This place never gets old!
HISTORIC PAST, TRENDY PRESENT BLEND PERFECTLY IN ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA.
Something old, something new isn't just a mantra for brides — it sums up the vibrant seaside city of St. Augustine, Fla., where history reaches to the very beginning of European settlement, yet where the vibe is always refreshed via new restaurants and activities.
A visit to St. Augustine satisfies both the love of history and the search for trendy. Walk along the town's scenic boulevards and cobblestoned side streets and you will find buildings with histories reaching back to the 1500s next to cool new bakeries (macarons!). You'll see historic re-enactors dressed in centuriesold attire just up the street from a film festival, rap concert and more. This delicious mix makes the destination perfect to satisfy every whim.
Downtown St. Augustine, nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and rural Florida farmland, is a quaint, walkable spot with few tall buildings. In fact, the steeples of centuries-old churches, along with the soaring stonework of beautiful Flagler College, serve as the high points, along with a historic striped lighthouse. The streets are almost always busy, but busy with pedestrians, horse-drawn
carriages and pedicabs.
Spreading out from that historic downtown area are beaches, waterfront, golf courses and more. It is, from every angle, a perfect destination for families, for those seeking romance, for the young and the young at heart. You can visit the Fountain of Youth there, and true to Ponce de Leon's vision, you can embrace your youth there as well.
The city saw Spanish, then British, then American settlement over centuries. Today, it continues as a springboard — for great food, cocktails, music and entertainment.
The food scene is lively, with restaurants embracing varieties of world cuisine — Italian, French, Irish and more — all with a farm-to-table ethos. It's easy for them, with rich farmland just a few miles away (the town even features a year-round farmers market four days a week). Yet each spot has a unique spin, making the St. Augustine food scene feel more like a “craft food scene.”
Take Catch 27, a great local-sourced restaurant that specializes in seafood. The name comes from a simple premise: If it is on your plate, it was caught off the shore of the nation's 27th state.
The cocktail scene is great, too, thanks not only to the many great bars (most with outdoor, oceanview seating), but also to St. Augustine Distillery, which opened four years ago. It produces Florida Cane Vodka, New World Gin and, now, the first legal bourbon ever produced in Florida. Local bartenders embrace those spirits to create unique drinks.
Music is always on the bill, too. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre, opened in 1965, hosts top name musicians from many genres. Coming soon are Brad Paisley, Foreigner, Little Big Town, Yanni and Barenaked Ladies, to name a few. Its “Front Porch” is a venue for up-and-coming performers, giving folks a chance to catch a future superstar early on. North of the city, the Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is another great music spot.
History flavors everything in St. Augustine. The Colonial Quarter in downtown (colonialquarter.com) is a must, letting you see, feel and hear life in the 16th, 17th and 18th century there. Flagler College also is rich in history, and the signage and markings all around town are fascinating and detailed.
Where to stay is as unique as the visitors. There are more than 25 charming bed-and-breakfast choices, many tucked in the middle of historic areas (as are many hotels).
New choices include The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens, spread through nine repurposed, historic homes dating back to 1790, with 30 rooms, luxurious gardens, a swimming pool and a bar featuring craft cocktails.
Golf, of course, is beloved here. The Players Championship at Sawgrass is right up the road, as is the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum, where more than five centuries of golf comes to life.
The museum’s 35,000 square feet of exhibition space features historic artifacts, personal memorabilia from the Hall of Fame members, videos, photos and interactive exhibitions, all in an effort to celebrate
golf and preserve the legacies of those who have made it great.
The Hall of Fame captures the comprehensive tale of the game’s roots from its development in Scotland to its growth in the far reaches of the world. Visitors are able to immerse themselves in the history of the sport. Guests can even try their hand at using hickoryshafted putters and guttapercha balls on a replica 1880s-style putting green, and take a shot on the Challenge Hole, a replica of the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course — home of The Players Championship.
Shell Hall, named for founding partner Shell Oil Co., is where guests will find the Wall of Fame, boasting handcrafted bronze plaques of each member. Significant tournament trophies, including men’s and women’s majors, are displayed throughout the museum. One of the museum’s most popular exhibitions — a treasure trove of more than 2,000 professional artifacts and personal possessions from
each Hall of Fame member — is featured in the Member Locker Room.
One of the hall's permanent exhibits is “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf.” Developed with the support of PGA of America, the PGA tour and the USGA, this exhibition contains rare photographs, audio, video and memorabilia to highlight the long, rich history of African-Americans in golf, beginning with pioneers from the late 1800s through today's game. Learn more at worldgolfhalloffame.org.
It's all there — ocean, architecture, history, food, drink, music and more. Marinated in history and spiced with the new, St. Augustine just the right cocktail for a Florida escape.