When looking for a place to vacation you are obviously going to want to research it first, right? During your research don’t limit yourself to, what we call, “tourist traps’ find out from the locals what’s hot and what’s not’. There are so many hidden gems along Crescent Beach and St. Augustine, so we will touch on a few for you. We have been around for a little while, about 30 years, and these are some of our favorites that we have found over the years. Try something different than the usual touristy spots! Vacation like a local!
Let’s talk about two of our favorite little quaint areas to eat. Depending on whether you would rather a quick snack or take a break for a bite to eat, you will find your option at one of these restaurants.
Grab a Bite To Eat Downtown St. Augustine
Casa de Vino 57 is right in downtown St. Augustine on Treasury Street. Treasury Street is known for being the narrowest street as well so I highly recommend walking. They offer beautifully hand-crafted cheese and charcuterie boards, along with a large selection of wine and beers. But what makes it the most unique, is that it’s in a charming and secluded courtyard where you can sit back and enjoy a relaxing evening. On weekends, you’ll find guests sitting under trees on blankets, listening to the sweet sounds of the house-musician, Jolie, a singer who was voted best female vocalist in St Augustine!
Ben’s Pretzels is one of the newest additions to St. George Street in downtown St Augustine and is a tiny soft pretzel shop. What makes this so secret and special you might ask? Well, start by grabbing a gourmet soft pretzel – we recommend the Dutch Almond pretzel with their vanilla icing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it! Continue through the shop, out the back door, and you’ll find a charming courtyard with the most beautiful greenery, stone walkways and rustic iron tables you have ever laid eyes on. There will also be the soft sounds of music that will follow and enchant you through the whole experience. You would never guess you were in the middle of an insanely busy downtown!
When you are not eating you are going to want to see the wonderful and gorgeous experiences that we have to offer on the First Coast. We have three unbelievably hidden treasures that we hope you love as much as we do.
St. Augustine Family Favorites
Washington Oaks Gardens is a very zen area. After traveling a little bit south of Crescent Beach, it is nestled between the Matanzas River and the Atlantic Ocean, this is where you’ll discover this beautiful park. Within its 425 acres of coastal scenery, you’ll find 20 acres of formal gardens sculpted into this landscape. Admire the towering live oaks, and try to keep yourself from being completely mesmerized by one of the largest outcroppings of coquina rock on the Atlantic Ocean. Add in the stunningly picturesque boulder formations on the beach, and you’ll quickly feel like you’re standing in the middle of a screensaver! Take as many pictures as possible because it is a once-in-a-lifetime scenery.
Princess Place Reserve is about a 20 minute drive south to Palm Coast, from Crescent Beach, where you can visit this pristine preserve. Here, you’ll find campsites along the water-side where you can pull in and fish directly from the shore, as well as an obscene amount of adventure for the nature enthusiast! Hiking, fishing, canoeing, kayaking and bicycling are some of the fun activities just to name a few – it’s also well known by equestrian fanatics, offering miles of horse trails. Not to mention – a great place to catch a glimpse of true Florida wildlife, like armadillos, red fox, white-tailed deer, owls and bobcats. Keep an eye out for a life-changing experience.
Marineland Dolphin Adventure is something I am still shocked is not a higher priority for most travelers! One of the best parts of coming to visit this beautiful town is being near the ocean and having the possibility of seeing dolphins and other wildlife. Here, it’s pretty much a done deal, guarantee. Marineland is the world’s first Oceanarium and is now a conservation center for dolphins. They offer a number of ways to interact with them, as well as hands-on exhibits and educational programs. You can even go “behind the seas” and get the opportunity to see dolphin training demonstrations along with shark and turtle feedings!
There you have it – our favorite places around our small town that are a little less known. If you knew about them already, well then we hereby crown you a master of St. Augustine – or a really great researcher! What are your favorites? Let us know on our Facebook page! Ready to book your vacation and explore these spots?