have to see your favorite band in
person, and if you’re doing a Staycation to save some money, maybe you can use
some of the money you’ve saved for a fabulous concert full of great memories.
And
of course, there’s the Winter Wonderland also located at the St. Augustine
Amphitheater http://www.winterwonderlandflorida.com/ if you’re planning a Christmastime
Staycation. Check out the site once the
fall hits for more details.
Castillo
de San Marcos
The
only fort to not ever be taken in actual battle, but only handed over from one
culture to another via treaty, this fort is rich in history and culture. And at a fee of only $7 per adult (age 16+)
that is good for seven consecutive days, (and 15 yrs and younger are free when
accompanied by an adult) it’s one of the better priced attractions in St.
Augustine.
Anastasia
State Park
Near
the Castillo de San Marcos is Anastasia State Park. For a small fee, you can enjoy the beach, nature
trails, camping, bicycling, fishing, and much more. Call 904-460-9111 for more information.
Bird
Island Park
Enjoy
nature trails, a sea turtle maze, a playground, sculptures, story telling time,
and much more at this beautiful park in the Vilano Beach area, behind the
library at 101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082.
First
Coast Opera
For
a bit more culture on a more refined side, yet still within a Staycation budget
($15 if purchased ahead of time, $20 at the door) try the opera. See the website for specific dates and shows.
The
Love Tree
Definitely
a must see for couples, it is said that kissing by this tree is supposed to
ensure the couple stays together forever.
The Love Tree, a palm growing out of a live oak tree, is located on
Cordova Street near the Tolomato cemetery.
Aviles
Street
St.
Augustine’s oldest new attraction… or is that the newest old attraction? Said to be the oldest street in America, it
has been remade back into it’s old world charm with sidewalk dining and vintage
lampposts. Even for those of us who have
lived here for a long time, this is something new yet familiar to enjoy.
Ponte
Vedra Beach Car Show
For
the car enthusiasts out there, admission is free for this event, see website
closer to September for more details and info about actually registering if you
wish to do more than observe and admire.
Bayfront
Mini Golf
For
a very small fee, you and your family can enjoy a game of mini golf at the Florida’s
oldest mini golf course. It is located downtown
on the bayfront overlooking the St. Johns River by the Bridge of Lions.
Fiesta
Falls Mini Golf
For
another mini golf option with a pirate ship and waterfalls, for just a couple
bucks more, you can enjoy Fiesta Falls Mini Golf located next to La Fiesta
Ocean Inn and Suites at 818 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine, FL 32080.
July
4th
One
of this particular blogger’s favorites, July 4th fireworks in St.
Augustine are an amazing thing to watch.
There are two locations and admission is free to both locations. The two places to see our fireworks are:
The
bayfront where the fireworks are set off from a barge and go off over the
Castillo de San Marcos. There is also a
soundtrack of patriotic music that is usually synced with the fireworks. Bring your own seating. Call 904-825-1004 for more details.
The
second is at the World Golf Village.
Bring your own seating (no coolers please, at this location) and find a
spot to sit around the Walk of Champions.
Call 904-940-4123 for details.
Nights of Lights
If
you want something to do during the winter holidays, The Nights of Lights is
one that you don’t want to miss. From
November 19th to January 31st, downtown St. Augustine is
lit up with an amazing display of breathtaking white lights.
St.
Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
If
Pirates are your thing, then the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum is
just the thing. This museum was voted
Best Local Attraction in 2011. For a
small fee, you can enjoy learning about pirates, view pirate artifacts, visit
exhibits that immerse you into a world of pirates long forgotten, such as 17th
century Port Royal, Jamaica, The Rogues Tavern, the Main Deck of a pirate ship,
or even go below deck to experience some of the more seedy parts of being a
pirate such as the Execution Dock and Shipwreck Island, and much more. Annual and Family passes are also available
as well as apps for Apple and Android devices.
Check out the website for more details, maps and videos.
Historic
Churches & Cemeteries
There
are many churches and cemeteries in St. Augustine, all rich in history and
tourist-ready, even if you are a local, you can always “play” tourist, after
all, isn’t that what the Staycation is all about?
The
Cathedral Basilica http://www.thefirstparish.org/
Grace
Methodist Church http://www.graceumcstaugustine.org/
Huguenot
Cemetery 904-829-8272 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huguenot_Cemetery
Memorial
Presbyterian Church http://www.memorialpcusa.org/
There
is so much more to see and do than even on this list, in St. Augustine. But hopefully this will give you some ideas
for a fabulous Staycation this 2012.
Enjoy and be sure to let me know how your Staycation goes!
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