Add the Lightner Museum as a stop when visiting St. Augustine! The museum is located in the heart…read moreof the city in what use to be the Alcazar Hotel, a Gilded Age Resort. The building architecture and the gardens are beautiful. There were many collections to peruse, which were housed on 3 levels. It took us about two hours to make our way through, but you could easily spend 3 if you take your time and read everything. The floors all have a front and rear. The best suggestion we were given is to start on the 3rd floor an make our way down. The staff on hand were friendly and readily available to answer any of your questions. You can make a reservation for lunch at the Cafe, which is located on the lower level of what was once a pool.

Love coming here! The history of the museum is fascinating and the exhibits are amazing! If you…read morelove art this is a place you'll not want to miss! You might even want to continue to support them by becoming a member. TIP: You can become a member of the museum for as little as $50. per year. Membership supports everything they do at the museum, from exciting new exhibitions and engaging programs, to the preservation of their historic building and collections. According to their website, every membership to the Lightner Museum includes: * Unlimited free admission to the museum's permanent galleries and exhibitions for a full year * Invitations to Members-only previews of special exhibitions * Discounts on select events and programs There are many more perks and additional levels of membership. For additional information and to purchase memberships online, go to lightnermuseum.org Support your local arts.

Have been here multiple times and love the experience…read more Kind of a "not super popular" place so it's pretty relaxing to go on tours here without a huge crowd. Staff are always friendly and welcoming. The exhibits are AMAZING. Not only do they display torture devices- but they have wax figures to show how the devices would be used. Their tickets are very cheap too and always recommend coming here if you're walking around St. Augustine, especially on George St.

This museum focuses on torture, punishment, and execution methods from medieval times and other…read moreeras. Displays include the rack, iron maiden, torture chair, Spanish boot, pillory, barrel for drunkards, scales for determining witch status, and more. The 100+ items are replicas or recreations, but they're life-size and historically accurate. The museum is part of a chain with locations in Chicago and LA, and admission includes an audio guide for your phone. It was interesting, but definitely dark and not for everyone. They also use wax figures to show how the devices worked, which makes it feel even more intense. Only complaint: Price is a bit high and less worth it IMO...

This was a really fun museum tour. If you like home tours, you would love checking this out. I've…read moregone to St. Augustine many times but never knew you could what it held. I used the $5 GA ticket for North Florida residents. Its only for August '26...but I hope they do it again next year because this was an amazing $5 visit. There was an audio tour that was interesting and all the items that they display are really cool. My friends were asking if I was in Morocco. The person who building this was obsessed with Granada, Spain which had influences of the Moors. So many authentic beautiful items. I would pair this with brunch.

This family owned museum has so many treasures inside and outside. If you are interested in Arabic…read moreand Asian architure and accessories, then you definitely need to visit this amazing 2 story museum. There are no elevators. I tried to pick the best photos that I could but there is so much there to photograph that you will just need to visit to see it all for yourself. The audio tours average between 45 and 60 minutes depending on the pace that you are comfortable with. Touring the Villa Zorayda Museum requires standing and walking for the length of your visit. Limited seating is available in certain areas. The tickets are $15 with a discount for seniors. The family members,are there to answer any questions. There is parking nearby. This place is located across from the Lightner Museum. Make this a priority if you love all things Arabic and Asian.

We did a quick food event today at the Ximenez - Fatio house off Aviles Street in the ancient city…read moreand it was truly a fun adventure. We were entertained by stories of the history of the house, the inhabitants and the culture surrounding the many years slaves and then free black men and women lived.. it was fascinating how well they ate! We got to sample some of the food that they would have grown themselves and some that they traded with sailors as they came onto shore. The history is just one moment's glimpse of a world no longer but much remembered. They plan to do other such events but we all agreed.. more tents and not in May

Very historic house museum that dates back to the 1700's. You check in at the gift shop and during…read morethe hot summer that's about the only room that has AC. They sell waters there but I recommend bringing your own water bottle because it gets hot. The house is 2 levels and you can scan a QR code or use one of their devices to do a self guided tour with a narration through each room. It was a very hot day so I went through the site pretty quickly. It was amazing to see very old things that have been preserved and just how they utilized what they had way back then. Each room was staged with many layers and cool pieces. If you follow the audio it can go by slower but you can read through it instead. It was quite fascinating and not very busy on that particular day.

A love of history and religious significance brought us here. The Spanish founded Saint Augustine…read morehere in 1565 - 55 years before the Pilgrims! (Can't believe this was hardly mentioned in my schooling.). History abounds overseas, but this site lets you sample a bit of history here: the first Thanksgiving, site of the oldest Catholic Church, first mass. Definitely pilgrimage worthy. For anyone, it's a peaceful, relaxing break as well. The grounds are lovely and well maintained, a walking path goes throughout. A church, museum and chapel are on the premises. The Great Cross is immense and striking. Parking is free and available, a St Augustine rarity. A memorable part of our St Augustine visit.

Mission of Nombre de Dios is a peaceful and beautiful place that really captures the history and…read morespirit of St. Augustine. Walking the grounds feels calm and meaningful, with so much to take in from the monuments to the waterfront views. The Great Cross stands tall and is even more impressive in person. It's a great spot to slow down, reflect, and enjoy the scenery. Everything is well kept and easy to explore, making it a nice stop whether you're into history or just looking for a quiet place to walk. Easy five stars. A must visit when you're in the area.

Decided to chaperone my 2nd grader's field trip here today and kids and adults alike had a good…read moretime. The educational tour with charismatic guides were informative and fun filled. In over 2 decades of living in the area, I am floored it took me this long to visit. Kids had the chance to role play to learn about Ponce De Leon, Pedro Menendez de Aviles and the various Indian tribes of Florida (some friendly, some not so!). Kids got to make craft shell necklaces, get their face painted, played games of old, learn the art of candle making, and so much more.

Blegh! This is terrible unless you're two years old and gullible! The guide did not let us explore…read moreon our own, our group was only adults and he did not know how to translate his speech to adults. The things he said were not factual at all - Natives did not live to be 110 years old and were 8 ft tall and spaniards were not "Dwarves with bearded ladies". The woman at the front desk probably drank a little bit before coming to work, and I accidentally bought a groupon for 4 people, and was not reimbursed. The Dubloons they give you as store credit aren't even enough to buy greeting cards! Update, on second thought maybe this is a skip for adult only parties, but looks nice for kids.

My sisters and I had to stop by Ripley's Believe It or Not! St. Augustine while we were in town. We…read morehave such nostalgic memories visiting the Ripley's Believe It or Not! Atlantic City when we were younger, so seeing one here brought back a lot of fun memories for us. The museum was just as quirky and fascinating as we remembered--full of oddities, interactive exhibits, and interesting facts that make you stop and say "no way!" We had a great time walking through the different rooms together, laughing and pointing out all the strange and unbelievable things on display. It was such a fun and nostalgic experience for us, and we're really glad we decided to visit while in St. Augustine. If you enjoy unusual exhibits and a bit of weird history, this is definitely a fun stop to add to your trip.

Such a nostalgic experience for me because I haven't been to one of these since I was a kid in…read moreCalifornia. It was a fun experience walking through and thank God there was a museum with AC! They have several similar things that I could remember from the other location but there was a lot of new things. There were several floors and it was a bit busier when I went so I was stuck behind a few families. My favorite part was the section about the circus sideshow acts! This one was a lot bigger and had more to see than the other one so I enjoyed taking my time through here. Some spots to stop at and take photos with along with some folks who stopped to share some fun facts with you. I think it's good for families, friends or by yourself!

Wow, what an amazing experience and a wealth of information I received from the Fort Mose historic…read morestate park. My parents and I came here for a Black History Month event as they are commemorating the month with the flight of freedom. This is a journey of how enslaved people came to Fort Mose to obtain freedom. I only knew of this place as the Underground Railroad, based on my ancestry, knowing that my ancestors came from the Carolinas and Georgia down to this area, but I learned so much more in the short period of time I was there. This particular weekend showcase a reenactment, and teaches the story of individuals who trekked the long and perilous paths to be free from enslavement. From different stops with a real Yamasee Indian who was the chief of the tribe. He gave us a deep and in depth history of the Yamasee Indians and their role in the flight to freedom. During the reenactment, we made different stops along the way and the end we got to watch a demonstration of the soldiers shooting and firing off the canon. It was a very emotional experience and much needed - we need to learn from the past and continue to teach this type of history. Before the experience, my parents and I did have the opportunity to stop into the visitor center, which cost about $2. It definitely gives a timeline of events during the start of colonization and Florida, however it also has a lot of artifacts that were discovered in Saint Augustine from the 1700s and onward. Definitely make a stop here while visiting the city!

Fort Mose Historic State Park is the most underrated attraction in St. Augustine. People seem to…read morecome here for only part of a history lesson-the more palatable part that that doesn't remind them of one of the greatest stains of American history - slavery. Yes, I said it. While all the other attractions in St. Aug are prominently advertised and well catered to and attended, I heard nothing of this state park or the history surrounding it beside a blurb on a map and sign on the street. I've heard more advertising for BBQ joints in the area than this state park. Despite the rain on a Sunday, I ventured here for the museum and unfortunately didn't get to go to the rebuilt fort itself or the surrounding marsh/walkways (dang mama nature). Museum and film were very enlightening and I learned so much that I never was taught in school. I loved the interactive displays and hearing people's stories. Museum was set up so well and very informative without being too much of an info dump. The park ranger Billy was amazing. He went above and beyond when my husband had a medical issue and even exposed himself to rain to help us out. Such a beautiful friendly person. Overall, this hidden gem needs to be advertised more. And at only $2 it is a steal.

Cool and educational experience. I definitely think if you have kids they will highly enjoy it! I…read moredefinitely learned a ton and had so much fun.

This museum, though small, is quite well done. I wouldn't bring young kids under 7 or 8, though,…read morebecause the interactive activities require reading and writing, but my 12 year-old enjoyed it. There is a treasure hunt throughout the museum that requires writing down the hidden treasure found. At the end, kids can get "treasure" (a plastic gold coin) for completing the hunt. There are several exhibits that they claim are one of only a few in the world such as a genuine "Jolly Roger" flag and a treasure chest. The stories of about 20 pirates are shown throughout the museum. If you go through the museum, taking your time, it takes about an hour. For that, I think the price for kids ($9.99 if purchased from the website) is reasonable. However the adult price ($18.99 online) is too much. If you are in St. Augustine, especially on a hot or rainy day, it is worth an hour of your time.