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Media Kit: Attractions
ATTRACTIONS
With more than four centuries of colorful local history to draw from, the more than 60 unique, themed attractions and historical sites in St. Augustine bring the history and romance of the Old City to life. Complementing the historically themed attractions are contemporary adventures ancient explorers never imagined. The combination of historic sites and modern-day storytelling make St. Augustine's attractions one of the most popular features of the oldest, continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States.
HISTORIC SITES
Travelers can step back in time by walking amidst the original coquina walls and hand-hewn cedar beams that are evident in St. Augustine's Oldest House (Gonzalez-Alvarez House, 1704). Guests experience the lifestyles and craftsmanship found in 1740 at the living history Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum. A stop at Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archeological Park (1903) takes visitors through Christian Indian burial grounds and provides the opportunity to sip from the legendary Fountain of Youth. Other historic attractions include the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse and the authentic Old Jail. At Old St. Augustine Village, an entire block of nine restored homes, a country store, formal gardens and authentically-costumed guides tell the story of St. Augustine and its colorful inhabitants dating back to the 16th century.
The first Easter Mass held in the New World was at St. Augustine's Mission of Nombre de Dios. Masses are still held today at this peaceful site along the bay. Two national monuments remain as guardians over the area of St. Augustine. Castillo de San Marcos (1695) was never conquered and endures as the nation's oldest and only remaining 17th-century stone fort, and Fort Matanzas (1742) once protected the inlet from pirates and British vessels approaching St. Augustine from the south.
MUSEUMS
A collection of museums display the most impressive mementos and historical artifacts that Florida has to offer. The Government House Museum, on the corner of St. George and King Streets, dates back to the 1600's when it was the political center of Florida. Originally the elaborate $1.5 million Hotel Alcazar built by Henry Flagler in 1888, The Lightner Museum is now home to impressive collections documenting American life during the Victorian Age and the early 20th century.
With 219 steps leading up the165 foot-tower, the candy-striped St. Augustine Lighthouse provides visitors a panoramic view of St. Augustine and the beaches. The Lighthouse Museum displays maritime artifacts and recent archaeological discoveries and provides visitors with a look at what life was like for lighthouse keepers and their families. At the Old Florida Museum, St. Augustine's hands-on living history museum, visitors can experience how lifestyles have changed from early Native American settlements to the Florida pioneer days.
21st CENTURY FUN
Visitors looking for some prehistoric adventures can find more than 1,000 hungry reptiles as the main attraction at the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park - the only facility in the world housing every species of crocodilian. Seeing is believing at the original St. Augustine's Ripley's Believe It or Not! This fun attraction holds one-of-a-kind exhibits to fascinate, delight and entertain all ages. Also a first-of-its-kind in America, Potter's Wax Museum holds more than 160 life-size figures, including historical, political, and royal and motion picture characters from Beethoven to Sylvester Stallone's motion picture character "Rambo." At St. Augustine's San Sebastian Winery, adult visitors are treated to samples of fine wine and, for youngsters and non-drinkers, grape juice is provided.
At I-95 and S.R. 16, the Family Fun Factory provides a state-of-the art arcade, go-carts, batting cages, and even opportunities for paintball shoot-outs. On St. Augustine Beach, Fiesta Falls, a pirate-themed miniature golf course and picnic facility, can provide a fun-filled day for the entire family.
SIGHTSEEING TOURS
Narrated sightseeing tours of downtown St. Augustine are conducted from charming open-air trolleys or trains and horse-drawn carriages. On Matanzas Bay, scenic sightseeing tours are provided aboard cruise boats and sailing ships. Walking tours of the old city, hosted by knowledgeable tour guides in period costume, take visitors through the narrow streets and relate the history and color of St. Augustine.
With the growing popularity of our haunting past, many St. Augustine tour companies offer a variety of ghost tours. Whether seeking an authentic accounting of a local mystery or wanting the thrill of a spooking, St. Augustine offers tours that take guests walking among the cemeteries, sailing with the pirates, and touring haunted mansions.
Media contact:
Jay Humphreys, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches VCB. 904.829.1711 ext. 306, jhumphreys@getaway4florida.com |
