- I visited St. Augustine, Florida, which is known for its beaches, historic downtown, and winery.
- One day was enough to hit the highlights, including a free wine tasting at San Sebastian Winery.
- The pirate museum was a hidden gem, but I wouldn't go out of my way to climb the lighthouse again.
I recently spent a day in St. Augustine, Florida, a historic city that's known for its beautiful beaches, charming downtown, and bustling tourist scene.
Because I live in Florida, about an hour away, I have a bit of a routine when I visit. But on a recent trip, I decided to explore the attractions like a tourist would.
Here are three things I thought were worth it and two I'd skip next time.
The trolley made it easy to get around the city.
There are 21 trolley stops throughout St. Augustine.
The major starting points are at the edge of the historic downtown, where I hopped on with about 75 other people to take part in a guided tour of the city.
The full ride is about an hour and a half, but I also used it as my primary mode of transportation since parking around the city is scarce. With so many stops, it was easy to get off and on again.
Tickets on the Old Town Trolley website start at $37, but I found a Groupon discount that brought mine to $16.
The St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum was an under-the-radar activity that I loved.
Although I'm not usually a fan of themed museums, this was recommended by a friend, and it ended up being worth the $18 admission.
The museum showcases the history of pirates dating back almost 300 years. It also has interactive exhibits, hands-on learning, plenty of treasure, and props from popular pirate movies.
My favorite part of the museum was seeing one of the only remaining original Jolly Roger skull-and-crossbones flags.
The free tour and tasting at San Sebastian Winery was better than I expected.
I took a break from soaking in the city's history to enjoy some time at San Sebastian Winery.
Before the free tour started, my group was shown a short movie about the history of wine in Florida and the winery itself. Then we walked through the barrel room and bottling facility.
After the nearly 30-minute tour, a complimentary wine tasting took place. Guests could then buy bottles and accessories if they wanted.
I wasn't expecting much from the tasting since it was free, but I was proven wrong. We were served six different wines, ranging from a buttery chardonnay to a sweet muscadine.
On the other hand, St. George Street isn't worth the hassle to me.
One of the main areas throughout the Historic District of St. Augustine is St. George Street.
The pedestrian-only road is lined with attractions including shops, restaurants, and live music from buskers. But the area gets very busy, and it's usually not as enjoyable as other surrounding spots that I think offer the same perks.
Although the street wasn't packed when I visited, it's been so crowded before that I couldn't enjoy exploring it. I usually just skip it.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse is a bit boring to me.
From most angles around the city, you can see the nearly 150-year-old St. Augustine Lighthouse towering above the trees.
Adult tickets start at $15 if you want to embark on a self-guided tour of the adjacent Maritime Museum and gain access to the top of the lighthouse — which takes 219 steps to reach.
Although I usually love a great view, the steps can be challenging, and I've never found the popular attraction worth the time, money, or effort.
I also don't mind just viewing the beautiful lighthouse from below.
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