Florida’s Historic Coast Story Ideas – Spring-Summer 2025

A wedding on Florida’s Historic Coast is steeped in romantic history, where love has been in the air for hundreds of years. From the bachelorette party to sweet treats, there are tons of ways to celebrate in style.

Whether the wedding theme is vintage glamour or nature-inspired, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and The Beaches boast exceptional facilities for hosting any celebration and unique venues for truly memorable celebrations. Downtown St. Augustine offers Old World charm and an abundance of art, culture, and entertainment; Ponte Vedra is on the cutting edge of modern yet timeless elegance; and 42 miles of pristine beaches are a gorgeous natural backdrop.

The newest wedding and event venue in the area is the Ancient City Farmstead offering a picturesque venue with rustic charm, lush gardens, and serene, romantic settings for unforgettable celebrations.

For information about wedding deals and packages on Florida’s Historic Coast this summer visit Replace with www.floridashistoriccoast.com/weddings/wedding-packages.

Girls getaways and bachelorette parties:

Enjoy an extraordinary adventure with the girls. Coming to Florida’s Historic Coast feels like you are taking a European retreat, but you never have to leave the country to enjoy some of the fun and luxurious adventures to be found here.

There are dozens of Inns in and around St. Augustine. From the St. Francis Inn that dates to 1791 or The Collector Luxury Inn & Gardens located in St. Augustine’s Old Town to the Beachfront Bed and Breakfast at St. Augustine Beach, there is an inn fit for every taste.

There are plenty of unique opportunities to explore in the old city, too. Enjoy a tasty time with great food and wine pairings on a bachelorette celebration with The Tasting Tours or schedule a relaxing private yoga and sound bath experience on the beach through Pilates Yoga Loft.

There is nothing better than getting out on the water, whether it is an exciting Brunch and Bottlenose Dolphin Encounter with Florida Water Tours, a High Tea Adventure with St. Augustine Sailing, or a dreamy sail aboard the 76-foot Schooner Freedom, the waters surrounding historic St. Augustine are the perfect backdrop for fun and adventure.

An escape to the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club promises spectacular ocean views, beach adventures, and head-to-toe pampering at The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

Explore some of the most fascinating Black History in the United States.

Did you know the first documented black child born in North America was in St. Augustine, Florida? Did you know that Fort Mose (Moe-say), was the first free black community in North America? Or that Martin Luther King Jr and Dr. Andrew Young were active in the Freedom marches in the Nation’s oldest city?

These are just a few of the little-known facts about some of the rich Black History that can be explored on Florida’s Historic Coast. Nearly a century before runaway slaves sought sanctuary in the North via the Underground Railway, many found their freedom by escaping to Spanish Florida.

Must do experiences include the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, here more than 500 years of St. Augustine’s Black History can be explored; a walk through the Plaza de la Constitucion to where the brave citizens who fought through the Civil Rights Movement are memorialized, and the newly completed replica at Fort Mose State Historic Park teaches how runaway slaves from the Carolinas and Georgia were granted freedom and helped defend the Spanish City of St. Augustine from attacking British forces.

My it’s delicious: Florida’s Historic Coast is a foodie’s dream come true!

Florida’s Historic Coast boasts a vibrant culinary scene that merges heritage with international flair, offering award-winning and ever-evolving dining experiences. Since being named “The South’s Best Food Town” by Southern Living Magazine in 2019, St. Augustine’s burgeoning food scene has continued to exceed expectations and challenge convention. Chefs continually push boundaries, creating unforgettable dining adventures that celebrate the influences of Spanish, British, French, Irish, Greek, Minorcan, and southern heritage throughout our 460 years of history.

Renowned for fresh, locally sourced seafood, the area offers a variety of delicious options from shrimp and oysters to grouper and mahi-mahi. Embracing farm-to-table practices, each meal is crafted with the freshest ingredients available. The flavors here are amazing, and the experiences are unlimited. Whether it is a brunch gathering, a one of the many food tours, or one of the many festivals and events that celebrate our culinary heritage, there is a taste for everyone.

Must do Experiences on Florida’s Historic Coast.

Planning for a wonderful getaway to Florida’s Historic Coast is easy. We have curated a selection of experiences and interviewed locals asking them to share their favorite Must Do Experiences through a series of video clips. From a visit at the Classic Car Museum and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum to GeoTrippin Adventures and TPC Sawgrass, there are lots of fun recommendations from the locals for you to explore.

STEM learning is Fun on Florida’s Historic Coast

Learning is an important part of Florida’s Historic Coast experiences. Whether it is a family experience or a school field trip, the immersive learning experiences here spark curiosity and bring lessons to life.

Some of the exciting experiences include St. Augustine Sailing’s Sail Science Adventures where guests explore marine life and local geology, through a hands-on learning experience on the water. A visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum where educational programs delve into maritime history, shipwreck archaeology, and the science of light. Programs are available for students from kindergarten through high school, integrating STEM concepts with historical exploration. ​

The GTM Research Reserve in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, offers a variety of STEM-focused educational programs for students, educators, and the general public. These programs integrate hands-on learning with real-world scientific research, through guided trail walks and scavenger hunts, beach clean-ups and more.

Out on the water an ocean of memories meeting bottlenose dolphins in the wild on a kayak adventure with Ripple Effect EcoTours are waiting. Get an up-close experience as you explore years of Florida history, and even swim with dolphins on one of Marineland Dolphin Adventure’s unique educational programs.

Music is in the Air on Florida’s Historic Coast

Florida’s Historic Coast is a top destination for live music, food, and cultural festivals. With mild, year-round weather and numerous outdoor venues, you're sure to find a performance that suits your taste. From intimate stages to world-class venues, live music is a way of life on Florida’s Historic Coast.

Whether guests travel for a big-name performer at The AMP or enjoy a solo guitarist over drinks in the Backyard at Meehan’s Irish Pub, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches brings the beat.

Major music events take place throughout the year, including the Sing Out Loud and Songwriters Festivals, that take place in September, featuring performances at The AMP and various local venues, including the Colonial Oak Music Park, pubs and restaurants. Summer months bring free summer concert series to St. Augustine’s Plaza de la Constitucion and to St. Augustine Beach Pier Pavilion with the Music by the Sea performances. In February each year during Black History Month, the Fort Mose Jazz & Blues Series honors the park’s history as the first free Black settlement in the U.S. In the Spring the Gamble Rogers Folk Festival re-creates much of Rogers’ music and stories while giving aspiring young performers an opportunity to follow in his footsteps.

The St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau recently launched Florida’s Historic Coast Radio featuring a series of Playlists that include recording by artists that performed at many of the events and venues in the destination.

Big Music News for 2025: The Ponte Vedra Concert Hall is ushering in a new era after completing a 15-month renovation. The venue has announced that it will celebrate its grand reopening on Friday, August 1 with a performance by the Dan Tyminski Band, followed by a full season of great performances like Sister Hazel, Melissa Etheridge, Steep Canyon Rangers, Everclear and more.

For more about the incredible music scene on Florida’s Historic Coast, visit www.floridashistoriccoast.com/live-music.

Located midway between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, Florida's Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the outstanding golf and seaside elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns, and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor Information Centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at the St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or go to the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast; @ViajaStAugustine, Facebook.com/OfficialStAugustine, and Facebook.com/ViajaStAugustine
and Twitter @FlHistoricCoast