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Fountain of Youth Park Entrance
Attractions

Fountain of Youth Park

by Pros
written by Pros

Overview

Located in historic St. Augustine, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park offers a 15-acre historical site of where St. Augustine came to be in the year 1565. Guests can enjoy seeing stars from the park’s planetarium, exploring the native Timucua village, watching an old cannon fire, visit the two-story Discovery Globe, take a walk through the waterfront outdoor park, and much more.

History

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is a 15-acre waterfront, Historical Site where St. Augustine, Florida began in 1565.

We commemorate the founding of Florida in 1513 by Spanish Explorer Ponce de Leon and his search for the Legendary Fountain of Youth. We celebrate the Birthplace of Our Nation in 1565 and we invite you to explore it all! This is where Florida and America’s History all began! The Timucua Indian Village of Seloy existed here for almost 4,000 years before the arrival of the Spanish in 1513, and with Ponce de Leon’s claim of possession for the Spanish King in 1513, “La Florida” was born. No other Spanish colonies that followed were successful…until the arrival of Pedro Menendez de Aviles on September 8, 1565. This is the location where Spanish Explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles, in 1565, established the first and oldest continuous European Settlement in the United States of America.

Attractions

Over the last 100 years, many thousands of guests have visited The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in order to sip the world famous waters and hear the history behind its legendary benefits.

A wonderful time awaits you at the Fountain of Youth. Visitors can:
• See the stars in our Planetarium,
• Visit our Native Timucua Village,
• Watch a Cannon firing,
• Marvel at Spanish Exploration on our two-story high Discovery Globe,
• Learn about the Birthplace of European America,
• Stroll through a waterfront park where peacocks strut and shady oaks beckon you to stay,
• Visit the snack bar, picnic under the oaks,
• You can even drink from the legendary waters and see if your visit grants you the secret to eternal youth.

We welcome families and couples, corporate retreats and wedding parties. We have the area to handle groups and are prepared to make you, the visitor, feel as if you are an integral part of our beautiful park. If you are planning a family reunion or other gathering, consider using this inviting setting to make the special day a success.

See the stars in our Planetarium. Visit our Native Timucua Village. Watch a Cannon firing. Marvel at Spanish Exploration on our two-story high Discovery Globe. Learn about the Birthplace of European America.

Our ample parking is free and we are a pet-friendly attraction. Don’t forget to feed the peacocks and squirrels! See you soon.

Get tickets by clicking here – Fountain of Youth St. Augustine.

Find out about more St. Augustine attractions on our Guide.

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Ripleys Believe it or Not St. Augustine Building
Attractions

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum

by Pros
written by Pros

Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Ripley’s Believe It or Not is one of the main attractions in St. Augustine. The Museum, or Odditorium, is the oldest Ripley’s location in the world, having been established in 1950. That’s fairly appropriate for the Historic City!

The Odditorium is located in Castle Warden, a Moorish Revival mansion built in 1887 by William Warden as a winter home. In later years, it was turned into a hotel, until Ripley’s opened the location. It’s been a St. Augustine standard ever since. You can often see this location in the Ripley’s television show, during the opening credits.

The entire property is amazing, with exhibits outside such as an exact replica of Michelangelo’s “David,” an 18-foot tall hand-carved marble statue weighing 20,000 pounds. David is located in front of the building, however, due to his nudity, he is hidden behind some bushes. You do not need a ticket to see David, nor any of the other outside exhibits. That includes the House Inside a Redwood Log, A Stallion made entirely from vintage 1950’s and 60’s chrome car bumpers, and more.

Inside the Museum.

The inside of the museum features over 800 exhibits from a wide variety of mediums. There are Jelly Bean mosaics, a motorcycle made of animal bone, space vehicles made of match sticks and erector sets, and much more. There are hands-on exhibits as well, such as contortion, a pirate shooting gallery, and other things you won’t find any place else.

The tour is self-guided, so take your time. The average tour length is about 2 hours, though you can make it within an hour. There is an elevator that stops on each floor, so the tour is wheelchair accessible. There is also restrooms and vending machines available if you need them.

After the Tour.

You can take your St. Augustine adventure to the next stop by jumping on a Ripley’s Sightseeing Train right in the parking lot. These trolleys will take you around town and stop at all the attractions of interest, from the big ones to the small ones. Every part of St. Augustine is covered by the guided trolley tour. For the brave among you, Ripley’s also offers Ghost Adventures, a paranormal experience that takes you to well-known haunted locations at night. This Trolley will have low lighting, and a spooky narrator. There are more than 18 stops on the Ghost Adventures tour across St. Augustine.

Grab your Ripley’s Believe It or Not Tickets at a discount here, the Sightseeing Train tickets here, and the Ghost Train Adventures tickets here.

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St. Augustine Amphitheater
Attractions

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre

by First Choice Florida
written by First Choice Florida

St. Augustine Amphitheatre

The St. Augustine Amphitheatre hosts numerous different types of events year round. Check the schedule, then book your rental from First Choice Florida Vacation Rentals when there’s a great show in town!

Built in 1965 to commemorate St. Augustine’s 400th Anniversary as our nation’s oldest permanent European settlement, the 16-acre section of Anastasia State Park that makes up the amphitheatre grounds includes an old quarry where coquina rock was obtained to build early St. Augustine homes and commercial buildings, as well as the fort, Castillo de San Marcos.

Pulitzer-prize winner Dr. Paul Green wrote The Cross & Sword, a symphonic drama to re-enact the founding and early years of St. Augustine under Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Following the completion of the Amphitheatre in 1965, the play began its 32 year run on the stage. Then in 1973, Cross & Sword was designated “Florida’s Official State Play” by the State Legislature in recognition of the cultural and historic value of the production and the events portrayed on stage. In 1996, the Cross & Sword had its final performance.

In 2002, St. Johns County made the decision to invest in refurbishing the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. After 5 years of construction and a sizeable investment, the Amphitheatre is a state of the art performing arts venue with the capacity to hold up to 4100 concert goers. A brand new conference room, 4 concession stands, a merchandise area, a large plaza, and an elaborate arboretum of walking trails make up the new facility.

Weekends bring us a Saturday morning Farmers Market to the Amphitheatre. Located right out side our front gates, you can find many local crafts and produce stands.

Seating Capacity

Total Number of Seats: 4092 (including fully obstructed seats)

Seated Pit

Pit: 459 (Includes 46 wheelchair seats)
100’s: 1081
200’s: 1386 (Includes 40 wheelchair seats)
300’s: 974 (breakdown: 759 regular seats, 136 partially obstructed, 79 fully obstructed)

Total number of seats:

3821 (excluding fully obstructed)
3900 (including fully obstructed)

Standing Pit

Pit: 600 (no wheel chair seats in pit)
100’s: 1081
200’s: 1437 (includes 91 wheelchair seats)
300’s: 974 (759 Regular seats, 136 partially obstructed, 79 fully obstructed)

Main entrance
1340 A1A South
St. Augustine, FL 32080

Service and backstage entrance
200 yards north of Main entrance; access from Hwy. A1A

https://www.staugamphitheatre.com/

 

 

St. Augustine Amphitheater

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Castillo de San Marcos
Attractions

Castillo de San Marcos

by First Choice Florida
written by First Choice Florida

Castillo de San Marcos

The Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. It is located on the shore of Matanzas Bay in St. Augustine, Florida. Construction notably began in 1672, 107 years after the city’s founding by Spanish Admiral and conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, when Florida was still part of the Spanish Empire. The fort’s construction was ordered as a result of the destructive raid of the English privateer Robert Searles in 1668. Work proceeded, and the first coquina stones were laid in 1672. The construction of the current fortress was then completed in 1695, though it would undergo many alterations and renovations over the centuries.

Today, the fort is the highlight of any St. Augustine vacation tour. You can catch re-enactments with cannon firings daily. There are always demonstrations and hands on exhibits. Even just standing outside the Castillo can be amazing – dolphins are frequent visitors to the edge of the park, plus stunning views of the Bridge of Lions, and Vilano Beach across the bay. There is parking available here at the Castillo, plus the city parking garage is nearby. All trolleys and tours will also stop here during their routes.

Inside the Castillo, some areas may be inaccessible. There is one room you must crawl to get into, though it’s not an important part of the tour. Wheelchairs will be extremely limited, and it’s advised to call ahead and ask any questions before attempting the tour.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Where is the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument?
The Castillo de San Marcos is in beautiful downtown St. Augustine, Florida.

What are the park’s hours?
The interior of the Castillo is open from 8:45 am to 5:15 pm with the last entrance ticket sold at 5:00 pm.

Is there an entrance fee to the park?
Adults (16 years and older) are $10.00 Children are always free.

What is there to do at the park?
The park offers a variety of exhibits, living history demonstrations, ranger programs and also recreational opportunities.

Is there food and lodging near the Castillo?
Restaurants and hotels are located within easy walking distance of the Park. There will be no food or drinks except water allowed or available inside the park.

Can I hold my wedding or other special event in the park?
Weddings and other special events do require a special use permit and must follow specific guidelines. Special events can only be held on the exterior grounds of the Park.

https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm

1 South Castillo Drive
Saint Augustine, FL 32084

(904) 829-6506


Castillo de San Marcos

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