A Weekend in St. Augustine: How I’d Spend It
We go to St. Augustine pretty often, and it’s one of those places I never really get tired of. There’s history, the beach, great food, little bars, local shops, and plenty to do on the water—all close enough that you can fit a lot into a weekend without feeling like you spent the whole trip rushing around.
If you only have a couple of days, don’t try to do everything. Pick a few things you really want to do and leave some room to wander. Here’s how I’d spend it.
Friday Night: Head Downtown
Once you’re checked in, head to the historic district and just explore. St. George Street is an easy place to start, but don’t stay only on the main drag. Wander down the little side streets, peruse the shops, and pop into the little restaurants and bars along the way.
This is one of those nights where not having a reservation every hour can actually be a treat. Find a place that looks good, grab a drink, keep walking, and see where the night takes you. End with a walk along the bayfront—the city is especially pretty at night.
Saturday Morning: Breakfast With a View
There are so many good breakfast spots around St. Augustine, but I hardly ever visit without making a stop at Ragga Surf Cafe. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is laid-back, and the view makes it feel like you've officially started a beach weekend.
Take your time here. This is a weekend away, not a race to the next stop.
Saturday: Pick Your Kind of St. Augustine
This is where I’d choose what kind of day you want.
If you want to see some of natural Florida, head to Anastasia State Park. It's beautiful, with natural beaches and sand dunes that give you a completely different side of St. Augustine. You can spend time on the beach, explore the park, or rent a small watercraft and get out on the water.
If history is more your thing, spend part of the afternoon at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. You can climb to the top for the views, explore the grounds, and learn a little history without committing your entire day to it.
And at some point during the weekend, make time for Castillo de San Marcos, the historic fort right on the bayfront. Even if you don't spend hours touring it, the grounds and waterfront around the fort are beautiful—and it's one of my favorite areas for pictures. You get the fort, the water, the Bridge of Lions and historic St. Augustine all right there.
Saturday Night: Good Food + No Rush
Head back, clean up, and go somewhere good for dinner. Afterward, don't immediately call it a night. St. Augustine has so many little bars, patios and places with live music that you don't necessarily need to decide where you're going ahead of time.
Walk around, listen for the music, find a drink you want to try, and enjoy being downtown.
Sunday Morning: One More Stop
Don't rush home.
Grab coffee or brunch, take one more walk, stop at the beach, or go back to that little shop you noticed Friday night. Sometimes that last unplanned hour ends up being one of my favorite parts of a weekend away.
THE WEEKEND WELL SPENT TIP
Don't schedule every minute. Have a few must-dos, but leave some blank space. St. Augustine is full of little courtyards, restaurants, bars and shops you'll discover simply because you walked past them. That's part of the fun.
Want Me to Plan Your St. Augustine Weekend?
Tell me who’s going, what you like to do, your budget, and the kind of weekend you’re looking for. I can help take it from “we should go somewhere” to “we’re booked.”
Comments