Vacation Ideas

Discovered as early as 1513, St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in the United States (“miles of beaches, the rest is history”). Alive with historic charm and architectural beauty of times long past, St. Augustine offers visitors an atmosphere of leisure and beauty. Visitors can enjoy miles of immaculate beaches for strolls and family outings while world-class golf courses await nearby. Let us show you some of the amazing attractions that will create lasting memories for you and your family.

Zoos & Animals

The Alligator Farm in St. Augustine

Not far from Pier Point South, you will find the Alligator Farm, a tropical paradise brimming with exotic wildlife. You will encounter many different and often rare species of alligators and crocodiles, lizards and birds. Animal feedings are an amazing experience! Visitors gain valuable insight into the animals' habitats, their way of life, and the remarkable conservation efforts put in place.

More recently, an aerial obstacle course was added (Crocodile Crossing) with a guided tree top course that will lead children and adults to vista points right above the alligators and crocodiles. Watch the zoo from above as you zoom along 7 different zip lines in the company of exotic birds! It will take 2-3 hours to finish the lined course and children must be at least 10 years of age to come along. Soon, a kid's climbing course will open for the smaller and less adventurous of our visitors.

Some 30 minutes south of St. Augustine you will find Marineland, an oceanarium that features a multitude of dolphins and other marine life. Visitors can enter the habitat of dolphins and under the guidance of trainers interact with the beautiful mammals in the water. The idea behind this interactive encounter is to aid in the understanding of these playful animals and create awareness and understanding of the need for their protection in the wild.

Nature Abounds

Unspoiled nature in den state parks in Florida

If you enjoy the natural beauty of unspoiled beaches and a multitude of water activities, you have come to the right place here at Pier Point South Condos! Just a few steps away, located right alongside miles of pristine beaches, you will find Anastasia State Park. Choose from a long list of fun activities such as canoeing, boat renting, fishing, biking, windsurfing, wildlife viewing trips, hiking, bird watching, and much more! You might want to put on your explorer shoes and enjoy a trip through sand dunes and maritime hammocks, a tropical landscape phenomenon typical of the tips of southeastern Florida coast lines. For those looking for adventure and wildlife expeditions, we suggest Eco Tours a company specialized in guided boat excursions and kayak tours that navigate the rivers and saltwater marshes to watch dolphins, turtles, birds, and other wildlife. An unforgettable experience for any age!

Historical Sites

The Flagler College is one of the historical buildings in St. Augustine

For history buffs there is National Monument, an amazing fortress erected by the Spanish more than 300 years ago during a time when they colonized many parts of the world and attempted to gain a foothold on American soil. The enormous fortress stands unchanged to this day and history of colonial warfare comes alive with historical reenactments of weapon discharges and warfare, as well as living history events, special events, and ranger encounters.

Another impressive sight is the Fort Matanzas National Monument, a Spanish fort of 1740 which is located 20 minutes south of St. Augustine in a costal inlet. It was built with the same purpose as was Castillo de San Marcos, to fortify Spanish positions in the New World.

Sightseeing in St. Augustine

View onto St. George Street in St. Augustine

At the heart of the city you will find St. George Street, the main thoroughfare crossing the historical district of downtown St. Augustine, and one of its great highlights. Alive with art galleries, street side cafes, fresh pastry shops, restaurants, antique stores, ornate Victorian buildings, historic attractions ... and so much more! Don't forget to drink from the Fountain of Youth, at the fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, which Ponce de Leon in 1513 believed was his long sought-after spring with water for eternal youth. If history is what delights you, then the Oldest wooden school house in the US in St. George Street is a definite “must see”. Built with only wood pegs and handmade nails at a time when the region was still solidly in Spanish hands, the tiny school house still stands today, alive with 200 year old charm and rustic beauty. A more modern school environment, the Flagler College is not far off, vibrant with historic buildings in a beautiful setting, and known for its academic excellence.

When all the walking has made you tired, switch to the Tourist Tram, a network of beautiful red trains that will take visitors around town with stops at all the important sightseeing places.

For visitors with a flair for the unusual, St. Augustine offers the Ghost tour a midnight pub crawl to the most spooky places complete with hearse and a ghostly ride to the haunted Lighthouse.

Museums

The lighning house in St. Augustine can be visited

After all the fun activities outdoors, you may want to take a day off and enjoy some quiet time indoors. St. Augustine has lots of museums worth visiting! There is the Potter's Wax Museum in the historical district, originally America's very first wax museum. It features over 160 figures, from the founding fathers to scientists, explorers, and modern day celebrities. The museum emphasizes an educational connection for children and the hands-on experience will jump-start their imagination!

Another museum that will surely get your mind working overtime is the Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum. It is an entertaining and stimulating site that is bound to satisfy any craving for the outrageous, curious, and bizarre.

The beautiful exhibition in the Lightner Museum will take you back in time with its 19th century artifacts that include stunning glass objects of the Victorian style era with stained glass works by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The spectacular 3-story museum was once the Alcazar Hotel, in its time a place of lavishness and abundance for the affluent visitor. It has recently been restored to its original beauty. You will be intrigued by the objects on display as well as the opulent setting.

Standing watch over one of the nation's oldest port entries, St. Augustine Lighthouse stands along the shores of the St. Johns River. The tower looks impeccable in its black and white spiral coating with its beautiful classed-in housing at the top, painted in red, with visitors walking along the tiny 360° gallery. You reach this walkway with its breathtaking views by climbing up 219 steps on a tight spiral staircase. The Lighthouse tower is St. Augustine's oldest brick structure and was completed in 1874. The Lighthouse Museum is a Smithsonian Affiliate and known for its educational school programs and archeological maritime programs.

If you are fascinated by the idea that St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the United States, we invite you to come see the Spanish Quarter Living History Museum where you will experience life as it happened in the early 1700's. Actors in period costumes pose as townspeople that make a living as black smiths, carpenters, scribes, leather workers or soldiers. Demonstrations will teach visitors how people performed their crafts, how they cooked and tended their livestock. Houses, landscaping, and means of transportation are authentic of the way of life back then. Immerse yourself and your children in this educational experience!

Concerts and Festivals

In summer every Wednesday at 7 p.m. music at the sea concerts will take place near the pier.

Throughout the year, St. Augustine plays host to a multitude of cultural events in the arena of art, music, theater, and dance. From galleries to festivals, the city's annual event calendar is filled with something to tickle everyone's fancy. There is the Music Festival in June with classical concerts by nationally renowned artists, the Music by the Sea Festival that features free concerts on Wednesday nights throughout the summer months, and Concerts in the Plaza where on Thursday nights you can enjoy tunes of blues, jazz, country, swing and much more!

Sport & Fishing

Some 10 to 20 miles away from the coast you will have a good chance for a great catch

Opportunities for sports activities abound in St. Augustine! From surfing to golfing, swimming, playing beach volleyball, fishing at both the pier as well as offshore, there is plenty of opportunity for even the most accomplished sportsman.

St. Augustine offers a variety of running events summer through fall. Check for the Endless Summer 10k, the Patriot Hash Run, the Shut up and Run, the Pink up the Race, the Compassion 5k, and the St. Augustine Marathon. Or just meet the Ancient City Roadrunners.

Just a few steps distance from the condos a large Fishing Pier rises into the ocean - with a good chance of a great catch. Not only at this place, also at the Anastasia State Park anglers will find perfect conditions to run their hobby. Offshore-Fishing is offered a s well.

Golf

Visit our outstanding golf courses

Golfers visiting the St. Augustine area can tee off all year long at a variety of Florida's "First Coast of Golf" scenic layouts, including championship and resort, public and semiprivate courses. No matter your skill level, there's a course for you - from breathtaking ocean links to parkland style venues with special Florida features. Our golf courses offer plenty of palm and oak trees, marshes, picturesque wetlands and, of course, plentiful sunshine.

Restaurants and Dining

Scarlett O'Hara's is a great bar near George Street

St. Augustine offers a wonderful array of restaurants, whether to catch some lunch with your family before heading to the beach or to enjoy fine dining in places known for their outstanding culinary cuisine and superb service.

Many restaurants are rated online. Nevertheless here are some useful tips: Really close to the Condos you will find Sunset Grill and Panama Hattie's, two restaurants with patio seating to enjoy the beautiful ocean view. Their food is great and price ranges are very reasonable. Tucked away some 2 miles from the Condos above salt marshes that line the Intracoastal Waterway, the rustic restaurant Salt Water Cowboys, awaits you with the catch of the day and a stunning view over the brackish river.

Shopping

Shops in St. George Street

St. Augustine is a shopper's paradise! The charming setting in historical downtown with its small eclectic stores, restaurants, and outdoor markets invites even the most reluctant shopper to take a leisurely stroll and enjoy all that is to be seen. From tourist trinkets to beach accessories, pastries and handmade chocolates, handcrafts and antiques, fine arts and blown glass artifacts, you will find it here!

The Wednesday Market offers local bread, crafts, art, jewelry, produce, foods, and much more in a beautiful outdoor setting at the Saint Johns County Pier Park. The idea is to "shop local, shop Florida" with an emphasis on homegrown, hand picked, and locally crafted.

For the savvy bargain hunter we strongly recommend a short drive to the Outlet Malls on I-95 and State Road 16. The St. Augustine Premium Outlet offers 85 brand name outlet stores, with another 64 stores next door at the Prime Outlet. Prices are radically reduced and you will have a blast getting lots while paying little.