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Going to St Augustine at the end of the month. Anybody have any yeah's or nay's on things to see, do, or eat?

There's a ton to do, if you like history. I love history and am particularly fascinated with the 1500-1800 time period, so that area is great for me....that and I only live an hour and a half from it.

As for attractions, since this is the oldest city in America, there are plenty of "Oldest...." places to visit.
The Castillo De San Marcos, right on Matanzas Bay, is an awesome fort. Down St. George street (can't miss it, follow the walking people) is the main tourist drag...has the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse, Spanish Quarters, along with shops and bakeries and such. The old Jail is just down the road...interesting place. The Lighthouse, across the bridge of lions, on the island makes for a nice view. The ghost tours at night are awesome as well.

As for restaurants...do NOT eat at Santa Maria. Sure, it's on the water over Matanzas Bay, but the food is horrible...a tourist trap. Just about anywhere else you come by is pretty decent. I know places to go, but can't remember the names of them....

The Conch House is a great place to stay and has an awesome waterfront restaurant and a really cool lounge on pilings out over the water. They have lots of live music, too.

The horse drawn carriage rides are fun and very informative. They take you through the historic district with a couple stops along the way for picture taking.

Hope you have a great time during your visit!

I wasn't too impressed with the Conch's food. Live music and great scenery make up for it though.

cafe 11 and casa santa monica are good restaurants as well.

Just walk around the historic district and look for restaurants. If it's big, flashy and looks like it has lots of tourists (ie Santa Maria or The Milltop), avoid it. Otherwise, most places are pretty decent.

There's a place across from Santa Maria and just south, right where the road forks that is pretty good....called Captain something or another.

Oh, if heading west from the island over the bridge of lions, go throught he main redlight and there's a place on your right. A very busy and cool bar...plays lots of Buffett...always packed w/ the party crowd.

here's a good "art" place in main tourist district call "Temple of Great Art No Spitting" that is fun. There's an alligator farm, if you're into that. Cross the bridge for lots of beachy bars, tacky t shirt places, ect. You could always jump into the Fountain of Youth too!

shecrab wrote:here's a good "art" place in main tourist district call "Temple of Great Art No Spitting" that is fun. There's an alligator farm, if you're into that. Cross the bridge for lots of beachy bars, tacky t shirt places, ect. You could always jump into the Fountain of Youth too!

the alligator farm rules

I live about 30 minutes from Saint Augustine and am there all of the time.
It's my own "poor man's Key West"

ParrotheadGator wrote:Oh, if heading west from the island over the bridge of lions, go throught he main redlight and there's a place on your right. A very busy and cool bar...plays lots of Buffett...always packed w/ the party crowd.

Your'e talking about the Tropical Tradewinds, in oldtown, the bar Jimmy used to play and even mentions in the liner notes of Fruitcakes. It's old and rustic looking, especially on the inside.
http://www.tradewindslounge.com/home.html

The South Beach Grill is right on the ocean/A1A, sitting on the dunes and has a great shrimp dinner.
If you're gonna be there a few daze you should definitely eat there at least once.
http://www.southbeachgrill.net/

Right next door from the South Beach Grill is an awesome locals beach bar called "Pomars" complete with jukebox and pool tables
They also have one of the best cheesburgers that I've ever had.

Accross the street from the South Beach Grill is another great local's bar called the Sandbar, featuring pooltables and a few old Jimmy cds in the juke.

The Conch House Lounge has a kick @ss Jamaican Jerk Chicken dish and some best mixed drinks including the Honeydew Daquiri.
Their Conch fritters are second to only Alabama Jack's in my opinion.
Of course the bar out on the pier is why I love this place.
http://www.conch-house.com/

There are lots of cool dives to check out, just go cruisin and find em, that's the fun part.'

Saltwater Cowboys.. Oh, how I miss it



http://www.saltwatercowboys.com/

I really wish I could remember the name of the restaurant we ate at that I really liked.

Oscar's is a great laid back place on the ICW...used to love going there by boat and spending an afternoon there......

http://www.nefla.com/oscars/

weirdo0521 wrote:Saltwater Cowboys.. Oh, how I miss it



http://www.saltwatercowboys.com/

I would say 10 years ago, Salt Water Cowboys was awesome. Now it's a tourist trap (come to think of it, it was back then too...just better). Wait an hour for a table for good food, not great food...as I think it use to be

South Beach grill has a great view, but I didn't care for their food....but I have to try those 2 bars across the street. Never been in....and if the burger is that great, I've definitely gonna stop by in the near future

[/quote]I would say 10 years ago, Salt Water Cowboys was awesome. Now it's a tourist trap (come to think of it, it was back then too...just better). Wait an hour for a table for good food, not great food...as I think it use to be
[/quote]

Yeah, that was kinda my opinion about the place, too. We went there in November, after having heard some great things about it but we were pretty unimpressed. It's in a pretty location but it was very, very crowded and the service was incredibly slow for average food. The waitstaff was made up of a bunch of kids that didn't seem very experienced. I felt like a head of cattle being herded through the place. Then again, it was a very busy Thanksgiving weekend. Maybe it would be better another time.

That's exactly how it is now. Years ago, you waited about 30 minutes for a table, but the staff were older, experienced people. Fairly quick too...and the food was excellent.

I'd say the last 4 or 5 years have been disappointing. You have to wait at an hour to get a table (or show up 30 minutes or more before they open). The food was just average. If they didn't have a bar to serve those waiting outside, I'd never go back

ParrotheadGator wrote:That's exactly how it is now. Years ago, you waited about 30 minutes for a table, but the staff were older, experienced people. Fairly quick too...and the food was excellent.

I'd say the last 4 or 5 years have been disappointing. You have to wait at an hour to get a table (or show up 30 minutes or more before they open). The food was just average. If they didn't have a bar to serve those waiting outside, I'd never go back

That is so dissapointing to hear

I was in Saltwater Cowboys in January and had no wait and the food was great.
Of course this was during the day and there was no crowd.

Another great place was "Caps On TheWater".
Right on the intracoastal with outside dining and an islandesque atmosphere
http://www.capsonthewater.com/

I think a walk through oldtown St. Augie is a must if you've never done it.
There's even a island themed store with lots of Buffett stuff called The Palm Bay Republic

you guys are gonna make me go to St Augustine ...

HawaiianGator wrote:you guys are gonna make me go to St Augustine ...

i know..i may make a trip soon. Now I gotta find a chick to go with me though

Thanks everyone for your suggestions! 10 days and counting.....

Matanzas means massacre.

That's all I know.