Known as The Ancient City, St. Augustine, Florida, is also the oldest city in the United States. The centrally located Florida city, which dates to 1565, boasts a mild climate year round. The old city’s architecture and landmarks are heavily influenced by the early Spanish Empire of the New World. It appeals to beach worshippers and history buffs. To help you plan your family vacation, here are 12 free things to do in St. Augustine.
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12 FREE Things to Do in St. Augustine, Florida
1. More than 42 miles of beaches
2. Sip Free Wine at San Sebastian Winery
3. Explore St. Photios Greek-Orthodox National Shrine
4. Visit the Peña-Peck House Museum
5. Learn about History at the Father Miguel O’Reilly House Museum
6. Feel Like a Conquistador at Fort Matanzas National Monument
7. Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine
8. Art for all
9. Ancient City Nights of Lights
10. First Friday Art Walk
11. Memorial Presbyterian Church
12. Mission Nombre de Dios
Where to Stay in St. Augustine
Spanish explorers, led by Pedro Menendez de Aviles, discovered St. Augustine, Florida, in 1565. To learn about the history of the city, you have to pay admission at Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. But for families looking for free things to do in St. Augustine, you can take a self-guided walking tour of the Historic District and see buildings that are over 450 years old.
Even if you don’t pay for the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, you will hear weapons demonstrations while you explore the Historic District. Read on for 13 FUN and free things to do in St. Augustine, Florida.
1. More than 42 miles of beaches
When my family and I travel to Florida, our favorite activity is free, what better free things to do in St. Augustine than a day at the beach? St. Augustine boasts 42 miles of well-preserved beaches, where Spanish explorers first set foot hundreds of years ago. The gentle surf, soft sand, and clean water could fill your entire vacation. But there are more free things to do in St. Augustine.
Read More: The Complete Guide to Planning a Family Beach Vacation & Ultimate Family Beach Vacation Packing List
2. Sip Free Wine at San Sebastian Winery
The San Sebastian Winery began creating local wine in 1983 and opened its doors in 1996. The historic building in downtown St. Augustine was Henry Flagler’s 1923 East Coast Railway Building.
You can taste any of San Sebastian Winery’s Florida-grown wines for free at a complimentary tour of the winery. Tours run Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Kids can join tours, but not taste the wine.
Wine tours last approximately 45 minutes and no reservations are required except for groups of 20 or more. Last tours leave at 5 p.m. daily.
3. Explore St. Photios Greek-Orthodox National Shrine
Tour the first Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. Exhibits depict the life of early Greeks in America, who came here in 1768.
Called “The Jewel of St. George Street,” the shrine features Old World architecture and centuries-old Byzantine art. Take a self-guided tour of St. Photios on Sundays from noon- 6 p.m. or Mondays through Saturdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
4. Visit the Peña-Peck House Museum
Legend has it that pirates once traveled to St. Augustine to loot this home, the former home of the royal Spanish treasurer, one of the fun free things to do in St. Augustine, Florida. (Note: if your kids are interested in pirates, you might want to visit the Pirate & Treasure Museum – but you’ll have to pay for it.)
Built in 1750 by order of the King of Spain, the Peña-Peck house has passed through only a few different families. The last owners, the Peña family, owned the home for 94 years before donating it to the city of St. Augustine in 1931 to serve as a house museum.
The Woman’s Exchange, a community service organization, manages the historic home. Guided tours of the house museum are offered Sundays through Fridays 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.
5. Learn about History at the Father Miguel O’Reilly House Museum
Built in 1691 during the First Spanish Period in St. Augustine, the O’Reilly Museum is one of the oldest structures in St. Augustine. Parts of the building date back to 1565.
Named after one of its first owners, Father Miguel O’Reilly, an Irish priest in service of the Spanish Crown, the museum is operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Catholic order came to St. Augustine after the Civil War to teach former slaves to read and write.
This house is in the oldest continuously settled section of the city of St. Augustine, and is open for guided tours Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 am.- 3 pm.
6. Feel Like a Conquistador at Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish in 1742 to guard the southern mouth of the river that was used as an entrance to the city of St. Augustine. Exploring the monument is fun for kids. You take a free ferry ride to Rattlesnake Island. Pick up a free boarding pass in the Fort Matanzas visitor center. The historical fort is 12 miles south of St. Augustine, at the southern end of Anastasia Island.
National Park Rangers lead tours. There is also a nature trail through the forest and a beach. Be sure to bring insect repellent and sunscreen.
Fort Matanzas National Monument is open from 9 a.m. to- 5:30 p.m. every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
7. Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine
The Cathedral Basilica, the oldest Catholic Church in St. Augustine, is a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours show off the stained glass, murals and Spanish architecture.
8. Art for all
Even if you skip the Fountain of Youth you can enjoy being around young people. The Crisp-Ellert Art Museum at Flagler College is free and open to the public. The museum is closed in July and August.
You can also participate in the site-specific Dream Garden on Flagler College’s West Lawn. You text a 7-word dream that joins the garden to show how community can lead to change.
9. Ancient City Nights of Lights
Nights of Lights fill the Old City with thousands of holiday lights each year. The annual event runs from mid-November through early February.
A free shuttle runs on some weekends or you can take Old Town Trolley. Parking is limited and expensive; if you have to pay for parking, you might as well take one of the trolley tours.
10. First Friday Art Walk
On the first Friday of every month, art galleries offer free, self-guided walking tours. From 5 – 9 p.m., enjoy new exhibits, live music, and refreshments. Free Art Walk trains and trolleys are provided by Ripley’s Believe it or Not Red Trains and Old Town Trolley Tours.
11. Memorial Presbyterian Church
Developer Henry Flagler built this church in 1889 as a memorial to his daughter, Jennie Louise. Take a self-guided walking tour, free. Or take a guided tour given by a docent Monday -Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
This is Florida’s first Presbyterian congregation, established in 1824, and it is still an active congregation. The church has spectacular stained glass throughout.
12. Mission Nombre de Dios
Mission Nombre de Dios, aka The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, was founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers under Pedro Menendez de Aviles’ command. Anyone is welcomed. The shrine attracts pilgrims who pray for fertility and the health of their unborn children.
Explore Budget-Friendly Hotels in St. Augustine
Stay across from the beach at the Courtyard St. Augustine Beach and take the Old Town Trolley to the Historic District. It stops right at the hotel. Parking and wifi are included in the room rate — we found rates as low at $105 per night.
If you’re heading to St. Augustine to golf, choose the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort on Legacy Trail, near the World Golf Hall of Fame and championship golf courses. There’s a pool and an IMAX theater nearby this pet friendly hotel.
If you have saved enough doing all of those free things, spend a little more to stay in the historic Casa Monica Resort & Spa. The 100+-year-old boutique hotel, fully restored in 1999, is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection. The pet-friendly Casa Monica has a pool and free wifi, and offers views of downtown St. Augustine. We found budget-friendly mid-week rates as low as $140 per night.
All of these Marriott Hotels can be booked with Marriott Bonvoy points.
TravelingMom Tip: The best way to get the best rate on your room: Book directly with Marriott. If you find a better rate for the same hotel, dates and room type somewhere else, submit a Best Rate Guarantee claim. If Marriott approves the claim, the company will match the lower rate and give you an extra 25 percent discount or 5,000 Marriott Bonvoy points.
Explore More of St. Augustine
Ziplines, Alligators and More Ways to Thrill Teens in St. Augustine
7 Historic Sites in St. Augustine to Explore with Kids
Find More History in St. Augustine
Renting a Beach House in St. Augustine
About the Sponsor
Merging with Starwood Hotels and Resorts made Marriottthe second largest hotel company in the world, with more than 7,000 hotels in 131 countries. That means Marriotthas a hotel for just about every type of family vacation, from budget brands like Springhill Suitesto the uber luxurious Ritz-Carlton, St. Regisand JW Marriott. Even better, combining the two companies’ rewards programs into Marriott Bonvoymeans more opportunities for reward travel. Don’t miss a chance to sign up — there’s no fee and joining provides access to member-only room rates, free wifi and an app that allows you to use your phone as a room key.
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About parking:
Keep an eye on signs. Some are posted that say reserved 7 or 7am through 6 or 7pm. Meaning free parking during off hours! So many places like that in the heart of downtown. Also, some residential streets have open spots where the house(mainly big ones) has a driveway so they don’t use the sidewalk parking spot.
For example: the street on the north end of the main fort. Going north/south. Behind Ripley’s but the last street before water. There are several spots there for public use since the mansions next to it have their own garage or driveway. (Local)
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It doesn’t have to be about the booze…there is so much more to wine than that. You can talk about the wine makers family history, the grapes, the crops, the land… open your minds
The Distillery! FREE samples of several bourbons, gins, and a few cocktails!! I guess I’ll go ahead and the disclaimer of parents only, lol. 😉
They have grape juice and other stuff for kids if you want to bring the family along
Don’t forget to step inside Flagler College! It’s a masterpiece (look up)! And worth that freebie peek! The gardens are a great place for photography & architecture. We love to just wander around St. Augustine, from St. George Street and through all of those narrow cobblestone alleys.
How about some not-very-expensive things to do with kids in St. Augustine?
*There’s the Alligator Farm – https://www.alligatorfarm.com/ ;
*the mom-and-pop St. Augustine Aquarium is fun as long as you’re not expecting SeaWorld – https://www.saaquarium.com/ ;
*the living history docents at the Castillo (by the way, the parking lot in front of the Castillo is the best price on parking if you can get it), https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm ;
*the merry go round in Davenport Park – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34599-d7039345-Reviews-Davenport_Park-St_Augustine_Florida.html ;
*Fort Menendez – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34599-d1965727-Reviews-Fort_Menendez_at_the_Old_Florida_Museum-St_Augustine_Florida.html ;
*yummy Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar – http://www.wafflemilk.com/ ;
*the Hyppo has unusual and delicious ice pops – http://www.thehyppo.com/ ;
*we haven’t been to the lighthouse yet, but that looks fun – http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/ ;
*and then of course there is always the beach.
Really people? The title of this article is “Beaches, Wine and History – 6 FREE Things to Do in St. Augustine” It says nothing about free things to do with kids. If you don’t want to drink wine then just skip that one.
Well said kat H.!!! ..BE KIND PEOPLE! If u can’t say something nice why say it all. Ann was the only one who followed directions. Thanks for ur comment on ur experience!
There should be no negativity to this article. I don’t get the folks that have to pick apart everything they see on the internet
Great Fun for children!! NOT! Not our idea of a “family” vacation there!
When I was little my parents went to the Winery with me, I was about 7 or 8 and they gave me grape juice to drink and something to snack on while my parent’s wine tasted.
Lucky you. Your parents knew and instilled in you the fact that life isn’t All about the kids.
Well Nate, it might be big fun for the parents… and what about teaching children to cope with that too?
You really think sipping wine at a winery is a good fun thing to do with kids?
absofreakinlutely…..unless you never want your kids to ‘adult’
Right that was my first thought too! lol wow reminded me of the commercial of a mom giving her kids juice boxes and her drinking wine out of a giant box with a straw… SMH 🙁
The article was about free things to do…kids werent in the headline. Im looking too & I dont have kids…so a group of us are adulting
Thanks for the post. we are going to see several, but would be help to add addresses.
Thanks Gary
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