Planning a Family Vacation for St. Augustine
 

Would like some insight on things to do, where to stay & eat in St. Augustine for the month of July and/or August. Family of 4 (2 boys - 12 & 6 yrs. old)is planning a Fla. road journey & we are interested in doing this "historical" city.
We are planning on coming from Orlando, staying for a few days, then heading back home to SoFla.
What would definitely be the major "must see/things to do" while in St. Augustine? I hear there is a ghost tour on a 72ft. Schooner. Is this available & through what comapny? Is this something for families or strictly couples only?
We are an "adventurous" family that enjoy the beaches & fishing but short attn. span when dealing with "tours".
Thanks for the help!

You coulndn't have picked a better place, IMO.

Since you are in the early stages of your planning, start here for general information about the city and surrounding area: <http://www.getaway4florida.com/> and <http://www.st.augustine.com/>.

You'll definitely want to see "The Old Fort" (Castillo de San Marcos). A good way to get an overview of the entire historic area is by sightseeing train or trolley <http://www.redtrains.com/> or <http://tinyurl.com/yhb57v> which offer a number of packages with some admissions included and all-day reboarding privileges. You can see a lot in one day this way.

I have a lot of local restaurant recommendations. Just ask away and be specific about your preferences (brunch, casual, ocean view, etc,)

St. Augustine is one of my all-time favorite destinations! There are lots of interesting things to see and do in St. Augustine. I would recommend the hop-on, hop-off trolley tour as a good way to get oriented. Some of my favorite things to do are the Castillo de San Marcos Fort, the walking ghost tour, and shopping/walking around historic center. You can also rent mopeds, visit the "Fountain of Youth", go to the gator farm, etc... If that is not enough to fill your days, there is always the beach. I hope your family has a wonderful time.

We enjoyed our stay at the Casa Monica. Their resaturant 95 Cordova is wonderful. Breakfast at a greek little restaurant Athena was terrific.

I also highly recommend the trolly you can hop on and off anytime. Especially in the summer.

Is this a walking town? Can I park my car at a B&B and walk around for 2-3 days.

Yes, St. Augustine is absolutely a walking town. Park at your hotel/B&B or at the Visitors Center parking lot. The historic district is about a mile long and less than half a mile wide. The only places you'll need to drive to are the Alligator Farm and the Lighthouse, which are almost across the street from each other.

When you visit the Castillo, try to find out the schedule for the rangers' talks and demonstrations, especially if they're firing the cannon (usually only on weekends).

Some of the beaches south of Anastasia State Park are drive-on. The kids will like loading the cooler with snacks and drinks, umbrellas, and beach toys and then driving along and parking on the beach. One side is designated for parking. Just be aware of the tides. We pull cars out of the sand every time we go. No problem if you have 4-wheel drive. The kids will also like Ripley's if they have never been there. There is great fishing if you enjoy that as well. Have fun!

Make sure you visit the Columbia Restaurant while in St. Augustine. Absolutely fabulous food. Try the 1912 salad and enjoy the black bean soup - YUMMY!!!

St. Augustine itself is walkable but if you end up staying on St. Augustine Beach, you may need to drive to a public parking lot in St. Augustine proper and then walk around. Depending on the weather, you might want to pack or buy kites and fly them on the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos which is a nice place to picnic as well.

In addition to the big fort in St. Aug, there is also small Ft. Matanzas south of town. It's run by the National Park Service, and last time we visited it was free. Visit includes free boat ride to the fort, which is in the middle of the river. http://www.nps.gov/foma/

We also enjoyed climbing the lighthouse and the hour-long "Scenic St. Augustine Boat Cruise" http://www.scenic-cruise.com/ (cruise coupon available on website)

One place we will eventually visit is the Alligator Farm -- looks like fun.
http://www.alligatorfarm.us/