Hi there and welcome to this guide full of family-friendly things to do in St Augustine with kids!
Is St. Augustine a Good Family Vactaion?
Without a doubt! Visiting St. Augustine with kids is an amazing experience. You can find kid-friendly restaurants in St. Ausgutine as well as kid-friendly attractions.
What Is There To Do In St. Ausgutine For Families?
There are so many reasons why St. Augustine is perfect for family travel. The city really ticks all the boxes for adults and children too. With a nickname like The Ancient City, you know there will be historic sites galore that lend themselves to great learning opportunities while you travel. In fact, some of their historic sites and relics date back to the 1500s.
A St. Augustine vacation brings fun, adventure, great food, and a learning opportunity for kids and parents alike!
What Can You Do For Free In St. Augustine?
You can find a lot of free things to do in St. Augustine. From museums and monuments to natural beauty and walking the historic district, the town is full of activities that you can do for free so that you can stick to your travel budget!
St. Augustine is also great for budget travelers. They have unexpectedly low prices and so many things that you can do for free. It’s a good option for people who have been wanting to visit Florida but think they can’t afford it. If you’re looking for a cheap city to visit in Florida, you should take a look at the east coast. Cities like St. Augustine may surprise you! Keep reading below to see some of the best free things to do in St. Augustine.
Now, let’s start taking a look at some things to do in St. Augustine with kids. You’re going to love this!
Things to do in St Augustine with kids
St. Augustine Beaches
The city has 42 miles of beaches to enjoy! Here are a few family-friendly beaches in St. Augustine.
Anastasia State Park
The beach in this state park is excellent and you get the added benefit of bathrooms and a nice playground by the beach as well. It costs $8 to enter the state park and you can park your vehicle right on the beach. Dogs and camping are also allowed. However, you will have to pay an additional fee to camp in the park. You can read about camping costs and all other park info, HERE.
Crescent Beach
This beach is slightly south of St. Augustine. However, I think it’s worth the drive. There are onsite showers and bathrooms and you can drive your vehicles onto this beach as well. This is a HUGE long and wide beach with plenty of room, making it a great beach for family travelers.
Frank B. Butler County Park
Another free beach with bathroom facilities. If you’re looking for a beach that gives you an opportunity to see some wildlife, then this may beach may be for you. The park is dedicated to preserving the dune system on the beach because they are home to the endangered Anastasia Island beach mouse and the gopher tortoise.
Vilano Beach
If you are looking for a less crowded beach, Vilano is perfect. However, we only recommend this beach for older children for several reasons. On the positive side, it has bathrooms, picnic tables, showers, and lifeguards. However, there is a steep drop-off, the beach is quite shelly, and the water is rough compared to other St. Augustine beaches.
It’s great for skimboarding and surfing and there is also a good possibility you will see wildlife. We saw dolphins, crabs, and jellyfish the last time we visited the beach. People have also been known to find starfish, sand dollars, and more. PLUS, This beach gives you a view of the Saint Augustine Lighthouse.
If Vilano Beach is right for you and your family, learn more about your dining options and other things to do around the beach, here!
Free Things To Do in St Augustine With Kids
For family travelers, one of the most important factors about traveling is the budget! These free things to do in St Augustine with kids will help you plan a budget-friendly trip!
St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine
Located on St. George Street you can explore the first Greek Orthodox Church in America. The exhibits in the church depict what life was like for the first Greek immigrants who came to America in the 1760s.
Father Miguel O’Reilly House Museum
Learn about the history of St. Augustine at the former home of Father O’Reilly. He was an Irish Priest who came to the city in service to the Spanish crown. Some parts of this historic home are the originals, dating back to 1565.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
How often do you get a free ferry ride to a national monument? It’s unheard of, but it’s possible in St. Augustine. Simply go to the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center to get your free ferry pass and enjoy the ride over to the monument. Park rangers lead tours of the monument and you can also take walking trails and enjoy the beach while on the island.
Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine
The docents of this church welcome visitors to step inside and enjoy the beautiful interior of the building. It’s a very ornate church and is worth the visit!
Take a walking tour of the St. Augustine Historic District
A great way to really dive into all that St. Augustine has to offer is by taking a self-guided walking tour through St. Augustine. Some must-see sights are The Bridge of Lions, The Old City Gates Historical Marker, and Flagler College. Make sure to see the sights down St. George Street and Aviles Street as well.
Other Super Fun Things To Do In St Augustine With Kids
The Alligator Farm
I know you will love visiting the Alligator Farm with your kids the way we do! It’s by far one of the most fun things to do in St. Augustine with kids! My favorite part is when you first walk in you will see the Alligator Lagoon. It’s a large area surrounded by wooden walkways and if you’re lucky you will get to see a feeding. Watching the ancient reptiles jump up in the air is awesome.
Another highlight for me is the Rookery. The native birds that come and go to the trees in this area are wild and do as they please. A new feature at the Alligator Farm is the “zip through the zoo” You can choose from two zip line/aerial rope courses, each has its own price and course length.
A visit to the Alligator Farm is one of the best things to do in St. Augustine with toddlers as little ones always love seeing the animals. Your kiddos will have a blast seeing all the wildlife at the Alligator Farm!
Old Time Trolley
It’s so much fun to see St. Augustine by trolley. Old Time Trolley has a few different options to choose from. You can hop on and off at 23 paces in the city and depending on what ticket you buy, you can get free access to some attractions and exclusive stops at some as well. The trolley is a good option for getting around the city for those who didn’t drive to St. Augustine or those who don’t want to rent a vehicle. More Old Time Trolley information, HERE.
Castillo De San Marcos
Another one of my St. Augustine faves! The views from the top are incredible and you can never go wrong with learning a bit of history. So many different cultures have a history at the Castillo De San Marcos and in St. Augustine as a whole and this national monument strives to preserve that history. For the little ones, the castle holds different camps in the summer. Check out their website for exact dates, HERE.
Ponce De Leon’s Fountain of Youth
This is, by far, one of the best things to do in St Augustine with kids! The best parts of the fountain of youth park are drinking from the actual spring that Ponce De Leon believed to be the fountain of youth and the planetarium. I also enjoyed the Navigators Planetarium and the cannon firing. They hold the cannon firing daily and in the planetarium, they turn the night sky back to how it would have looked in 1513.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse
Climb the lighthouse for amazing sea views. They also have a ghost tour option, buy tickets through this link for the only ghost tour that actually gets you inside the lighthouse during the tour. Another tour option is the Sunset/Moonrise Tour which gives you a perfect sunset view with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Keep in mind that climbing the lighthouse
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Places To Eat In St. Augustine
Stop for a bite to eat at one of St. Augustines yummy and kid-approved restaurants.
The Floridian Restaurant
They have incredibly fresh food with outdoor seating and a great pie selection.
Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar
This is a super fun sweet shop and it’s super insta-worthy! You can get delicious loaded waffles and milkshakes with unique names like Air Kentucky and Electric Jellyfish.
Burger Buckets
Get your burger served to you in a bucket.. or better yet try a doughnut burger!!
The Original Likit Fish & Chips
Stop at Likit for a Dole Whip soft serve cone and a basket of fish and chips. They also have other grab-and-go foods like hotdogs, fries, and chicken poppers. When it comes to picky eaters, you can’t go wrong with french fries. That’s why The Original Likit Fish & Chips is on the top of the list of kid friendly restaurants in St. Augustine.
Whetstone Chocolate Store
Visit this little chocolate shop for chocolates, caramels, gelato, or maybe a coffee. This is also a great place to pick up a souvenir & you can even take a tour to learn how they make their sweet treats.
Where to stay
A DOWNTOWN OPTION
Villa 1565 Hotel
This hotel is located close to Ponce De Leon’s Fountain of Youth, has an outdoor pool, and it absolutely gorgeous. & to top it off, you can book a room with two beds for less than $130/night. That price is great considering the beauty of the hotel and its location in the city.
A BEACH FRONT OPTION
The Saint Augustine Beach House
This hotel is the quintessential American beach house. From its location overlooking Vilano Beach, you can get catch a view of the St. Augustine lighthouse and you are within walking distance of many popular restaurants and attractions.
A SPECTACULAR VIEWS OPTIONS
Marker 8 Hotel & Marina
This hotel is located right along the water and The Bridge of Lions. You can enjoy the view of the marina and the bridge while you take a swim in their outdoor pool or while you eat your breakfast in the morning.
Conclusion
As you can see, this beautiful old city really is a crowd-pleaser. The beaches, the history, and just so many things to do in St Augustine with kids! This is without a doubt one of the best places for family travel in the states.
Which of these things to do in St Augustine with kids will you do first?
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