This was such a fascinating place to tour. You have to make a reservation to tour and the time is…read morevery limited. The history about how this castle came to be is a story worth hearing. I loved hearing about the engineering design.

Just about 10 minutes north outside of historic St. Augustine is a unique castle that sits back…read morefrom the main road among trees and hedges. Sadly, the owner and creator of Castle Otttis, Kendle Icke, passed away in July 2023. However, his son, who lives on the property does conduct tours for small groups of people who have reservations. His tours are very interesting with information on how the castle came to be. Apparently, Mr. Icke had a couple of dreams about a castle in great detail, which he shared with a builder friend of his. The friend encouraged him to build it and agreed to help him. They were able to get donated building materials to work with. Mr. Icke built the castle in the image of old castles in Ireland and dedicated it to his wife. Castle Ottis was built between 1984-1988. The Ickes also had a home on the property to the left of the castle. We took the tour with a small group of people, which worked out very well. There are 3 levels if you count the rooftop, where you will see gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean. This is a castle based on 1000 year old Irish castles. The tour is free but donations will be greatly appreciated. A must see if you are in St. Augustine. It is a magical experience. There are special events held at the castle, like weddings or anniversaries. It is also great for photography opportunities. This is a one of a kind opportunity. Please note that Castle Otttis does not have handicapped accessibility. Parking is available on the property for the guests. You are allowed to take pictures inside the castle.

We stopped by the Plaza de la Constitución in St. Augustine with my wife and kids while walking…read morethrough downtown, and it ended up being a really nice, easy pause in the middle of everything. It's an open square right in the heart of the historic district, surrounded by old buildings and shaded paths, with a lot of benches and space to just sit and take everything in. The kids had room to move around a bit, which was a relief after tighter streets, and my wife and I actually got to just sit for a few minutes without feeling rushed. We didn't do anything major there, just grabbed a snack nearby and enjoyed the atmosphere. It's not a "destination" in itself, but it's one of those spots that makes the whole downtown feel more open and enjoyable.

This is a really cool park in the historic part of St. Augustine. Very well-manicured and peaceful…read moreand surrounded by really cool shops, restaurants, and churches. It's so peaceful and tranquil. Definitely, you'll be walking through it if you're visiting any of the historic hotels, the Casa Monica, Flagler College, The Leightner Museum, the Treasury, or The Cathedral Basillica. The statue of Ponce De Leon and Old Market are at the East side of the Plaza at Charlotte St. At the North perimeter of the Plaza is Cathedral Place and the Basillica. The West perimeter is St. George St. And the Governor's House. The South perimeter is King St. and The Trinity Episcopal Church. .

People write bad reviews too often and not enough good ones so I have to give mention to the…read moreamazing staff here. First off, the personable and funny security officer was so great and helpful. Then Mr Bronstein who assisted me had me in and out so quickly. He was very polite, personable, and helpful. I'm grateful I had this experience. Thank you guys!

October 14 I had a scheduled appointment at 1140 am. Security stopped me at the door and after I…read moregave my name and bar code he said " you are not on my list, goodbye!!! Next. I said my email has this address, he abruptly cut me off and asked where I live. I told him Palm Coast Florida,.... Again he cut me off, Palm Coast Residents go to Port Orange !!!! All I need is to re new my social security card. He would not allow me to cross the entrance door. I got home, looked at my email again and read St Augustine Florida appointment. I called the Central social security office to inquire about my confusion? They checked and as expected couldn't locate my information. However they said yes Palm Coast Resident's need to drive 2 hours to Port Orange, St Augustine being a 20 minute drive is not in my jurisdiction? So please tell me again why I was sent an email for st Augustine and treated like a criminal? I tried on line and was re routed to a 3rd party site requesting $ 100 dollars to get a. Social security card. thats why I wanted to speak directly to someone and have it done. Social security cards are free... What a horrible experience... I do not recommend this office.

I had a fantastic visit to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park in St. Augustine. This is one…read moreof those places where history, nature, and storytelling all come together in a really engaging way. The park is built around one of the most historically significant sites in the United States the location tied to the early Spanish settlement of St. Augustine in 1565, the oldest continuously occupied European founded city in the country. I especially enjoyed the peaceful waterfront views along the riverwalk and the chance to explore the shaded paths filled with peacocks roaming freely. The exhibits and demonstrations add a fun, educational layer without feeling overly formal.

It is so beautiful and amazing history and fun experience for all ages and I learn so much history…read moreand culture it is remarkable and fun and incredible i love it so much and absolutely amazing perfect for schools and community thank you so much for everything i appreciate it so much devotion to determination and education! Hugs From Lauren

One of the friendliest DMV's I have ever experianced. Even when it's so crowded that seats in the…read morewaiting area are not available the employees are still helpful and doing this jobs. The waiting area is clean as well. This is not the DMV of the North.

This woman was mean and created problems on my address. I asked what I needed. I was told by the…read morecentral operator. Came back with what was requested...then, it of nowhere, this woman became mean spirited and asked for all y change of are information...when I wasn't trying to change my address. Then I had to give her the documents or go get them and come back. Weird , man, unnecessary.

The office is opened 7:30 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday. They are closed on the weekend. There are a…read morefew spots on the street in front of the building where you can park free for 15 minutes while you run in to pay a bill or get a permit. The Customer Service Representatives are always friendly and helpful. This location handles Business Tax Receipts, vendor permits, Parking, Licensing and utility bills. I also noticed that there was a drive thru window along the side of the building.

only 1 review on a beautiful historical area. Crossing this causeway was absolutely beautiful. You…read moreget a great view of St. Augustine as you head towards vilano beach. A beautiful and serine shoreline. A few places to stop and get out. Both sides of this causeway offer food, fishing and just relaxing.

I'm giving this bridge 5 stars for a number of reasons although there nothing very nostalgic about…read morethis modern super-structure designed and built like many of the modern bridges that cross the rivers and channels in Florida. This concrete bridge carries A1A across the Intracoastal Waterway leaving St, Augustine giving access to Vilano Beach and all points north on A1A eventually arriving in Jacksonville - this the Ocean Drive you've been looking for passing through Ponte Vedra, Neptune and Atlantic Beaches. This bridge offers a great view from the top, depending on the direction of travel you can see the City of St. Aigustine, The Atlantic Ocean the Yacht Club on Camachee Cove and lots more. What I consider a rather boring but efficient design the view is amazing and more than makes up for it...

Highly recommend this tour... it's another powerful reminder of the extraordinary legacy of Henry…read moreFlagler, one of the nation's great early industrialists. Opened in 1888 as the opulent Hotel Ponce de Leon, it was the crown jewel of Florida's Gilded Age. The tour is led by one of the college's students, which makes it even more engaging. Everything is impressive, but highlights for me were the stunning Tiffany chandeliers, the clock made by Thomas Edison, and the grand dining hall still used by students today. Tips: When in the Palm Beach area visit the incredible Flagler Museum in Palm Beach... fantastic. And when in Tampa, visit Flagler's buddy's Tampa Bay Hotel (built in 1891) also turned into a college... at the Henry B. Plant Museum.

Stars abound!!! Rating stars that is. Do not miss this…read moretour if you love history, architecture or success stories. Henry Flagler was indeed a successful, self made man and his impact on Florida was immense. He loved this hotel he built that is now a college. Kit our tour guide was great.

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