Have you been to St. Augustine, FL?! If you haven’t, it is definitely worth checking out! It’s the oldest city in the U.S., so if you’re a history buff (even if you’re not) this place is right up your ally! We spent two days in this beautiful city, and I did NOT want to leave! St. Augustine is a historical beach town that offers pristine camping and countless things to do and explore with kids! Keep reading to find out where to camp, and how to make the best out of a short stay in St. Augustine, FL!
St. Augustine was the last stop on our Florida camping trip. As we were driving into the city, I was bummed knowing we only had two days to spend here (and that was before we even stepped foot into the town). I was just in awe of the beauty of this place! Furthermore…once we got to our campground, I had the same feeling! Only two nights here?! When can we come back already!? I knew we were at the end of a fantastic trip, but MAN I wish I would have known to plan on staying here longer! (Click to read more about our stay in Orlando and Miami)
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Where to Camp in St. Augustine
We stayed at North Beach Camp Resort. If you like having privacy at your campsite, this is the campground for you! Each site is separated by large moss-ladded oaks and palmetto trees. The campground itself is located between the Atlantic Ocean and the North River. We could hear the waves from our site, as we were situated closer to the ocean side of the park. Just a short walk across the street (or if you prefer to drive, there is private parking for campers), and you’re on your way to building sandcastles and dipping your toes in the ocean!
The campground has a pool, playground, basketball, shuffleboard, laundry facility, and even two restaurants on site. Aunt Kate’s Restaurant is located on the river side of North Beach Camp Resort, while The Reef Restaurant is across the street, offering an oceanfront dining experience. We unfortunately did not stay long enough to enjoy all of what this place has to offer, but we will be back, no doubt about that! (Tip: we found this gem of a campground using our Good Sam membership giving us a 10% discount!)
What to do in St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a quaint town, offering a variety of museums, historical sites, tours, restaurants and more. Events are held here just about every day, including farmer’s markets, 5Ks, and reenactments. To help plan your trip, check out this St. Augustine website! Here is a list of what we got to experience and indulge (winery/distillery) ourselves into while visiting this beautiful city.
Castillo de San Marcos
Ok, if I’m being completely honest, I am NOT a big history buff. However, the Castillo de San Marcos should be on anyone’s list of things to see while visiting Saint Augustine. The Castillo de San Marcos is a National Monument, the oldest masonry fort in the continental US, and the oldest structure in Saint Augustine. Walk around this incredible fortress, read all about its history, amazing architecture, and take in the beautiful scenery. This place was absolutely worth the visit.
Pirate and Treasure Museum
The Pirate and Treasure Museum is conveniently located across the street from the Castillo de San Marcos and features over 800 authentic artifacts celebrating pirate history. It was a fun place for our boys to explore, as you are provided with a map that takes you on a treasure hunt! At the end of the tour, you get to choose a prize from their treasure chest! If your kids really enjoy their time here, admission is good for the entire day. Call ahead to find out their schedule for shooting off cannons for the day!
Explore St. George Street
St. George Street is a quaint part of the downtown district full of shops, restaurants and more. There is something for just about everyone here to enjoy. We walked around, browsed in a few of the shops, found a great place to have a little tasting (City Gate Spirits), and a cute little donut shop for the boys! We heard great things about Pizza Time, so being the foodies we are, had to grab a slice to share! Mmm SO good!
ALL the Tastings…and Pizza
San Sebastian Winery
Please don’t judge us when I say we take our kids to wineries. They actually love it, as they get their own little “tasting” (usually just some juice we have on hand). However, at San Sebastian Winery, our boys were catered to just as much as us! As we walked into this place, we were greeted by a very friendly staff, one even commented “Looks like you guys need a drink!” I guess the double stroller and two rowdy kiddos gave that away!
San Sebastian Winery offers a complimentary, self-guided tour and tasting. They offer a variety of whites and reds, as well as one sparkling wine and two dessert wines. The winery is located in Henry Flagler’s East Coast Railway Building, an architectural beauty! This tasting was so fun! The staff was super helpful, the wine was fantastic, and they even offered our boys muscadine juice so they could feel like “big kids!” We did not leave here empty handed…let’s just leave it at that!
City Gate Spirits
While walking around downtown, we spotted City Gate Spirits and decided to step in for a tasting! Here, we were offered a complimentary tasting of their moonshines, whiskeys, rums, and vodkas. Our boys got to partake in the fun here as well with a tasting of their passion fruit sour mix! Everything we tasted was fantastic! Definitely worth a visit!
St. Augustine Distillery
If you want to put some hair on your chest, go grab a tasting at the St. Augustine Distillery! We unfortunately stopped by too close to closing time to have a tour, but we still had the chance to taste some of their bourbons, rums, and vodkas. This place is SO beautiful on the inside, I can only imagine what a tour would be like. If you are a bourbon lover, absolutely put this place on your list!
Carmelo’s Pizzeria
Carmelo’s Pizzeria came highly recommended from several of the staff at San Sebastian Winery! We tend to ask locals for advice when it comes to good eats! This place did NOT disappoint! We ordered a Carmelo’s Supreme pizza to go so we could eat back at our campground! Look at this pizza…do you not want to take a bite out of that right now?! Mmmm, so good!!
St. Augustine, FL left us wanting more…so we WILL plan a visit back one day! From its history to the beautiful beaches, you cannot go wrong with vacationing here! We hope this helps plan your visit, and you enjoy St. Augustine as much as we did! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments – we would love to hear from you! Happy traveling and happy camping!!
