Things to do in St. Augustine with kids
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St. Augustine, Florida has so many things to do with kids! This beautiful little city is a great destination for families, long weekends or a day trip.
St. Augustine, Florida holds the title of being the oldest settlement in the United States. It was founded in 1565 by the Spanish making it the oldest city by over 50 years.
St. Augustine is a coastal city that lies just off the Atlantic Ocean and also borders the Matanzas River. This made it easy to get to and easy for the Spanish to hold for 200 years.
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The History of St. Augustine
St.Augustine was founded by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, after he arrived with 500 Spanish soldiers, 120 horses, 3 mules and 17 cannons on September 8th 1565. The small town was situated between two bodies of water making it an ideal place for growth and expansion of the colony over time. It grew quickly as other people from Europe made their way to Florida.
Tips for visiting St. Augustine with Kids
- If you are visiting in the summer you will want to plan ahead! St. Augustine is a popular family destination and anything you can do to buy tickets ahead of time will help you see what you want to see.
Check here to buy tickets now or look after each attraction to buy your tickets a month or so early.
- Strollers won’t be super useful in St. Augustine due to cobblestoned streets and gravel at many attractions. Instead you will want to wear your baby.
- Make reservations for restaurants a week or two out to ensure you can eat when you want and where you want!
The Best Things to do in St. Augustine with Kids
There are many things to do in St. Augustine with your kids but some of the highlights include:
Castillo de San Marcos
Your kids will love visiting a 300 year old Fort built by the Spanish.
The fort was constructed atop a cap of hard limestone which is why it could not be destroyed by cannon fire, making it one of the strongest forts on the east coast at that time. It sits right next to the Matanzas River and has local exhibits that tell you about how life in Florida was like back in 1672.
It is interesting to see the changes that were made to the Fort as it changed hands again and again. In many ways it reminds me of Fort Ticonderoga (if you have seen that already you might want to skip this.)
Activities held here now include living history with soldiers march in formation, historical tours and historical displays.
Tips for Castillo de San Marcos
- The lines can be very long in the summer so plan on going 30 minutes before it opens. You will be able to get right in and enjoy before it is too hot!
Plan on 2 hours.
St. Augustine Lighthouse
When most people think of lighthouses they think of New England beaches and rugged salt sprayed lighthouses, but the St. Augustine Lighthouse actually built around the same time, in 1871, and has been a city icon ever since.
Tours are available daily, but get your tickets early to see this lighthouse and get a great view from the top.
Plan on 1 hour.
St Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
This museum offers an interesting way to spend some time learning about pirates that roamed these seas. They have numerous exhibits with artifacts from the times of Spanish colonization as well as more modern pirates. You will learn about the lives of privateers sailing off shore to bring home treasure chests filled with gold like Black Beard did before he was captured.
The exhibits are very child friendly and offer numerous hands on activities to make kids excited to learn about the history of Florida in a way that is exciting!
Plan on an hour.
Go for a walk on St. George Street
St. George Street is the main thoroughfare for the historic district and has numerous restaurants, bars, shops and activities to keep you busy from morning till night.
You will love the charming Spanish homes and the narrow pedestrian streets! It feels like you in a foreign spot and not coastal Florida.
Grab a delicious handmade popsicle at the Hyppo Gourmet. (You will see the all over downtown) It will help keep you cool while you do some window shopping.
Oldest Wooden School House in America
In 1598 the Spanish government ordered construction of what was the first free-standing schoolhouse in America. It is now open for tours and can tell you stories about our nation’s past.
It is a quick tour but there are beautiful kitchen gardens as well as lots of information on learning in early Florida. Plus it is right downtown so its a great place to walk through while you are waiting on restaurant reservations.
The Oldest House in St Augustine
Built by Dona Maria Singleton de Legaria in 1672 during occupation of English forces because she had no where else to stay…well that is it’s history anyways. Now it holds antiquities from all over the world.
If you love to tour historic homes this should not be missed. Guided by super knowledgeable docents they will tell you the story of the house and the colorful characters who lived there.
Old Jail in St. Augustine
The Old Jail is one of the best places in town to learn about the history of St. Augustine and if youThis historical structure was home to many prisoners such as debtors who were serving time for their unpaid debts and criminals that were awaiting trial or hanging.
The tours offered by employees are very knowledgeable and entertaining and take visitors through the entire building from warden’s house to the prisoners cells.
As an added bonus, it has been said that spirits still roam the halls of The Old Jail. Your tour guide is sure to mention them. If you have older kids or kids who can handle some spooky things this is a really interesting tour. I would stay clear with kids under the age of 7.
The Fountain of Youth Archeological Park
Many explorers over the last centuries have tried to find the mythical fountain of Youth. The Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon traveled across Florida in search of these waters.
The water of the Fountain of Youth is said to make the drinker young forever. I had a big cup full. I didn’t look a bit younger!
While you are there you can learn about life during Spanish rule. Learn about weaponry of the times, watch a planetarium show, view artifacts and see the excavation site. Plus drink some pretty gross water to try to look younger!
Old Town Trolley Tours
If you are just there for a day I highly recommend the Old Town Trolley Tours. This hop on hop off bus will allow you to cover the most ground without worry about parking. (Parking is impossible in St. Augustine!)
It will give you a quick history of the city and takes you to the major attractions.
The trolley tour is good for the day and I recommend riding the complete circuit once to hear all of the history and get the lay of the land. We have started doing that on every hop-on hop-off we visit (for example Savannah) and we get so much more out of the tour.
Potters Wax Museum
Potters Wax Museum is small but fun. The wax figures are from all walks of life and even presidents such as Lincoln, Washington, Truman and Carter
If you go there is a trick to get the most out of your visit. Besides the live actors that populate the museum (when we were visiting Forrest Gump made an appearance) their are also audio boxes placed throughout. These have soundbites about each figure that give more background information on them. I highly recommend using these! It makes it so much fun for the kids.
The Oldest Store Museum
While this Oldest Store Museum is not actually the Oldest Store it is a great living history museum of General Stores in the 1800’s. It is full of interesting wares and a good place to take the kids. The store has costumed guides to answer all of your questions and a million and one things to marvel over.
Go to St. Augustine Beach
The Beaches in Florida are like no other and the St. Augustine Beach is a fabulous place to spend an afternoon. Most hotels will provide beach towels, so just bring your other beach essentials and get ready for a sunny day at the beach.
The beach has a park, a fishing pier, a splash pad and volleyball nets. You and your family will have a fabulous time. The beach will definitely be one thing you won’t want to miss in your travels.
No matter how you spend your time in St. Augustine you are sure to enjoy this enchanting city! If you love charming cities, romantic inns, water views or a great town for a girl’s weekend you will be happily surprised.
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