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Beaches, Wine and History – 13 Free Things to Do in St. Augustine

Home / Beaches / Beaches, Wine and History – 13 Free Things to Do in St. Augustine

Judy Antell, Updated February 21, 2022

St. Augustine FL
View of Aviles Street, where the O'Reilly House is located. Photo credit: FloridasHistoricCoast.com
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Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
  • 1. Pristine beaches: the top free thing to do in St. Augustine
  • 2. Sip Free Wine at San Sebastian Winery
  • 3. Explore St. Photios Greek-Orthodox National Shrine
  • 4. Visit the PeΓ±a-Peck House Museum
  • 5. Tour the Father Miguel O'Reilly House Museum
  • 6. Learn About Fort Matanzas National Monument
  • 7. Tour Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine
  • 8. Enjoy the Art
  • 9. See the Ancient City Nights of Lights
  • 10. First Friday Art Walk
  • 11. Tour the Memorial Presbyterian Church
  • 12. Visit Mission Nombre de Dios
  • 13. Lucky 13: Free Booze
  • Beyond Free Things to Do in St. Augustine

From sunny beaches to cool historic sites, you’ll discover many free things to do in St. Augustine, Florida. The Ancient City – the oldest in the U.S. – was discovered by Spanish explorers in 1565, and boasts a mild climate year-round.

The first European Settlement in America was discovered in 1565 by the Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park details the history of the city, for an admission fee.

If you prefer your family vacation activities to be free, take a self-guided walking tour of the Historic District to see buildings that are more than 450 years old.

From there, you’ll be able to hear the daily weapons demonstrations at the nearby Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.

Read on for our 13 FUN and free things to do in St. Augustine, Florida. Also, check out the free things to do in Jacksonville – a short drive from St. Augustine.

There are free things to do for kids and adults in the Ancient City of St. Augustine, Florida. Miles of beaches, museums and wineries top the list of freebies. #TMOM #Florida #StAugustine #Freein50States #BudgetTravel | SheBuysTravel | St Augustine | Budget Travel Tips
It’s time to travel to St. Augustine. Why? Because there’s so much to do there. Bonus: There are also tons of free things to do there. Photo credit: Sean Pavone from Getty Images Pro.

1. Pristine beaches: the top free thing to do in St. Augustine

When my family and I travel toΒ Florida, our favorite activity is free. I mean, what is better than a day at the beach? Even the souvenir seashells are free! St. Augustine boasts 42 miles of well-preserved beaches, where Spanish explorers first set foot hundreds of years ago. The gentle surf, soft sand, and clean water could fill your entire vacation. But there are more free things to do in St. Augustine.

Read More:Β The Complete Guide to Planning a Family Beach Vacation &Β  Ultimate Family Beach Vacation Packing List

2. Sip Free Wine at San Sebastian Winery

free things to do in St. Augustine
Enjoy free wine tasting at San Sebastian Winery. Photo credit: San Sebastian Winery

The San Sebastian Winery began producing local wine in 1983 and opened its doors in 1996. The historic building in downtown St. Augustine was Henry Flagler’s 1923 East Coast Railway Building.

You can taste any of San Sebastian Winery’s Florida-grown wines at a complimentary tour of the winery. Tours run Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Kids can join tours, but not taste the wine.

Wine tours last approximately 45 minutes and no reservations are required except for groups of 20 or more. Last tours leave at 5 p.m. daily.

Get More Florida Family Vacation Ideas

3. Explore St. Photios Greek-Orthodox National Shrine

Tour the first Greek Orthodox Church in the United States. Exhibits depict the life of early Greeks in America, who arrived in St. Augustine in 1768.

Called β€œThe Jewel of St. George Street,” the shrine features Old World architecture and centuries-old Byzantine art. Take a self-guided tour of St. Photios on Sundays from noon- 6 p.m. or Mondays through Saturdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Check out these Florida resorts. We think they’re worth the splurge!

SheBuysTravel Tip:Β One of our favorite things to do when taking a beach vacation is to hire a photographer for family photos. This is a special gift and souvenir that we cherish. We use Flytographer to book a local photographer located in the area that we're traveling to. Use this link and you will get $25 off your photo session.

4. Visit the PeΓ±a-Peck House Museum

Free things to do in St. Augustine include a visit to the PeΓ±a-PeckΒ  House Museum. Legend has it that pirates traveled to St. Augustine to loot this home, the former residence of the royal Spanish treasurer. (Note: if your kids are interested in pirates, you might want to visit the Pirate & Treasure Museum – but there’s an admission fee.)

Built in 1750 by order of the King of Spain, theΒ PeΓ±a-PeckΒ houseΒ has passed through only a few different families. The last owners, theΒ PeΓ±a family, owned the home for 94 years before donating it to the city of St. Augustine in 1931 to serve as a house museum.Β 

The Woman’s Exchange, a community service organization, manages the historic home. Guided tours of the house museum are offered Sundays through Fridays 12:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturdays 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

5. Tour the Father Miguel O’Reilly House Museum

 Fort Matanzas National Monument is one of the free things to do in St. Augustine
It’s free to visit Fort Matanzas National Monument. Photo credit: Visit St. Augustine

Built in 1691 during the First Spanish Period in St. Augustine, the O’Reilly Museum is one of the oldest structures in St. Augustine. Parts of the building date back to 1565.

Named after one of its first owners, Father Miguel O’Reilly, an Irish priest in service of the Spanish Crown, the museum is operated by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The Catholic order came to St. Augustine after the Civil War to teach former slaves to read and write.

This house is in the oldest continuously settled section of the city of St. Augustine, and is open for guided toursΒ Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 am.- 3 pm.

6. Learn About Fort Matanzas National Monument

Fort Matanzas was built by the Spanish in 1742 to guard the southern mouth of the river that was used as an entrance to the city of St. Augustine. The historic fort is 12 miles south of St. Augustine, at the southern end of Anastasia Island.

Many of the fun things here are closed due to COVID-19: the National Park Rangers-led tours, the free ferry ride to Rattlesnake Island and the nature trail through the forest. But both ocean and river beaches and boardwalks remain open.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is open from 9 a.m. to- 5:30 p.m. every day of the year except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

7. Tour Cathedral Basilica St. Augustine

Mission Nombre de Dios, one of the free things to do in St. Augustine FL - SheBuysTravel
Explore Mission Nombre de Dios. Photo credit: FloridasHistoricCoast.com

The Cathedral Basilica, the oldest Catholic Church in St. Augustine, is a National Historic Landmark. Guided tours show off the stained glass, murals and Spanish architecture.

8. Enjoy the Art

free things to do in St. Augustine
Explore one of the many houses of worship in St. Augustine. Photo credit: Memorial Presbyterian Church

Even if you skip the Fountain of Youth you can enjoy being around young people. The Crisp-Ellert Art Museum at Flagler College exhibits contemporary art by regional, national and international artists. You have to make a reservation to visit.

9. See the Ancient City Nights of Lights

Nights of Lights fill the Old City with thousands of holiday lights each year. This year, the annual event runs from November 20, 2021 through January 31, 2022.

A free shuttle runs on some weekends or you can take the Old Town Trolley. Parking is limited and expensive; if you have to pay for parking, you might as well take one of the trolley tours.

10. First Friday Art Walk

Visit the resplendent Memorial Presbyterian Church. Photo credit: Memorial Presbyterian Church

On the monthly list of free things to do in St. Augustine is the first Friday of every month when art galleries offer free, self-guided walking tours. From 5 – 9 p.m., enjoy new exhibits, live music, and refreshments. Free Art Walk trains and trolleys are provided by Ripley’s Believe it or Not Red Trains and Old Town Trolley Tours.

11. Tour the Memorial Presbyterian Church

Developer Henry Flagler built this church in 1889 as a memorial to his daughter, Jennie Louise. Tours are paused due to COVID-19. When they resume, you can see the spectacular stained glass throughout. The church, Florida’s first Presbyterian congregation, established in 1824, is still an active congregation.

12. Visit Mission Nombre de Dios

Mission Nombre de Dios, aka The Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, was founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers under Pedro Menendez de Aviles’ command. β€œAmerica’s First Marian Shrine” attracts pilgrims who pray for fertility and the health of their unborn children.

13. Lucky 13: Free Booze

The St. Augustine Distillery offers free tours, along with free tastings of its vodka, rum, gin and whiskey. Children are welcome though they can’t sample the goods.

Beyond Free Things to Do in St. Augustine

After you’ve exhausted all the free things to do in St. Augustine, and just can’t face another day at the beach (is that really possible?), you’ll find lots of things to do in and around St. Augustine. For example, explore the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. In addition, swing by the Lightner Museum with its Tiffany stained glass, and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, which offers ghost tours. The St. Augustine Wild Reserve offers a closer look at animals than most zoos provide.

Ziplines, Alligators and More Ways to Thrill Teens in St. Augustine

7 Historic Sites in St. Augustine to Explore with Kids

Find More History in St. Augustine

Filed Under: Beaches, Fun Free Things To Do Near Me With Kids, Vacation Ideas Florida

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Adree | The Keele Deal says

    February 6, 2020 at 8:29 am

    I want to plan a trip to St. Augustine to do all of these things. The only thing we have done before is visit Fort Matanzas and we loved it.

    Reply
  2. Rocsi ali says

    January 14, 2019 at 9:52 am

    About parking:

    Keep an eye on signs. Some are posted that say reserved 7 or 7am through 6 or 7pm. Meaning free parking during off hours! So many places like that in the heart of downtown. Also, some residential streets have open spots where the house(mainly big ones) has a driveway so they don’t use the sidewalk parking spot.

    For example: the street on the north end of the main fort. Going north/south. Behind Ripley’s but the last street before water. There are several spots there for public use since the mansions next to it have their own garage or driveway. (Local)

    Reply
  3. Viviane Bonano says

    September 1, 2018 at 7:53 pm

    It doesn’t have to be about the booze…there is so much more to wine than that. You can talk about the wine makers family history, the grapes, the crops, the land… open your minds

    Reply
  4. TF says

    March 23, 2018 at 12:57 pm

    The Distillery! FREE samples of several bourbons, gins, and a few cocktails!! I guess I’ll go ahead and the disclaimer of parents only, lol. πŸ˜‰

    Reply
    • Jasmine says

      July 3, 2019 at 4:53 pm

      They have grape juice and other stuff for kids if you want to bring the family along

      Reply
  5. Sally says

    February 13, 2018 at 3:58 pm

    Don’t forget to step inside Flagler College! It’s a masterpiece (look up)! And worth that freebie peek! The gardens are a great place for photography & architecture. We love to just wander around St. Augustine, from St. George Street and through all of those narrow cobblestone alleys.

    Reply
  6. aMY TURNER says

    December 8, 2017 at 2:52 pm

    How about some not-very-expensive things to do with kids in St. Augustine?
    *There’s the Alligator Farm – https://www.alligatorfarm.com/ ;
    *the mom-and-pop St. Augustine Aquarium is fun as long as you’re not expecting SeaWorld – https://www.saaquarium.com/ ;
    *the living history docents at the Castillo (by the way, the parking lot in front of the Castillo is the best price on parking if you can get it), https://www.nps.gov/casa/index.htm ;
    *the merry go round in Davenport Park – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34599-d7039345-Reviews-Davenport_Park-St_Augustine_Florida.html ;
    *Fort Menendez – https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g34599-d1965727-Reviews-Fort_Menendez_at_the_Old_Florida_Museum-St_Augustine_Florida.html ;
    *yummy Cousteau’s Waffle and Milkshake Bar – http://www.wafflemilk.com/ ;
    *the Hyppo has unusual and delicious ice pops – http://www.thehyppo.com/ ;
    *we haven’t been to the lighthouse yet, but that looks fun – http://www.staugustinelighthouse.com/ ;
    *and then of course there is always the beach.

    Reply
  7. Kat H says

    November 9, 2017 at 6:55 pm

    Really people? The title of this article is “Beaches, Wine and History – 6 FREE Things to Do in St. Augustine” It says nothing about free things to do with kids. If you don’t want to drink wine then just skip that one.

    Reply
    • Angela says

      January 26, 2018 at 8:41 am

      Well said kat H.!!! ..BE KIND PEOPLE! If u can’t say something nice why say it all. Ann was the only one who followed directions. Thanks for ur comment on ur experience!

      Reply
    • Peggy says

      February 18, 2019 at 10:05 am

      There should be no negativity to this article. I don’t get the folks that have to pick apart everything they see on the internet

      Reply
  8. kim k says

    August 17, 2017 at 9:54 am

    Great Fun for children!! NOT! Not our idea of a “family” vacation there!

    Reply
  9. Ann says

    July 1, 2017 at 11:14 am

    When I was little my parents went to the Winery with me, I was about 7 or 8 and they gave me grape juice to drink and something to snack on while my parent’s wine tasted.

    Reply
    • Sue says

      December 21, 2017 at 2:34 pm

      Lucky you. Your parents knew and instilled in you the fact that life isn’t All about the kids.

      Reply
  10. Jacob says

    April 7, 2017 at 7:08 am

    Well Nate, it might be big fun for the parents… and what about teaching children to cope with that too?

    Reply
  11. Nate says

    March 12, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    You really think sipping wine at a winery is a good fun thing to do with kids?

    Reply
    • Renard says

      March 28, 2018 at 8:19 am

      absofreakinlutely…..unless you never want your kids to ‘adult’

      Reply
    • Shawnna says

      June 14, 2018 at 9:00 pm

      Right that was my first thought too! lol wow reminded me of the commercial of a mom giving her kids juice boxes and her drinking wine out of a giant box with a straw… SMH πŸ™

      Reply
    • judy says

      November 24, 2018 at 1:05 pm

      The article was about free things to do…kids werent in the headline. Im looking too & I dont have kids…so a group of us are adulting

      Reply
  12. Gary Wiegand says

    September 20, 2016 at 6:55 pm

    Thanks for the post. we are going to see several, but would be help to add addresses.
    Thanks Gary

    Reply

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