A beautiful stop! If you're just visiting I recommend checking it out! Great for families with kids, lots of grounds to run around, a cute playground, and plenty of shady places to sit! Clean bathrooms and all the volunteers are so kind and knowledgeable! read more

So beautiful views from the top of the lighthouse! I enjoyed visiting St. Augustine famous lighthouse! read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - The lighthouse - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Fun historical stop right outside of town. The grounds are beautiful and include various paths that meander through overgrown foliage, giving it a "jungle" feel. The climb to the top is fun if you're in shape. Though if you're scared of heights you may not want to step onto the viewing deck. read more

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I made the trip to St. Augustine to visit this haunted lighthouse. The climb for the lighthouse is a workout. There are 219 steps to reach to the top. Once you reach the top, the view are amazing. My friends and I paid to do the ghost tour. Our group rented those EMF apparatus for $5 to see if we can pick up any energy. Unfortunately, we didn't see anything peculiar that night, because there were too many people for the night ghost tour. read more

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Hidden Gems come a dime a dozen once in a lifetime and many many more forever and always odd beauty syndrome and the beloved ryan k.

I came here a couple of years ago, and I think it was much better back then. This time, they take you to a room, tell you the story of the grounds, then send you out to go look around the house and the lighthouse. Last time, there were employees in the house giving you stories of the rooms you were in. Especially in the basement. This vist we were there all of 45-50 mins and 30 of those was the story time before we went to look around. This visit was not worth the $65 for 2 people read more

I absolutely loved coming here! I bought my tickets ahead of time and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. You start in the gift shop area which is both the entrance and exit. You get a wrist band and can come and go to explore the grounds. The property is beautifully maintained. To climb the lighthouse you have to be over 44 inches tall so no little kids. You should be in decent shape as well as there are a lot of stairs to climb. The stairs are see through so a fear of heights would ruin the experience. The view at the top was wonderful. A worker up top monitors the wind and weather, and no one can climb during thunderstorms. read more

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A nice historical visit. The climb to the top is 219 steps with a stunning view from the top. There are multiple buildings to visit including the light keepers home, a boat building exhibit, children's play area, museum and gift shop. read more

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The views from the top of the lighthouse are spectacular, and the "ranger?" who was at the top of the lighthouse was very friendly and available to answer any questions that one had about the lighthouse and surrounding area. Climbing the stairs up the lighthouse they have interesting tidbits to read at each level. read more

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Kind grounds staff are able to share intriguing information about the lighthouse history. Several self paced exhibits scattered in the various buildings on the grounds. Fair price at $15 for adult admission. read more

We really enjoyed our visit to the Lighthouse and touring the grounds. There are plenty of historical sites in St. Augustine, and this is one you need to check out. Just be ready for a lot of stairs :) read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Cat survives fall from top of lighthouse. - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

A definite must stop when in St Augustine Florida. The lighthouse is very well maintained as well as the property. So many things to see. Snack shack on site with very reasonable prices. Includes beer, wine, refreshing beverages. read more

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Haunted or not it is a must visit! Standing 165 feet high at the north end of Anastasia Island located east of St Augustine, it is an active and working lighthouse built sometime between 1871 and 1874. It has a long and fascinating history that you may find interesting. I will add a link at the bottom of this review for those interested in reading about the it, but before I move on, I must make honorable mention of the 15 women of the Junior Service League of St. Augustine (JSL) who had a major role in preserving this historic site and helping to kick off a massive restoration project in early 1980s. If it was not for these awesome ladies, we would very likely lose a large part of the history of this site forever. Today, the St. Augustine Light Station consists of the tower, the Keepers' House, two summer kitchens, a U.S. Coast Guard barracks and a garage that was used as a jeep repair facility during World War II. At the present the lighthouse is open to the public and all visitors can climb up the stairs to the top and get a 360 view of the surroundings, or walk around the grounds and look into most of the abovementioned structures. The Lighthouse Museum of St. Augustine opened full-time to the public in 1994. It offers many exhibits in the Keeper's House. You can stroll the beautiful surroundings, and enjoy a guided tour that is included with admission. There is also a gift shop where you can pick up a souvenir. Now, you may ask why I mentioned haunted. Well, apparently the lighthouse is home to many ghosts the most famous of whom is that of lighthouse keeper Peter Rasmussen who worked there from 1901 to 1924 and is known to be a bit grumpy! Then there are the ghosts of Eliza and Mary Pittee, as well as an unnamed girl who drowned in an unfortunate incident right below the lighthouse in the Bay. Next is the ghost of William Harn who was the house's first keeper to perish. Finally, there are the ghosts of Joseph Andreu and his Wife, Maria Mestra De Los Dolores Andreu. Joseph died after falling while painting the lighthouse. After Joseph died, Maria became the first official female lighthouse keeper and the first Hispanic-American woman to command a federal shore installation. People have claimed to have seen her in a white dress with her long hair down. More about the history of the lighthouse: https://www.staugustinelighthouse.org/get-involved/about-mission-uvp/history/ read more

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Got to do the nighttime ghost tour! warning: bring bug spray! But it was a great experience! Climbed up 219 steps to the top and explored the light keeper's house. It is very dark -but you get a glow stick, which helps. It was a spooky experience! The guides were excellent and very knowledgeable! You get to learn about some history, get some exercise and beautiful views! There is a lot of history for this lighthouse, go check it out! read more

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This was an incredibly fun and cool experience! The lighthouse is just beautiful and so well-kept, extremely clean even for how old it is. There are about 8-9 flights of stairs to climb to get to the top, but there are spots to rest every so often which is nice. The view at the top is just indescribable- SO vast and just wonderful. I could've sat up there for hours and just soaked in all there was to see. There are also a lot of buildings surrounding the lighthouse where you can see and learn all the history behind it, and it's pretty fascinating stuff. They have a few walking paths nearby as well, with a lot of nice foliage. I thought the admission prices were pretty reasonable, not overly expensive and totally worth it anyways just to get that view at the top of the lighthouse. I definitely want to come back here again, just such an amazing experience that's hard to describe unless you go yourself, which I reallyyyy recommend!! read more

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Be prepared! We absolutely loved the lighthouse and museum. We hiked up to the top and it was a bit of a challenge but oh so rewarding. The steps are steep and spiral so be prepared. There are landing for breaks if needed. As you walk up to the top there are facts on the wall that help to learn about the lifestyle of the lighthouse keeper and their families. The view is incredible, there was a slight breeze and miles of miles of beaches. At the top the docent explained to us how the lighthouse glass was original and how the lighthouse keeper would tote the oil up to light the light. Now it is electric but still incredible to watch the light spin. Throughout the property are trails for walking and seeing native birds and animals. You can tour other building on the property to learn about different functions. The lighthouse keeper house was beautifully decorated and full of neat displayed of how items were discovered. Our next favorite stop was the wooden boat shop. I love watching and learning how items were made before the heavy equipment. read more

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The St Augustine Lighthouse is a cool place to check out if you're in the area, if for no other reason than to make the trek up the 219 steps to the viewing deck of the 7th tallest lighthouse in the US. Each landing on the way up has signage with facts and stories about the lighthouse and the view from the top is great. They also have a museum indoors with more history of the lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper, and other history of the ocean in that area. There is also a small trail in the woods to walk on the grounds along with a couple other side buildings, including the gift shop. read more

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A Spirited Climb at St. Augustine Lighthouse! In St. Augustine's charm by the sparkling sea, The lighthouse stands tall with a rich history! Climb to the top, where the view's quite grand, With tales of yore, you'll soon understand. The spiral staircase, made of dreams and delight, Leads you to vistas that astound your sight. As you ascend, the past whispers near, Echoes of sailors that you can almost hear. The galleries below share stories so dear, Of keepers and ships through many a year. With exhibits to explore and treasures to find, You'll step back in time, leaving worries behind. And if you're lucky, as legend's been told, You might meet a ghost both charming and bold. For the lighthouse is known for spirits that play, Adding mystery and magic to brighten your day! So if you're in town seeking wonder and light, The St. Augustine Lighthouse is a pure delight. With history rich and a ghostly surprise, This landmark's a beacon 'neath Florida skies! read more

This review is for the Dark of the Moon lighthouse ghost tour. From the start - even just making the reservation a couple weeks prior to my arrival, I dealt with friendly service. I knew this would be a great experience. Now, I am not an absolute believer. In fact, I'm pretty skeptical. But, I'm not arrogant enough to think that it's not possible that the paranormal exists. I was alone, so I told these 2 young guys that I'd tag along with them - if that was ok. They were totally fine with that since it's "safer in numbers" and so we went with the group, which was divided in 2 so there were about 25 in each group. Nice small group. We were first given the rules. The bats flew all around at dusk. That helps with the ambiance. Then we were guided to the lighthouse keeper's quarters and told some stories and we had a chance to look around briefly, but were told we could use our free time later to go back and look at everything in detail.. Then alongside the lighthouse, the guide proceeds to tell us about the start of the ghost tours and some history and what we might see. I was 3-4 feet away from the 2 young guys that I tagged along with and we were all facing forward and out of nowhere, someone gently leaned on my forearm every so lightly and when I turned my head - there was no one there.... yeah. That happened. I asked the guys "was that you?" they turned to look at me like 'huh?' and I said, "that wasn't you, was it?" They said no. I said I was officially freaked out. But not scared. It didn't feel spooky in a malicious or scary way. But something was definitely there. I could stop here but I also climbed the entire 219 stairs up...and then made my way around the super narrow outside observation ledge at the top.....hugging the lighthouse with my back.....I was a bit terrified.....of the height and in the dark and not much of a rail to keep you from the edge....I made my way around to the stairs again and back down..... WHEW! After that we went back in the keeper's house and looked around and did not experience any other paranormal activity. I think I felt enough for the night. I enjoyed this tour immensely. Definitely recommend! read more

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Really cool experience climbing the 216 steps up to the top. Someone on the top even offered to take a pic for us read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is on the outskirts of St. Augustine and its more popular attractions and is oddly far (for lighthouse standards) from the water (which is what I first noticed as we drove up to the tall structure). As I walked the grounds and visited the different exhibits, I learned that the original lighthouse fell into the ocean in 1880. So, I can't blame the reconstruction crew for building it a little further away from the coast. However, I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't see the coast (from ground level) near this attraction. This lighthouse has 219 steps to the top (the journey is not handicap accessible), but if you're not fond of heights or not physically able to make the climb, they thoughtfully have a video in the lighthouse keepers' house that shows you the views from the top. The other exhibits are handicap accessible and there are plenty of exhibits geared towards children - there's even a play area on site. There is also a small snack bar on site so that you don't have to learn and explore on an empty stomach. read more

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I had visited the Lighthouse before on a trip to St. Augustine. Exploring the grounds, home and lighthouse was awesome. Guides were helpful and shared great stories. I even smelled ol' Pete's cigar! A friend wanted to go ghost hunting through the city last weekend. We booked the nighttime ghost tour. To be honest, I felt (and smelled) more during daylight! The big thing at night is they turn off of the lights. I was more scared of falling and breaking something than any ghost! It's dark...real dark! The tour guide was good and informative. Perhaps too much. We stood around outside listening to her for an hour before going off to explore! (Spray yourself down with bug repellent...they're a killer out there!). Would have preferred guides scattered throughout to share little stories and answer questions. Daytime (or nighttime if you prefer), the Lighthouse should be a must stop when visiting the area! read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - St. Augustine Lighthouse at night. - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

Great place to visit! Lighthouse climb is a must, and plan on spending a couple of hours reading through all the information, displays and videos. It was also decorated for the holidays, with multiple themed trees, which weee really well done. Highly recommend a visit! read more

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It's a great historical spot to go and see St Augustine from a higher location. Supporting this lighthouse and its museum is important. The steps up to the platform is a great workout. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

St. Augustine is my hometown. I've always driven by the St. Augustine light house or viewed it from my brother in-law's boat on the ocean. I've never been inside. Today, I wanted to climb to the top and look out amongst beautiful St. Augustine Beach. It's $14.95 to get in. I recommend purchasing your ticket online. Seamless interaction. If you're a local, you can become a member for 1 year under various membership levels and how many are in your group. The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum opens to the public at 9am. They close at 6pm. Seniors & Children 12 & under $12.95. The Lighthouse is totally non-profit and run by dedicated staff and volunteers. First, I made my way through the gift shop to redeem my online ticket. You're provided with an arm bracelet which you can return throughout the day until 6pm. The grounds are well kept leading to the lighthouse. I headed inside and up the 219 steps to the viewing deck. There's an amazing 360 view of St. Augustine Beach & all of St. Augustine itself. I stopped along the way to read the interesting stories and view the city from the small windows. There wasn't a breeze due to Hurricane Lee. It was hot at 9am. I met some really gnarly ladies who walk the lighthouse 4 to 5 times a day. My legs felt like jello after going up only twice. After marking it to solid ground, I walked around the plantation. There is so much to see and do on the land. Lots of history about the original lighthouse and all the lighthouse keepers. There's a area where you can observe small wooden boats and canoes being built by volunteer boat weights. They auction off 1 boat every year to the public in December. There's a quaint shop called, Tin Pickle that serves up homemade drinks, sweets and other snacks. The artifact conservation viewing area caught my attention because I like old things...lol. I don't felt like I even scratched the surface on my 1st visit so I'll be back with hubby in our next trip home. Maybe I'll run into you there. read more

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This was the highlight of my tour of St Augustine. Every detail is explained and it is not just a climbing tour of the lighthouse. We learned about the long history of the place and its importance to the area. The findings in the waters around the lighthouse were all explained and I bet I could now explain the markings of some of the cannons. The docent was so energetic and he certainly loved what he was doing. Don't miss this adventure. They even arranged a group picture for all to share. read more

There were many beautifully theme-decorated trees throughout the grounds. We were permitted to go to the top of the lighthouse and look out over the city of St. Augustine to view the first "Night of Lights" for the city. Kids need to be at least 44" to go up in the lighthouse, but there is a playground for them. I learned things about lighthouses in general, as well as interesting facts for this one. This is still a working lighthouse and is a very cool experience. They also have ghost tours for those wanting to experience a ghoulishly fun night. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - This is their "Lighthouse Illuminations" festival! And what an amazing time!! - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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Really cool experience but be ready for some stair climbing mixed with FL heat! The inside flight up wasn't so bad and there's a breeze given the windows throughout. Once you reach the top it gives an amazing view of St. Augustine. Given COVID they do limit the number of people in at the same time. Staff is friendly. I asked about a handicap entrance up the lighthouse which they don't have however they did let us in through a separate entrance so that my hubs didn't have to walk a long way to get to the lighthouse. They do have sections as you climb up that you can stop to rest. I'm petrified of heights so the climb up was ok but the climb down was extremely scary and left me saying why the heck did I wanna do this. Lol They do have a gift shop and restrooms available that are in the A/C which is a huge plus. They do have parking onsite and recommend masks however we opted not to wear as did others as it's hard to breathe when climbing stairs plus the FL heat doesn't make it better. read more

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This is supposedly haunted. There were 3 episodes there for ghost hunters show. Bummer we couldnt walk the 200+ steps because of remodeling. There were more museums and houses to see. We only had time for the main one. They took off 2 dollars for the lighthouse being closed. It was 11.95 each. There is also a forest to walk around. read more

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We like lighthouses, so stopped in to check it out while nearby. Like most lighthouses it's self-funded. They charge a reasonable admission, and also ask for donations which is expected from a charitable organization. The view is pretty good. Not as close to the ocean as I prefer, but many lighthouses have been relocated to prevent them from being overtake by the ocean. They have a "museum" but there's not much to it. The staff were friendly and nice. The cafe was closed the day we went, but apparently they serve draft local beers. We wished it was open, but we had a good time. read more

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Stopped by the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum on a whim while we were driving around. Nugget saw the lighthouse and we decided to stop by. Honestly, it was a little tough to find. We followed the brown signs to the lighthouse, but realized we were going the wrong way, when we decided to just drive around, we stumbled upon it. So to preface this, we were planning on going up to the lighthouse, which with a toddler was going to be a great or not-so-great experience. We got to the front of the museum/gift shop entrance and a gentleman explained that there's a height requirement. Did the thought even cross my mind that there's a height requirement to go to the top of the lighthouse? No, no it did not. Nugget was not tall enough (not by a longshot). We decided to go inside the gift shop and museum anyway. There's a very small piece of the gift shop dedicated to the museum, which has a video, some historical facts, a boat, and a cannon. Nugget decided to look at the gift shop, What toddler doesn't need a lighthouse figurine? The gift shop was adequate, has the tchotchkes (i.e. chockies...yes that's the correct spelling) one might find at a gift shop: t-shirts, postcards, etc. I did check the prices to walk into the lighthouse, $12.95 per person. Which is a bit steep, especially if you have a larger family. Please note, if you want to see the 360 degree views from the top of the lighthouse, you'll need to walk up the stairs. Pros: -Parking -Gift shop -Small museum -Staff was friendly -You can get a pretty good picture of the lighthouse from the parking lot -The grounds are pretty Cons: -Price is a bit expensive per person Tips: Children must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the tower read more

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Pretty cool. Grounds and museums have good info and actual items of historic significance. It rained as soon as we got there so we didn't see much. $14.95 for a quick walk. read more

The lighthouse ghost tour was on the top of our list while vacationing in St. Augustine. We went on a Wednesday evening and wow, there were a lot of people! Didn't expect it to be so busy in the middle of the week. The tour starts at 8:30pm and ends at I think 10:30 or 11pm. The guides tell you the stories of what happened in the house, basement, and the lighthouse. Once finished, you are able to roam around and explore everything. They offer emf readers that you can rent for $5 or you can also bring your own. The lighthouse is 219 steps up! I did not think I would make it. I had to stop quite a few times to catch my breath. It's a lot higher than I thought it was. Going down was definitely much faster and easier Lol! Didn't catch any paranormal activity. I think there was just too much distraction going on, too many people and too much noise. I've experienced paranormal things my whole life, so was kind of bummed I didn't this time, but I most definitely want to come back on a less busy night or maybe even a private tour. Overall, it was a very fun experience and a great workout, haha! read more

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There is an admission fee to go into the lighthouse, but this place is super cute as are the surrounding grounds as well. Great views from the top, the staff is very friendly as well and helpful. There is a decent amount of parking here but it seemed a bit busy when we stopped by so just be warned when it is busy parking might be a bit of a challenge. Definitely a nice place to stop and visit even if you aren't into light houses. read more

I visited here a couple of months ago in St. Augustine for Spring Break. I'm a lighthouse geek and it's my favorite one. We climbed all 219 stairs to the top. The lighthouse was built in 1874. The grounds are dog friendly but dogs are not allowed inside the buildings. For those ghost story fans out there - the lighthouse might be haunted: This lighthouse was featured on episodes of the Syfy TV show Ghost Hunters. The stories include a disembodied female voice asking for help and a hand seen on the top of the staircase. There is also the true story of the foreman's children drowning in a supply cart on the tracks in 1873. A light keeper also died falling from scaffolding in 1859 while painting. I've done the Dark Side of the Moon ghost tour here before and it was creepy to go into the lighthouse at night alone. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - St Augustine lighthouse - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

A must visit on your visit to St Augustine! But get there early in the as parking is a nightmare. We studied and bought our tickets on line to save time. We opted for standard tour and took advantage of senior rates. The people at the checkin are great about ensuring you get best discounts. But all the money goes to maintaining the historic site. So great cause. We arrived at 10:00 am and parking was almost full. There were two lines open for checkin and took us about five minutes to move through line. Check in is in the gift shop which is filled with lighthouse and seafaring souvenirs. There are a number of exhibits and buildings to visit. There are several great interactive stations for kids to learn and play including a ship climbing structure. The grounds are immaculate and buildings in pristine condition. The lighthouse is lovely and visitors over 44 inches are welcome to climb the 218 cast iron stairs. There are a number of displays and interesting facts along the way to the top. At the stop you can walk around the catwalk and see the spectacular views of the city and ocean. There is a guide at the top to answer questions. You can see the prisms inside the top of the house. The climb is a must do but best done on a cool day. We participated on one of the archeological tours which there is no additional charge. Our guide was mesmerizing and talked about the history of lighthouses and this lighthouse for 20 minutes. They she talked about the shipwrecks that they are searching and explained how they restore artifacts for another 20 minutes. You can also tour the lighthouse keepers house which was decorated for the holidays. There were additional interesting displays. There are a number of interactive displays of boatbuilding. There is a little cafe serving craft beer and $4 hotdogs that we did not try. Restroom facilities are near the gift shop. Lots of photo opts throughout and benches to rest your weird bones. The staff friendly and helpful. I think they are mostly volunteers that work there. read more

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A little workout to the top but oh so worth it with the most incredible views of Saint Augustine! So much history and plenty of people around to answer all your questions. read more

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Great views. 219 steps you can take breaks going up if needed. Some other buildings with interesting historical items to view are also onsite. They also have food, drinks and rest rooms on site. read more

I love lighthouses and this one is the bee's knee's. Bought tickets online with a discount. Dog friendly except inside the buildings. 219 steps to the top and worth the price of admission. Great piece of preserved history and functional architecture. The light is impressive at night and incredible in the day. Beautiful wooded paths on the grounds and they also sell pickles and snacks! Gift shop has excellent selection and prices. read more

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum - Museums Near Me - Saint Augustine, Florida

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I'm not a native of nautically based areas, so seeing this was well worthwhile. You can see the lighthouse from many places around St. Augustine, so even if you didn't plan a trip to see it, you'd probably find yourself here. It is surrounded by a variety of museum exhibits about the lighthouse, its keepers and other things associated with lighthouses, boating and the archaeology that has happened around St. Augustine. You can tour the keeper's house and see what the lifestyle would have been like back in the day. It even highlights things like the outdoor kitchens and privies. For me, the trip was most fun because of the opportunity to climb the 219 steps to see the view offered by the lighthouse. It is still a functioning lighthouse, with a 25 mile view, so you get to the top to see the light still lit - electronically now, of course. The hike may not be for everyone, with a narrow staircase that can get crowded depending on the number of people. It also has a view straight down the staircase, or off the fenced in catwalk surrounding the top of the lighthouse. If that doesn't sound like something you'd enjoy, you can probably just satisfy yourself with photos and videos from people who did it. read more

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