St. Augustine

St. Augustine's rich history and cultural diversity have helped shaped a dynamic city for both residents and visitors alike - offering a unique mix of both the Old and the New that beckons both to come explore and is what has always brought them back.

The story of St. Augustine is the foundation of sightseeing tours via tram, trolley, horse-drawn carriage, walking tour or cruise boat. History comes to life where, on any given day, you will find guides dressed in old-world costumes, weaving you through the sites of the town.

St. Augustine Single-Family Homes & Condos

In St. Augustine you'll find Oceanfront or Intracoastal living at its finest, along with new residential communities that have sprung up alongside older homes that give St. Augustine a special charm. The quality of live in St. Augustine is a driving force spurring residential development.

Bounded by the St. Johns River on the west and the Atlantic Ocean on the east, St. Augustine offers convenient access to Interstate 95 and US Highway 1, one of the best school systems in Florida and a low crime rate - St. Augustine has an small town atmosphere while offering the recreational, entertainment and historic attractions that tourists and natives love alike.

To the west is St. Johns County's thriving agricultural community of Hastings, and the county's northwest section is hosting tremendous growth including many world-class neighborhoods near the St. Johns River and the prestigious communities at the World Golf Village.

Other growing residential communities also include Palencia, Marsh Creek, Briarwood at Samara Lakes, and Heritage Park.

Popular condominium communities include Tennis Village, Florida Club, Legends of St Johns, Coquina Lakes, Las Palmas, Moultrie Creek, Salt Run, and The Preserve. Others include the Conquistador, Ocean Grove, Villa San Marco, Camachee Island, Island Villas, Summerhouse, Rio Del Mar, Palencia, Laterra, World Golf Village, Pelican Inlet, Villa del Rey, King & The Bear, The Greens, Villages of Vilano, Ponce De Leon Villas, Anastasia Island and Southwood.

More upscale condo and townhouse communities nearby in St Johns County include Ocean Villas, World Golf Village, Laterra, Sea Place, Makarios, Island House, Anastasia, Colony Reef Club, St Augustine Beach & Tennis, and Spyglass.

St. Johns County truly represents a collection of all that is important to people: a city with global appeal; inspiring climate; progressive commercial growth; top-rated schools; an abundance of recreational opportunities; diverse industry; rising incomes; and a safe, small-town feel.

Among its finest assets are the St. Johns County's public schools - rated among the best in Florida - with students continuing to surpass both state and national averages on standardized test scores. SchoolMatch routinely recognizes the schools as "What Parents Want" in education (St. Johns County School District currently ranks in the top 14 percent of school districts in the United States).

The Oldest City

St. Augustine is a modern city, but it derives its charm from being the nation's oldest city. Four centuries of history includes Spanish, English, Greek, Minjorcan, Native American, and African American influences - with the Spanish influences the most pronounced in local architecture. Its narrow streets and balconied houses are constant reminders of the city's “old world” charm.

Some of St. Augustine's most popular landmarks include the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a living history museum that interprets life in colonial St. Augustine around 1740; the Fountain of Youth Discovery Park, where it is said Ponce de Leon sought everlasting youth and the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where Pedro Menendez de Aviles first set foot on Florida's shore in 1565. Still other landmarks include the Ponce de Leon hotels built by Standard Oil magnate, Henry Flagler in the late 19th Century. Today those grand Victorian structures house Flagler College, St. Augustine City Hall and Lightner Museum. The original 1888 Casa Monica Hotel has been restored into a luxury hotel and provides world-class accommodations in downtown St. Augustine. The city has more than 50 attractions, historic sites and points of interest.

The city entered its “golden” era during the 1800's when Flagler, a former partner of John D. Rockefeller, created a winter resort for the America's wealthiest residents (the area now home to Flagler College). Flagler's architects fashioned new building styles that changed the appearance of the downtown area - a look copied by many other Florida cities as a result. The city was a tourist mecca in Florida for many years during its golden age - and continues to attract tourists to the “Olde Town” area to this day.

St. Augustine Beaches

Historic St. Augustine is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the east coast. Anastasia Island leads you to the City of St. Augustine Beach - known for its white, sandy beaches and a natural sand dune that lines the coast for nearly 12 miles south to Marineland. www.marineland.net

Just north of St. Augustine lies a piece of small town America , Vilano Beach, a small fishing village that offers a true taste of “old Florida.” Sunrise in this charming corner of the world is truly spectacular, especially when seen while crossing the Usina Bridge that leads from Vilano Beach to downtown St. Augustine. Vilano Beach has no fast food restaurants, malls or high-rise condominiums, and that makes the town feel a little slower and friendlier than faster-paced cities. Visitors can rent power skis, going parasailing, enjoy a day of deep sea fishing on one of the local charter boats, or just enjoy the beach.

Just north of Vilano Beach is the rapidly growing Ponte Vedra area - also located in St. Johns County. St. Augustine combines the best of both worlds, with its ancient natural beauty providing the backdrop for a contemporary residential and commercial lifestyle.

Night Life and Entertainment

Accommodations are plentiful and range from splendid resorts to charming bed and breakfast inns. Dozens of unique restaurants are sprinkled throughout St. Augustine, ranging from quaint cafes to four-star rated dining establishments, with many restaurants serving as attractions themselves.

Many excellent restaurants line A1A and there's also a wide variety of night spots. For outdoor fun there is beach volleyball, miniature golf, tennis, paddle tennis, along with water sports - with surfing being the most popular in the area. And just south of St. Augustine Beach you will find Crescent Beach and Matanzas Inlet - one of the best-known surfing and fishing spots in the area.

Shopping in St. Augustine is a buyer's delight with boutiques, unique gift shops, antique stores and museums waiting to be discovered on nearly every downtown street. On the outskirts are shopping malls and retail centers, including miles of outlet shopping at The St. Augustine Premium Outlets and the Belz Factory Outlet World, both at I-95 and State Road16. New to St. Augustine is the Cobblestone Village located on State Road. 312. With its wide array of restaurants and specialty shops, it is a shopping experience not to be missed.

Strolling through the back roads of downtown St. Augustine offers a glimpse of what life must have been like so many years ago. Many homes are registered on the National Register of Historic Places, while many other modern homes adopt the Old Florida style of their neighbors. Whether looking to buy or rent in St. Augustine, you will most certainly find something to suit your taste.

Residents and visitors to St. Augustine enjoy scores of celebrations and events all year long. From the Great St. Johns County Fair in the spring, to the acclaimed holiday season Nights of Lights, to a handful of festivals and historic tributes sprinkled in between.

St. Augustine's location in St. Johns County offers residents access to 42 miles of expansive beaches - offering a natural playground for most every water enthusiast. Boating, surfing, fishing and jet-skiing are popular pastimes in the area, with several fishing tournaments drawing quite a crowd.

The golf courses of St. Johns County are world-acclaimed, luring golfers of every ability. The multi-faceted resort community of the World Golf Village, with its centerpiece World Golf Hall of Fame, calls our community home. The PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach and draws worldwide attention with the annual Tournament Players Championship (TPC) at Sawgrass. The annual Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament is also played in St. Johns County.

Whatever level of skill, you will find inspiration by the professional golfers who have played the courses here and continue to do so with every passing year.

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