The Oldest City’s Secrets: The Best Things to Do in St. Augustine

Most people come to St. Augustine for the fort and the George Street shopping. But if you stop there, you are missing the point of the city.

St. Augustine isn't just "old" (founded in 1565); it is a city built on layers of bizarre history, from pirate raids to Gilded Age excess. To truly see the "Fascinating" side of the Ancient City, you need to look past the tourist traps and find the stories hidden in the coquina walls.

Here are the best things to see and do in St. Augustine, ranked by how fascinating they actually are.

Castillo de San Marcos

1. The Castillo de San Marcos (But Look Closer)

You cannot visit St. Augustine without seeing the massive star-shaped fort. But don't just walk the top deck and leave.

The Fascinating Detail: Look closely at the walls. They are made of coquina—a sedimentary rock composed of millions of tiny crushed seashells. When the British attacked in 1702, they fired cannonballs at the fort, expecting the walls to shatter. Instead, the soft coquina "swallowed" the cannonballs whole, like a BB pellet hitting a block of cheese. The fort has never been taken by force in battle.

• How to Visit: Go at 8:45 AM. The gates open at 9:00 AM, and you want to be inside before the school field trips arrive.

• The Shot: The best photo isn't from the fort—it’s from the water.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

2. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm

More than just a roadside attraction.

This sounds like a tourist trap, but it is actually one of the most historically significant zoos in the country. Founded in 1893, it is the only place in the world where you can see every living species of crocodilian.

The Fascinating Detail: It is also a massive bird rookery. In the spring and early summer, thousands of wild herons, egrets, and wood storks nest in the trees above the alligators. Why? Because the alligators protect the nests from raccoons and snakes. It’s a perfect, albeit terrifying, symbiosis.

• Best For: Families and photographers.

• The Gear Tip: You will be walking on boardwalks for hours. Wear breathable, cushioned shoes.

Lightner Museum

3. The Lightner Museum (The "Smithsonian of Oddities")

Located in the former Hotel Alcazar (built by Henry Flagler), this museum is a time capsule of the Gilded Age.

The Fascinating Detail: Skip the fine art and go to the "Curiosities" room on the first floor. You will find a shrunken head, human hair art, and a mummy. Also, the café is located in what used to be the world’s largest indoor swimming pool. You literally eat lunch in the deep end.

• Pro Tip: After the museum, walk across the street to Flagler College. You can’t go inside the dorms (obviously), but the lobby of the former Hotel Ponce de Leon is open to the public and features original Tiffany Glass windows that are priceless.

St. Augustine Distillery

4. St. Augustine Distillery (Free & Historic)

Located in the restored FP&L Ice Plant (built in 1907), this is a masterclass in adaptive reuse. They make bourbon, rum, and gin on-site.

The Fascinating Detail: The tour is completely free, and they give you a tasting flight at the end. But the real history is in the building itself. This ice plant was the first of its kind in Florida, making commercial shrimping possible by allowing boats to ice their catch.

• The Souvenir: Buy a bottle of the Datil Pepper Vodka. It’s the only place you can get a spirit infused with St. Augustine’s signature pepper.

5. The Ghost Tours (Pick the Right One)

St. Augustine is widely considered the most haunted city in America. With yellow fever outbreaks, pirate raids, and colonial wars, the ground is literally filled with history.

The Fascinating Detail: Avoid the generic "jump scare" tours. You want the history-focused ones. Look for tours that take you to the Huguenot Cemetery (where they found bodies buried outside the gates) or the Old Jail.

• Recommendation: The "Ghosts & Gravestones" trolley is solid because it gets you inside the Old Jail at night.

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

6. The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

Yes, the water smells like sulfur (rotten eggs). Drink it anyway for the photo op.

The Fascinating Detail: Ignore the "Fountain" myth. The real draw here is that this is the actual site of the original 1565 settlement of St. Augustine. The archaeology here is world-class. You are standing on the spot where the first Thanksgiving really happened (55 years before the Pilgrims).

• Don't Miss: The live cannon firing demonstration. It’s loud, smoky, and incredibly cool.

Where to Stay

If you want to stay in the history, you have two great options:

1. The Casa Monica: The only one of Flagler’s original hotels that is still a hotel.

2. The St. Francis Inn: The oldest inn in St. Augustine (dating back to 1791). It includes a free happy hour and breakfast.