For anyone traveling down to the beautiful city of St. Augustine, you can’t miss these 10 amazing sights! The architecture and history around this area will help you understand why the city of St. Augustine was founded in the year 1565 and has been one of Florida’s oldest cities since its inception!
If you’re planning on taking an Orlando to St. Augustine road trip, there are plenty of fun things to do in between! Let’s check out some of the most beautiful sights between Orlando and St. Augustine below!
1. The World’s Largest Alligator Farm
It is one of the best places in Florida to spot these giant reptiles (yes, they’re alligators).
The farm in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is home to more than 1,000 animals and has been operational since 1948. Tours are available for those looking for an up-close-and-personal experience with these beasts and there are plenty of other activities for visitors too, including reptile shows, petting zoos, and a variety of animal encounters.
2. The oldest city in the United States
If you’re taking a road trip from Orlando to St. Augustine, then stop by the oldest city in the United States – Saint Augustine, Florida. Founded in 1565, it has an old-world feel and plenty of cultural attractions that are sure to interest travelers of all ages.
Visiting this historic and vibrant Orlando to St. Augustine city is a great way to experience a slice of American history and culture that is unlike anything else you’ll find along the rest of your journey up the East Coast!
Don’t forget about Ponce Inlet Lighthouse! Head out onto Anastasia Island and catch the picturesque lighthouse with views over one of the most beautiful stretches of beach in Central Florida–it’s worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Saint Augustine for photos alone!
3. The Fountain of Youth
The Fountain of Youth in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is an interesting stop on a Florida road trip because it’s not actually in Florida but rather in St. Augustine, FL, just across the border from Jacksonville, FL. The truth is that the Fountain of Youth doesn’t exist at all; it’s a myth based on Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon who was seeking a fountain that granted immortality and eternal youth.
Visit Castillo de San Marcos National Monument in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip to see what life was like for soldiers during the 17th century and how they defended against attacks by Native Americans and pirates.
4. The Castillo de San Marcos
One of the first and most popular places in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip you’ll come across is the Castillo de San Marcos, a large masonry fortification that was built by the Spanish in 1672 during Florida’s colonial era.
You can also take a tour of this beautifully preserved military bastion, which includes an old powder magazine and armory, officers’ quarters, and dungeons where prisoners were held before being executed or shipped off as slaves.
The fort in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip has been named one of America’s top ten castles by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is one of only four 18th-century Spanish military sites in the US that has survived intact.
5. The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse
If you’re going down the coast from Orlando to St. Augustine, make sure you check out one of the oldest wooden schoolhouses in America – it’s called The Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse and it was built in 1883.
You’ll find it in Bellamy, Florida, just a few miles off of I-95. You can go inside and even see some old school desks and other artifacts that were used when the building was originally constructed. It’s pretty interesting if you’re into history or architecture (or both).
6. The Pirate and Treasure Museum
The Pirate and Treasure Museum in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is a great place to take the kids or the whole family. The pirate museum showcases all different types of treasure and pirate artifacts from around the world, including treasure chests, cannons, swords, and more!
There are even interactive exhibits for children that let them explore what it would be like to be a pirate captain or live in a town under siege by pirates.
The museum in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip also has an exhibit about Blackbeard’s ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge which was discovered in Beaufort Inlet off the North Carolina coast in 1996.
Visitors on Orlando to St. Augustine road trip can enjoy learning about this amazing find and get up close with some of the objects found inside, such as pottery bowls, wine glasses, and cannon balls.
7. The Lightner Museum
The Lightner Museum is a museum of art and antiques that were founded in 1891 and are located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, Florida. The museum in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip houses the world’s largest private collection of American-made Tiffany glass as well as an extensive collection of porcelain, pottery, silver, furniture, and textiles.
Many visitors in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip are drawn to the Lightner Museum due to its diverse collections that span from ancient Egyptian Artifacts to 19th-century American paintings and sculptures by renowned artists such as Frederic Remington, Thomas Moran, and Eastman Johnson.
The museum in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is also home to a wide variety of artistic styles including Asian Art, contemporary artworks, African tribal artworks, and Old Master Paintings.
8. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine
This beautiful church in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is a must-see when visiting the city of St. Augustine for its history and beauty. The cathedral was built in 1883 and designed by James Renwick, Jr., who is also the designer behind New York City’s famed Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, among other churches in the United States.
The building in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip has seen many significant events throughout its long history, from hosting President Franklin D Roosevelt as he delivered his Four Freedoms speech during World War II to welcoming Pope John Paul II for mass during his 1987 visit to America.
The church in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip is open for daily tours, giving visitors a chance to see some of its most impressive features up close.
9. Anastasia State Park
One of the best attractions in this area is the Anastasia State Park, which is Florida’s oldest state park and was opened as a memorial to the daughter of Czar Nicholas II and her siblings who were killed by the Bolsheviks.
The park in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip covers almost 1,200 acres and includes a lighthouse, beaches, and nature trails that are all worth exploring.
10. Fort Matanzas National Monument
Fort Matanzas National Monument is a great stop off in our Orlando to St. Augustine road trip, and with good reason: the fort has an amazing history and is beautiful inside and out, making it a true must-see!
The fort in Orlando to St. Augustine road trip was originally built in 1740 as part of Spanish Florida’s defense system against their British adversaries; however, Fort Matanzas National Monument is best known for being the site of the Battle of Fort Matanzas during the Second Seminole War in 1837. It was also at this battle that Osceola, Seminole leader of the Red Stick faction, was wounded by the U.S.
