Golf Cart Guided History Tour
The perfect way to experience St Augustine for those that would like to keep walking to a minimum. The one hour narrated golf cart tour allows you to get up close to all the amazing landmarks the oldest city has to offer with live commentary from your city certified tour guide/driver.
Tour Details:
- Duration: 1 hour.
- Ages 3+ only.
What You Will Experience:
- You will board the golf cart at the Plaza de la Constitucion.
- After a short introduction, your tour will proceed by the waterfront with magnificent views of the Matanzas Harbor and the Bridge of Lions.
- The tour will pass in front of the Castillo de San Marcos on its way to The Mision Nombre de Dios site where the city founder, Pedro Menendez de Aviles, first arrived.
- You will then drive by Fountain of Youth, Magnolia Street and the Old Jail site.
- Once downtown, your tour will pass by the former Hotel Ponce de Leon, Alcazar and Casa Monica hotels and then by the Governors House and down Aviles Street ( Oldest street in the US). You will be in the oldest part of town where you will be able to observe examples of Spanish and British colonial architecture.
- Before returning to the Plaza, you will drive by the Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church and the outside of the Hotel Ponce de Leon where the largest collection of in use Louis Comfort Tiffany stained glass windows collection may be observed.
Telling Elegies Walking Tour
St. Augustine’s only adults only ghost tour!
The Telling Elegies Ghost Tour is a thought provoking experience that explores early St. Augustine’s dark and macabre haunted history. Delve deeper into the darkest hauntings of St. Augustine, Florida. From the oldest unsolved murder to the serial killings of the 1970’s….this tour explores the evil underbelly of the Ancient City. Get to know the darker side of human nature….you may even leave the tour questioning your own being. This tour contains mature themes and languages.
- Tour duration: 90 minutes.
- Tour times vary. Click the “See Available Tour Times” button to view availabilities.
- Adults only tour for guests 16 and older.
- Pet policy: pets are allowed.
- Alcohol policy: not allowed on this tour.
Shrine Our Lady of La Leche
On September 8, 1565, five ships sailed into a small cove on the coastline of what was known to the Spanish as La Florida. Under the command of General Pedro Menendez de Aviles, they came to the New World from Spain sent by King Philip II. They arrived in hopes of establishing a colony, securing the land for Spain, and most importantly, to convert the native American Indians to Christianity. Father Francisco Lopez de Mendoza Grajales, recorded the days events in his diary:
On Saturday the eighth the General landed with many banners spread, to the sounds of trumpets and the salutes of artillery. As I had gone ashore the evening before, I took a cross and went to meet him, singing the hymn Te Deum Laudamus. The General, followed by all who accompanied him, marched up to the cross, knelt and kissed it. A large number of Indians watched these proceedings and imitated all that they saw done.
Following Menendezz veneration of the Cross, thus proclaiming this land in the name of God (Nombre de Dios) Father Lopez celebrated Mass at a rustic altar made of wood. The sky served as the roof for what was the first parish Mass in what is now the United States. It was on this sacred ground that the Spanish settlers would begin devotion to Our Lady of La Leche, Nuestra Senora de La Leche y Buen Parto, Mary nursing the infant Jesus. In the early 1600s, the Spanish settlers of St. Augustine established the first Shrine to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the United States.
Today, more than 450 years later, an image of Our Lady of La Leche – Our Lady of the Milk and Happy Delivery – graces a small mission chapel in the heart of what is lovingly referred to as the sacred acre. Pilgrims come from all parts of the world to pray for her powerful intercession. They pray for fertility, for the health of their children, for safe delivery of those expecting. Their prayers continue to be answered, and many return in thanksgiving to share with us their stories. We invite you to come join us – to stand on holy and sacred ground where our story of the conversion of hearts and the graces of Mary continues.
Governor’s House Cultural Center & Museum
Governors House Cultural Center and Museum is located in the heart of historic downtown St. Augustine at the intersection of King Street and St. George Street overlooking the historic Plaza de la Constitucion. The building, historically known as Government House, has a long and fascinating history since the site has been home to several government offices since 1598. An exhibit in the grand lobby follows this history including a timeline to present-day.
Today, the Governors House hosts a public museum, visitor information desk, event rental space, and academic facilities in support of the University of Florida. Academic use of the building includes an archaeology laboratory in collaboration with Flagler College, Governors House Library research collection and digitization lab, and Preservation Institute St. Augustine (PISA).
St. Photis Greek Orthodox Nat’l Shrine
Just steps from St. Augustines historic city gates at St. George Street, the St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine, an institution of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, is dedicated to the first colony of Greek people who came to America in 1768. The Shrine consists of exhibits depicting the life of early Greeks in America and the development of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, and the St. Photios Chapel.
Come and visit our magnificent Orthodox Chapel filled with Byzantine style frescoes and take a tour of our historic museum. Special exhibits tell the story of the First Greek Colony in the New World. This freestanding exhibit contains various artifacts, photographs and historical documents.
Cathedral Basillica
This is the oldest Catholic Church in the city and is the seat of the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine. The church and structure has unique Spanish architecture with ornate details both inside and out. The property is free to tour and is worth a visit.
Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine. It also protects approximately 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and associated flora and fauna, including threatened and endangered species.
Throughout its history, the stories of Fort Matanzas and the Matanzas area have been closely intertwined with that of the city of St. Augustine.
Located fifteen miles north of Fort Matanzas, St. Augustine and the Castillo de San Marcos serve as outstanding reminders of the might of the early Spanish empire and as reflections of European conflicts as countries battled for land and power in the New World.
To read all about the history of the fort, visit their website
The park is free to visit including the ferry to the fort. To get tickets and more information on operating hours, visit their website.
Aviles Street
Aviles Street is the oldest street in the nation as we know it with relics and pottery shards unearthed dating back to the 1600s. Also known as the artists district and still houses a vibrant art scene.
Here you’ll find the Spanish Military Hospital, Ximenz-Fatio House and the Father OReilly House Museum.
Plaza de la Constitucion
The Plaza sits at the center of the historic city of St. Augustine and is an open-air park that was laid out in 1573 by the Spanish Royal Ordinances. The Plaza features a pavillion the is used for private, city events and live music. This area was used since the 1500s as a market where food as goods were traded.
St. George Street & City Gates
City Gates:
Located at the north end of St. George Street, these ancient columns or gates have stood for over 200 years. Built in 1808 as the first line of defense for the city, these ancient columns were built because St. Augustine was attacked by Carolinian Governor James Moore and his troops in 1702, which damaged much of the existing town. After this, the residents of the city began the construction of a fortification around the city. The northern protective border was known as the Cubo Line. It was mostly made of earthworks, but was fortified with palmetto logs, a moat, a cannon, and a wooden gate towards the road that we now know as San Marco Avenue.
St. George Street:
This is one of the main streets in the city that is pedestrian only (no vehicles allowed). Starting at the Old City Gate from the north, you can walk St. George Street all the way to the Plaza de la Constitucion. St. George Street is a destination hotspot in the city which is home to retail shops, restaurants, bars and museums.
