Having a Blast Celebrating Summer on Florida’s Historic Coast!

The sweet sounds of summer are celebrated over the approaching holiday weekend at the St. Augustine Music Festival where inspiring, world-class music is presented in the welcoming environment of the Cathedral Basilica, and The Oak Fest at The Colonial Oak Music Park which features some of the region’s favorite contemporary performers. On July 4, Fireworks Over the Matanzas returns with Concert in the Plaza followed by one of the largest displays of fireworks on the East Coast exploding above the majestic Castillo de San Marcos. On July 16, the St. Augustine Country Festival & St. Augustine Craft Beer Festival will feature live country music, country food, fine crafts & country fashion exhibits, lots of beer & wine tastings, and more at the events field. Then in early September, St. Augustine celebrates Founder’s Day with a full day of events including the reenactment of Pedro Menendez’ September 8, 1565 landing, followed by a full day of celebration at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and the Mission Nombre de Dios.

It has never been more comfortable to eat, stay and play on Florida’s Historic Coast. There are many ways to experience the summer events and excitement on Florida’s Historic Coast. There are also great deals on fun tours, delicious treats and great places to stay.     Here are a few experiences to enjoy on Florida’s Historic Coast this summer:   > Take a walk on St. Augustine or Ponte Vedra Beach and you’ll find history dating back to the ice age. Mickler’s Landing and the beaches at the GTM Reserve are popular access points for visitors and a secret place to find fossilized shark teeth. You may also find some shark tooth and other unique shell treasures along Vilano Beach.

Music continues to be celebrated throughout the summer months on Florida’s Historic Coast The St. Augustine Amphitheatre will feature Blackberry Smoke along with The Steel Woods, Buddy Guy with John Hiatt and The Gonners, Iration and Atmosphere, Slightly Stoopid, Rick Springfield with Men at Work and few other greats on stage this summer. There are also many free concerts through the summer. Music by The Sea Concerts take place at St. Augustine Beach Pier Park every Wednesday Night in August & September, while every Thursday night through the summer the Colonial Oak Music Park features the area’s most popular country music performers and the Concerts in the Plaza continues to remain a St. Augustine summertime tradition.   > Experience Guana Lake’s amazing glow! Starlight and silence set the stage for the magically brilliant display of aquamarine and electric-blue bioluminescence created by billions of comb jellies and single-celled dinoflagellates in the water. Plan to participate in an exclusive nighttime paddling tour to see the phenomena with Geotrippin Adventure Company.   Find your hot spot, cast a line to and try your luck at catching dinner. Whether on the banks, in the surf, inshore or offshore, there are several local guides that can take you to find just the right spots to target redfish, flounder, trout, whiting, pompano, and other species that are fun to catch and provide great table-fare. Take your catch to one of the great area restaurants that offer a line and dine experience.   Take care of yourself! There are so many great options for taking better care of your body, mind and soul while vacationing on Florida’s Historic Coast. Wellness has always been on the top of the list here. Even Henry Flagler’s Alcazar Hotel offered luxury and fitness to visiting guests back in the 1880s. Today the collection of resort spas and day spas help the wellness traveler tap into the area’s history of luxury with a variety of services and wellness programs.   How about taking a scenic trip across the bay while beating the traffic and learning more about St. Augustine’s natural environment and culture? The new Dolphin Bay Scenic Shuttle recently started carrying passengers between the Vilano Beach Public Pier and the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Not only is it scenic and fun, but it is also the ideal transport for guests staying downtown to get to the beach without a car, or Vilano Beach lodging guests to get downtown without worrying about a place to park.

Summer is here and with over 40 miles of scenic coastline, St. Johns County is one of the best places to experience Florida’s natural landscapes. Over the next few weeks, we will continue to share our beautiful beaches, showcase their stories, and recommend places to stay, things to do, and exceptional restaurants. Just across the Bridge of Lions from St. Augustine’s historic district, Anastasia Island is the site where local coquina was harvested to build the iconic Castillo de San Marcos and Fort Matanzas. On the north side, you’ll find fun for everyone on the pristine beaches, historic sites, and unique stays. Click here to read our recent newsletter about the island’s southern beaches — St. Augustine Beach and Butler Beach.

EXPLORE NATURAL FLORIDA At Anastasia State Park, you’ll find 1,600 acres of tidal salt marshes, hammock preserves, ancient dunes, and four miles of pristine beach. This Florida park has almost everything a beachgoer might be looking for: sunbathing, surfing, fishing, paddle boarding, and more. Within Anastasia State Park lies the Spanish Coquina Quarries, the primary source of coquina used to build the famous Castillo de San Marcos and other structures in the colonial town of St. Augustine. These quarries are now protected and were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Take the boardwalk directly to the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean and see a variety of birds, turtles, and native wildlife along the way. Hike the nature trails that wind through the dunes shaded by maritime hammocks Campers can spend the night in the park’s full-facility campground complete with showers, bathrooms, and a store near the beach selling camping necessities. There are over 139 campsites to choose from, all located beneath trees and palms.

FLORIDA’S SCALY FRIENDS In 1893, George Reddington and Felix Fire began collecting alligators on Anastasia Island and founded the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park. By 1910, it became an established Florida attraction for exhibiting hundreds of gators, several of Florida’s venomous snake species, and other wild animals, earning a reputation as “the world’s largest alligator farm.”  The park suffered a nor’easter storm and two fires in 1920 that put the tram out of service and made it difficult for visitors to access attractions in the area. The owners relocated the farm to its current location, a ten-acre tract of land on Anastasia Island near the St. Augustine Lighthouse and the historic downtown area.  In 1937, Reddington and his wife sold the attraction to W.I. Drysdale and F. Charles Usina who improved the park’s reputation with local and national promotion. They also expanded the Alligator Farm to include a new entrance, offices, a gift store, a taxidermy shop, and improved exhibits with ostriches, monkeys, and more native wildlife.

By the 1940s, the Alligator Farm was a household name with mentions in The Saturday Evening Post, The New York Times, and the Toronto Star. This exposure helped to raise awareness of endangered wildlife facing extinction in the 1960s. While its programming was continually improved and polished, the park built a covered theatre and open amphitheater for formal lectures and exhibitions, and the rookery was expanded with help from the Florida Audubon Society.

The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is recognized among national institutions and facilities for the quality and care of its collections. It is the only facility in the world to exhibit living specimens of all 24 crocodilian species. The park’s sophisticated education and entertainment operations help guests appreciate rather than fear wildlife, making it a key proponent for wildlife research and conservation. The Alligator Farm still offers educational programs, plus a zip line attraction that lets you become one with exotic birds and lemurs.

DREAMING IN PINK The Local – St. Augustine offers a memorable and innovative experience for the modern traveler to the Ancient City. Guests love the retro-inspired rooms, contactless check-in, and digital entry that make it easy to stay like a local.  A relaxing pool area and the iconic pink doors are the perfect Instagrammable backdrops to brag about your weekend getaway, and the Drifters Beach & Bike Rentals on-site are waiting to take you on your next adventure!  This unique hotel is located on Anastasia Island, just a short distance from the St. Augustine Amphitheatre, the beaches, and historic downtown.

NEARBY SITES & EVENTS
The Lighthouse	Odd Birds

The Amp	Lama Restaurant
Art Galleries	Food Trucks