is legendary and spas provide a haven
for relaxation in a Zen-inspired realm of
wellness and serenity. The opening of
Sawgrass Village, a modern entertainment,
dining and shopping complex, is shaking
things up. Yoga with a brew. Fine art and
personal shoppers. Cocktails and Seafood
Happy Hour. It’s not your typical mall and
restaurant row, not even close. The St. Augustine Alligator
Farm and Zoological Park
has even more exotic
creatures, such as the
Lemurs of Madagascar, and
newborn babies of the
crocodilian species. There’s
even a place where children
can dig up fossils.
Nature & Adventures New Cultural Finds
Already a destination with pristine natural
areas, new outdoor adventures await. Get out
on the water and enjoy dolphin tours and
sunset sails with the family-friendly Red Boat
Water Tours. Set off on your own to explore
the waterways with Kayak St. Augustine or
on a Stand Up Paddleboard from Anastasia
Watersports. Join Blue Water Adventures to
drive your own unique horizontal catamaran.
You’ll glide over the shallow water habitats and
ecosystems of the beautiful St. Johns River in a
custom built airboat at Sea Serpent Tours. Get
a bird’s eye view with St. Augustine Parasail or
Castaway Canopy, a zipline adventure. St. Augustine has been
hosting First Friday Art
Walks for decades. It has
become so popular, the event has spread
to outlying communities. The Vilano
Beach Art Walk Off the Beaten Path takes
place on the fi rst Friday of each month
along Vilano Road.
Shipwrecks & New Species The St. Augustine Orchestra has built a
distinctly American sound to classical music.
Music in the Box at the Limelight Theatre
highlights local singers the last Saturday of
the month. Poetry, documentaries, foreign
fi lms, and annual fi lm festivals take place at
the Corazon Cinema & Café.
Anastasia Island is an emerging shopping
and dining area with popular attractions and
the beautiful Anastasia State Park. The view
from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse
is still stunning, but it’s what’s under water
that’s really getting attention. “Shipwrecks,
secrets from the sea,” artifacts, and maritime
archaeologists. That’s all we can say. You’ll have
to see it for yourself. There’s a lot going on in Lincolnville, a
small part of St. Augustine listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. A free
walking tour and markers tell the story of
Lincolnville’s important role in the Civil
Rights movement. From 1963 to 1964, the
area originated peaceful protests led by Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. and Andrew Young.
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum
Shop ‘Til You Drop
St. Augustine Outlets has completed
an extensive $7 million interior remodel
and added new stores and merchandise.
Improvements nclude bright new fl ooring,
inviting soft seating area, Wi-Fi throughout the
mall and touch screen directories. Recently
new stores opened including H&M, Old Navy,
Toys “R” Us, Christopher & Banks and 2Q
smoothie & bubble tea.
St. Augustine Premium Outlets has also
opened new stores. Torrid, which sells trendy
plus-size clothi ng for women, Swarovski ,
which sells high-quality crystal jewelry and
accessories, Book Warehouse, a discount book
store for children, crewcuts by J.Crew fashions
for children, Janie & Jack children’s clothing,
roz & ALI women’s fashions, Zumiez shoes
and clothing, LIDS offi cially licensed sport
headwear, and TaylorMade Golf Factory Store,
which sells off -season product lines and gear
from TaylorMade, Adams Golf and Adidas Golf.
Uptown
Sing Out Loud Festival
The Uptown area is still known for the
beautiful Mission Nombre de Dios and the
great cross that towers over the Nation’s
oldest city. But the once quiet, empty
stretch of San Marco Avenue is now lined
with eclectic boutiques, a wine bar, and the
popular “Uptown Saturday Night” event that
brings out shoppers the last Saturday of the
month who enjoy live music, libations and
the chance to mingle with friends old and
new. The always popular Raintree Restaurant
has expanded with a romantic brick
courtyard adding to the cozy, up-tempo vibe
of this newly chic region of the city.
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