10 Great Indoor Activities St. Augustine | Ponte Vedra
Here are some great escapes on Florida’s Historic Coast.
Sometimes, even your great escape to the sunshine needs an escape from the heat. Not to worry, there’s lots to do and see to keep you cool, calm and collected, no matter what the temperature outdoors.
10 Great Indoor Activities
1. Museums for all ages. Fans of the Gilded Age will love a stroll through at Lightner Museum, Henry Flagler’s former Alcazar Hotel. Celebrating its 75th Anniversary, the Lightner currently exhibits everything from Tiffany glass to bicycles from the turn of the century. Not far from the Lightner you’ll come upon the Lincolnville Museum & Cultural Center, housing a treasure trove of artifacts and stories from black history in Lincolnville and America spanning hundreds of years.
2. Popular with families, you could spend the whole day and then some enjoying more than 800 exhibits of unusual, strange and even weird oddities and curiosities at Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum. Everyone will have a favorite freaky exhibit.
3. St. Augustine is a pirate kind of town, thanks to the many pirates who invaded and pillaged the ancient city centuries ago. Today visitors can relive the Golden Age of Piracy at the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum with the world’s largest collection of authentic pirate artifacts, fun interactive exhibits and more. There’s even a Jolly Roger flag on display, perfect for selfies.
4. If art is more your cup of tea, you’re in luck. Enjoy the latest exhibits at the First Coast Cultural Center. And if you’re in St. Augustine during a First Friday Art Walk, hop on board the trolley and stop in at the numerous art galleries dotting the downtown streets.
5. For a completely different and exciting experience, explore the undersea story of a real shipwreck at St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum’s interactive exhibit Wrecked. Children of all ages are mesmerized by the artifacts and the deep-sea explorers who explain their discoveries found on our very own shores.
6. Once considered the most glamourous resort to see and be seen, take a tour of Flagler College’s Hotel Ponce de Leon. The best part is, you’re not wearing bustles, ballroom gowns and stiff collars. This marvel of the Gilded Age is a jewel to behold with its Tiffany windows, ornate murals and Spanish Renaissance architecture.
7. You might have come here for the beach, but you’ll want to immerse yourself in the displays at The Surf Culture & History Museum. There are 100 years of surf history told through photos, art, surfboards, trophies, decals and oral histories from the locals who made surfing a thing in St. Augustine.
8. Perhaps you still prefer to be outdoors. We don’t blame you. So why not a nighttime guided kayak trip where the show takes place under water? A Bioluminescent Kayak Tour takes place on Guana Lake at night, when it’s typically cooler. You will be simply captivated by the sea creatures sparkling in the shallow waters beneath the surface.
9. Evening or early morning excursions on the water tend to be cooler than midday. We’ve got lots to choose from. Sabrage St. Augustine is pure luxury on a 63 foot Custom Cooper Catamaran offering sunset cruises, eco cruises and wine-tasting excursions. Or, if you prefer more of a tall-ship experience, Schooner Freedom Charters is a classic way to enjoy a sunset sail along the Matanzas Bay.
10. Finally, there may be no cooler place to be than inside Castillo Craft Bar & Kitchen. Located in the Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel, it’s the perfect spot to stop and cool off with a craft beer or a stunning garden-to-glass cocktail, such as a smoked blackberry margarita or a lavender bee’s knees. They’re as beautiful to look at as they are to imbibe. Enjoy a refreshing sea breeze from the rooftop deck of 1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop where you can also head indoors to nibble on some fresh seafood, small plates and elevated cocktails. Yum.
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First Coast Cultural Center3972 3rd Street South
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