St. Augustine Florida Travel Guide

Those who frequent St. Augustine hotels or know the area well will attest: The local art scene is always lively. America’s oldest city happily plays host to live music, theater productions and film organizations, as well as dozens of art galleries, a summer concert series and special “First Friday” Art Walks.

St. Augustine’s Flagler College presents regular gallery openings, welcoming the public and St. Augustine hotel guests to peruse the work exhibited by fine art students. The St. Augustine area has a very diverse music scene as well. From country western to rhythm and blues to jazz, rock, folk and classical – if you’ve heard it, it’s here. Live bands from many genres can be enjoyed at various venues around downtown St. Augustine and Anastasia Island.

Mix an exciting evening out with delicious outdoor dining and live music, and you’ve got a St. Augustine hotel vacation experience not to be missed. Visitors to such area hotels as The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village truly can’t get enough of the city’s vibrant artistic ambiance – or its outdoor dining and accompanying culinary excellence.

With everything from full service restaurants to quaint cafes in the historic district, you can always find a restaurant, bar or casual dining venue that offers live music as you dine downtown. St. Augustine hotel guests can also listen to live music in the various clubs and nightspots located along the Intracoastal Waterway.

Whatever you prefer, the St. Augustine music scene has plenty to offer you. The City of St. Augustine hosts an annual “Concerts in the Park” series every summer. These concerts are held in the Plaza downtown on Thursday evenings and feature local bands, as well as an out-of-town band or two. Access is free, but St. Augustine hotel visitors are reminded to bring a cushion or chair to sit on. Or better yet, just wear your dancing shoes!

Also, don’t miss St. Augustine’s “First Friday” Art Walks, which are held on the first Friday of every month. On these evenings, all the local galleries open their doors and offer free drinks and hors d’oeuvres. Live music performances can be enjoyed by St. Augustine hotel guests during the walk. First Friday or not, art galleries all over town are always glad to welcome interested parties of every variety – whether browsers and buyers.

At the Alligator Farm Zoological Park, visitors to St. Augustine, Florida are invited to take a walk on the wild side. The nearby Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village, St. Augustine’s most accommodating hotel, offers guests the opportunity to experience this fascinating attraction, which features animals such as a 1250-pound crocodile and albino alligators.

At 15”3’ and 1250 pounds, Maximo is the largest animal in the park. He is a saltwater crocodile who astounds St. Augustine hotel guests, having grown to be 15 feet in length in less than 30 years. Guests can view this impressive specimen from underwater viewing windows at the park. Park visitors can additionally catch a glimpse of albino alligators that originated from the bayous of Louisiana, considered rare and mystical creatures. There is a legend that those who gaze upon these reptiles will receive good fortune.

You can also explore a native bird swamp exhibit, where hundreds of wading birds roost in the late afternoons. Herons, egrets, ibis, spoonbills and wood storks seek out evening roosts above the alligators, as alligators keep tree-climbing predators away. From April through July, the birds are in full plumage, building nests and raising families right in front of visiting St. Augustine hotel patrons.

The mammal collection at the zoological park includes seven species of endangered monkeys. They range in size from the world’s smallest monkey, the mouse-sized pygmy marmoset, to the large South American spider monkey. Rounding out the collection are the exotic birds. South American toucans and parrots, Australian kookaburras and emus, Asian pheasants, and African turacos are among the exotic birds St. Augustine hotel guests find on display.

Retrace the footsteps of a 19th-century lighthouse keeper at St. Augustine, Florida’s famous lighthouse. Climb the tower’s 219 steps to the top to see the working light, as well as breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding St. Augustine area and beaches. Available to all visitors – including Florida resort guests enjoying a stay at such notable properties as The Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village – a tour of the tower, keeper’s house and grounds is always intriguing.

Florida resort guests are continually amazed by this working historic lighthouse, which is also one of only six lighthouses in Florida even open to the public. Florida resort guests are equally astonished to discover that of all of the state’s original lighthouses, St. Augustine’s is among the mere 30 still standing. Lighthouse tours are provided to Florida resort guests and local visitors daily, each tour enhanced by exhibits and videos. In addition to hosting occasional events, the lighthouse now features a “Dark of the Moon Tour” as well, where Florida resort guests enjoy interesting tales as they explore the grounds at night.