Really enjoyed our visit to the Southeast Branch Library. The staff was friendly, everything was…read moreclean and well organized, and there's a lot more here than just checking out books. They have a great teen area, activities for kids and adults, creative book displays, free books, and plenty of programs going on throughout the month. I also liked the little interactive touches like the "Would You Rather?" voting station. It makes the library feel welcoming and like an actual part of the community instead of just a building full of books.

Patrons of the SE Brach of St John's County Public Library:…read moreToday the librarian told me I returned 2 books in damaged format. Yes, 1 Book I will own up to and will have to replace, but the 2nd book had not any noteworthy damage. However, the librarian told me I would have to pay roughly $57.00 to replace both books. I feel this is outrageous, and I wonder why the library system does not have a refurbishing team. In my former state and library system, there was a refurbishing team set up to repair damaged goods. I pay my taxes to the state of FL which also pays for their county libraries and yet I am now double paying for damaged goods. This does not seem fair. So, patron of the library system please be aware of your materials. Also of note, the librarian named Jocelyn accosted me outside the library about the damaged materials. I feel angered by her malicious onset outside the library in the parking lot. This sort of behavior should have been handled in a more professional manner.

Would not of made it through college without this place! I even fell asleep one night and was…read morelocked in until morning time !!!! One best additions to Flagler College!

Old schools books and…read moreElsie The Hastings Public Library is a in a building that used to be an elementary school. That's not uncommon, some of the coolest libraries I have been in have been schools in a previous life. The library has a very spacious feel to it and you can flow from room to room without running into other people or stuff. Has a definitely school type feel to it. The kids room is especially nice and was obviously design for play as much as reading. All kinds of things to keep the hyperactive delinquents occupied. A nice community room and some very friendly and helpful librarians as well as computers and wifi make this a library that is both very practical but still has that small town charm. To make it even better, the library has a resident kitty named Elsie. She of course goes where ever she wants but learned never to be intrusive and bother people that don't want her around. Of course when she found out we were more than willing to give her attention we couldn't get rid of her. Hastings is a cool library in a small town. You can get books, magazines, attend the numerous programs, use the computers and even hug a wonderful kitty. You can't ask for anymore than that from a library.

My first visit to get a library card and attend a program. Turns out the speaker cancelled 2 days…read moreprior. The librarian was helpful and efficient.

Came to the fountain of youth on a whim. It looked fun, and was on plenty of YouTube videos, so we…read moredecided to try it out for ourselves. The admission prices: 22.95 for adults, seniors 20.95, children 6-12 9.95, and children under 6 are free. They do offer military discounts which was nice. The parking looks like it could be hectic, but on a Friday afternoon we found a spot easily. We parked, and entered paying the admission. Once you walk in there is a great place to take a selfie, and possibly see peacock's. We walked in, to the building where the fountain is, and saw some cool replicas, and were able to cool off from the Sept heat. We decided to try the water, it was said to be safe to drink. There is cups next to the fountain, and we took turns. The water is heavy with sulfur odor, didn't taste the greatest but definitely cool to say you did. After that you walk around the park, going to see different things, monuments, and different buildings where employees dressed in period attire show different aspects of 16th century life. There is a blacksmith, cannon displays and a few other shows. You can climb one of the observation towers and look over the inlet. You can also walk along the water front, on a board walk. The peacocks roam freely, and were spotted all along the trail at different spots. The gift shop was pretty nice, with friendly staff. The BBQ joint on sight looked good, we ordered ice cream to cool down. Overall nice place to visit, and to check out.

Visited the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park this weekend and honestly found it pretty…read moreunderwhelming overall. I went in expecting something a bit more magical or historically immersive, but it felt very tourist-driven and a little overhyped--especially the fountain itself, which is basically a man-made setup that didn't really live up to expectations. That said, the park itself is actually beautiful from a nature standpoint. The grounds are peaceful, shaded, and really nice to walk through, and I enjoyed just exploring the outdoor areas more than the main attraction. We did the Old Town trolley in St. Augustine earlier in the day, which was a blast and honestly set the bar pretty high for the rest of the weekend. Compared to that, the Fountain of Youth just didn't feel worth the ticket price for what you get. If you're already in St. Augustine and love history or scenic walks, it might be worth a quick stop--but I wouldn't call it a must-see.

We had an amazing time touring the Old Jail in St. Augustine! Our guide, Louis (Lewis), the…read more"trustee inmate," absolutely made the experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable, super informative, and one of the funniest, most entertaining tour guides we've ever had. His storytelling, sense of humor, and interaction with the group brought the history to life. Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of our trip to St. Augustine. We couldn't stop laughing while still learning so much about the jail's fascinating history. I highly recommend this tour to all of our family and friends. If you get the chance, make sure you see Louis--he's definitely a character! We can't say enough good things about the experience. Employees like Louis are a huge asset and deserve to be recognized and taken care of. Thank you for making our visit so memorable!

If you're in St. Augustine, The Old Jail should absolutely be on your list of things to see. It's a…read morefascinating little trip into Florida's history and conveniently located within walking distance of the Fountain of Youth. Of course, if you actually drank from the Fountain of Youth, then technically everything is within walking distance. The Old Jail itself is well maintained and gives you a real glimpse into what life was like behind bars back in the day. There's plenty of history here, and it's the kind of place that makes you appreciate modern conveniences like air conditioning, comfortable beds, and not being locked in a tiny cell. Our guide, unfortunately, tried a little too hard to get into character and crossed the line from entertaining into just plain creepy. I appreciate the effort, but there were moments when I wasn't sure if we were learning about the inmates or about to become them. Even with that, I'm still giving The Old Jail four stars. With a more relatable guide, this could easily have been a five-star experience.

When you think Florida, you're going to see images in your mind of oranges, rocket launches, Disney…read moreWorld and beaches. I doubt that even the 10th thing that you think about in relation to Florida is "potatoes." And yet, here we are just west of Saint Augustine and it's the potato capital of Florida. The next town over on this road is named "Spuds" and I'm not kidding. Henry Morrison Flagler built tourist hotels at Saint Augustine in the late 19th century, including the Ponce de León Hotel. He needed a local source of fresh vegetables for his guests, so he persuaded Thomas Horace Hastings, his cousin, to develop a farm. A small community evolved into a town, which was named for its founder in 1890. I wouldn't go out of your way to visit Hastings (residents of which recently voted to dissolve the city and be re-incorporated back into the county) but if you're here, have a potato! [Review 15765 overall - 1348 in Florida - 1269 of 2021.]

These gates were constructed of coquina stone pillars in 1808 as the sole entrance into the…read morehistoric district of St Augustine. Today, it still remains the main entrance into the area of St George Street. Vehicles are strictly prohibited and the entry is for pedestrian use only. The Castillo de San Marcos fort is directly across from the gates.

If you're heading to the Colonial Quarter, it is almost impossible to miss the City Gates…read more While no actual gate remains, you do get to see the pillars and stonework that were part of the wall back in the 1800's, and ponder what it was like to live inside a walled city prone to attacks by land and sea. It's a great (free) photo op and, incredibly, not that busy! 108/2025

This is one of my favorite parts of St. Augustine, this sea wall definitely has its flood…read moreprotections purpose but it also provides an opportunity for the public to explore the river front safely and presents some great photos of the Lion's Bridge and the Fort as well as the ancient city's beautiful water front. One of the things I love about St. Augustine is the abundance of parking throughout the city so you can always if you are patient find a parking spot close enough to all the sights around the city to explore it's beauty and the sea wall is no exception with the public parking lot just in front of the historic fort. It's also nice to see a number of safe pedestrian crossings along the sea wall walk to access the heart of the city. I rarely visit the city without walking the sea wall...

The Matanzas River lines a portion of the City of Saint Augustine. The Sea Wall helps to protect…read morethe city from countless hurricanes over the centuries. The major threat to St. Augustine has always been water from flooding, the tides or storm surge. The dangers of water were first addressed by the Spanish in 1696. They built a coquina and limestone seawall to protect the settlers and soldiers. The US Army rebuilt the wall from 1837-1846 with coquina and cement (Florida became a state in 1845). It held up well for 160 years. In 2012, with the help of a FEMA flood assistance grant, a new 1,200-foot reinforced concrete seawall was fabricated and finished in 2014. This past year on 7 Oct 16, the new and improved seawall got its first test when the Category 3 Hurricane Matthew hit the Florida coast with a seven-foot storm surge on St. Augustine. Water went over the top of the seawall and caused flooding. The wall was built to withstand a Category 1 hurricane. However, if the wall was not in place, the flooding and damage could have been worse. Like many other locals and tourist...we like to walk on these walls but we never really take into account their full purpose or history. Close to the Marina there are some historical markers and information. It is well worth it to walk down the sidewalk or wall to read this information and take it all in. On a side note, these walls are very pretty to include in your pictures at any time of the day. Enjoy!...It's Free! For more reading: https://www.visitstaugustine.com/history/glimpses/seawall.php http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2015-08-03/st-augustine-seawall-gets-national-recognition