What Makes St. Augustine, FL. a Prime Destination for a Holiday Vacation

If you are looking to get out of town for the Holiday season, St. Augustine makes the ideal getaway.

St. Augustine is located on Florida’s northeast coat. It is known for being the oldest city in the United States. It features lovely colonial architecture and tranquil beaches.

The city is great to visit any time of year, but it may be at its best during the holiday season. Here are some things you can see and do when you’re in town.

Nights of Lights Festival

The Nights of Lights Festival is what puts St. Augustine on the map as a prime Christmas destination. The event kicks off in mid-November and runs straight to the end of January. It begins with Light Up! Night which offers a variety of holiday musical shows that take place in front of St. Augustine’s City Hall. Lights are switched on to illuminate the city and a musical performance continues on into the night.

Nights of Lights is more than two months long with lights draping over the city’s unique Spanish architecture and historic buildings spanning for about 20 blocks. The best views can be found at The Plaza de la Constitucion which also features a giant Christmas tree, and The Bridge of Lions that shows sparkling reflections of lights off the water.

The Old Town Trolley Tour

The Old Town Trolley will take you to over 100 different points of interest. You can hop off anywhere you want. You can even take a Nights of Lights Trolley Tour.

And the Old Town Trolley Tour is far from the only one the city has to offer. You can take tours on a train with Santa, enjoy a pirate tour on a boat, take a helicopter ride with Old City Helicopters or have a vintage experience with a horse and carriage ride.

The Holiday Regatta of Lights

The Holiday Regatta of Lights is hosted by the St. Augustine Yacht Club and takes place the second Saturday of December. Tons of boats will be putting on spectacular shows and decorating their vessels to the nines. They will be voted on for most colorful, best in class and best overall. You can come by to view the parade at the seawall or Bayfront or get a table at one of the bayside restaurants to take it in.

A Christmas Story at Limelight Theatre

The Limelight Theatre is a community theater founded in 1992. It’s provides year-round entertainment. During the holiday season, the facility commonly shows a theatrical rendition of A Christmas Story. Check out their schedule to find out what else they have to offer.

The Christmas Parade

The Christmas Parade is another St. Augustine holiday favorite. It takes place on a weekend day in early December. It features marching bands, Christmas songs, decorated floats, horses with sleighbells, and, of course, Santa. It kicks off at the Mission Nombre de Dios and runs through historic downtown St. Augustine making the Nights of Lights displays that much more special.

Luminary Night

While in St. Augustine, you can’t miss out on a trip to the Lighthouse & Maritime Museum. It offers several exhibits and programs. You can also explore its surrounding nature trails or climb to the top to check out expansive views of your surroundings.

At Christmastime, you can come by for the museum’s annual Luminary Night. It happens one day in early December. 200 luminaries are lit through the grounds along with other displays. You can climb to the top of the tower to take it all in.

Una Noche de Navidad & Las Posadas

Translated as “A Night of Christmas and the Inns”, this event commemorates Jesus and Mary’s search for a safe place for the birth of Jesus. It features an eucharistic adoration, a live nativity, cookies, and hot chocolate. It happens at the Mission Nombre de Dios over the course of a weekend in mid-December. Admission is free but guests must register in advance.

Holiday Tasting Tour

Augustine is full of terrific restaurants. If you want to experience the best of them, you may do so by taking a foodie tour. During the Nights of Lights, the companies offer holiday friendly options that include tours for couples, families, large groups, and carriage rides.

One choice to consider is the GRINCHmas ride which is great for kids and includes sing-alongs. The Bah Humbug and Ho Ho Ho Ride with Santa are other popular options.

The Colonial Night Watch

The Colonial Night Watch is a recreation of the historic Night Watches where citizens that were on the streets after the city gates locked had to carry a light so they could be identified by the Night Watch. It starts at 10 AM at the Colonial Quarter where guests can view a variety of reenactments including military drills, weapon firing, historical occupations and more.

At the end of the night, a torch parade takes place. It kicks off at the Castillo de San Marcos at 7 PM and heads towards the city gates. It is family friendly and free to attend.

Bed and Breakfast Tours

St. Augustine is full of historical bed and breakfasts that decorate to the nines for the holiday season. You can take a tour to check them all out.

If you are thinking of escaping the cold for the holiday season, St. Augustine makes the perfect destination. It is full of terrific things to see and do. What will you be checking out on your visit?

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