Things to do in St. Augustine with kids

Look no further if you’re looking for things to do in St. Augustine with kids! St. Augustine may not be the first destination you think of for family-friendly travel in Florida, but it should be!

Is a visit to St. Augustine on your list for a family vacation this year? If it is, then you know you are going to want to know about all the kid-friendly St. Augustine activities and attractions!

This list of things to do with kids in St. Augustine will get your mind thinking of all possibilities for when you are on vacation.

Are you ready to see what St. Augustine has to offer your family? Then let’s go!

Things to Do with Kids in St. Augustine

Here are some family-friendly things to do in St. Augustine, in no particular order! After you’re finished here, check out 33 things to do in Cape Canaveral for even more fun nearby!

Take an Airboat Ride

Sea Serpent Tours is one of the tour operators that does airboat rides in St. Augustine. This is a fantastic tour if you want to spend 90 minutes on an airboat on the St. John River.

During the tour, your family will learn all about the local wildlife. You may even spot manatees, alligators, snakes, and turtles.

Visit the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum

This family-friendly St. Augustine activity is probably best for older children. Unless you don’t want to climb up the 219 steps on the spiral staircase. I recommend you make the climb, though. It is the only way to see panoramic views from the top of the lighthouse.

You may find yourselves at the shipyard playground when you are not enjoying the views—exploring the museum, participating in a scavenger hunt, or interacting with an exhibit.

Swim at St. Augustine Beach

St. Augustine Beach is directly on the Atlantic Ocean. However, it is separated into many smaller beaches. In total, all the small beaches create 42 miles of sandy shoreline. The beaches near St. Augustine can also be some of the best places to find sharks teeth in Florida!

It is always fun to go beach-hopping in St. Augustine. Make sure you do a lot of swimming, relaxing, and sandcastle building at each one. Doing this allows you to find your all-time favorite beach.

If you have no clue where to start your beach adventures, consider starting at these beaches:

• St. Augustine Beach
• Crescent Beach
• Vilano Beach
• Anastasia State Park Beach

You might find some other nearby beaches in our list of the best beaches near Orlando.

Visit the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park can be found near Hospital Creek. You may not find the “true” fountain of youth at this park. But it is a fun place to visit anyway.

You should stop at the Spring House and the Navigators Planetarium during your visit. The Timucuan Village should also be at the top of your list of things to do.

Wander Around Potter’s Wax Museum

Potter’s Wax Museum is one of the family-friendly St. Augustine attractions and the oldest wax museum. Inside this local museum, you will find more than 160 wax figures.

The kids will love grabbing selfies with Harry Potter and Darth Vader. And you will love introducing them to many other famous people.

Photo property of Potters Wax Museum.

Walk Along St. George Street

The main street in St. Augustine’s historic district is St. George Street. This is a walkable street. So, you will never need to worry about cars or bikes being in the way.

Shopping, dining, and seeing the art inside galleries are only a few things you can do on this street.

Check Out Genung’s Fish Camp

Genung’s Fish Camp started as a local bait shop in 1948. It still sells bait and tackle to customers looking to do a little fishing while on vacation in St. Augustine.

If you don’t want to fish from shore, you can rent a kayak or paddleboard from Genung’s.

Oh, and they will clean all the fish you manage to catch while fishing.

Play a Round of Mini Golf

There are a few places to play mini-golf around St. Augustine. Yet Fiesta Falls Mini Golf almost always tops the list. This is one of the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine.

There are 18 holes that include eight waterfalls and a ship that is 65 feet tall.

Rent a Bike and Ride

One of the best kid-friendly activities in St. Augustine is renting a bike to ride. The city is relatively bike-friendly. You can easily ride along the side roads and sidewalks.

Certain bike vendors, like St. Augustine Bike Rentals, also offer guided tours of the city. Those are excellent ways to simultaneously see the city while learning about the destination.

Go Back in Time at Colonial Quarter

Colonial Quarter is a 2-acre family-friendly St. Augustine attraction. Your family can relive the past by stepping back in time to the 16th to 18th-century buildings.

There are quite a few interactive exhibits here. You can visit an 18th-century soldier’s home. Or climb the water tower. There is even a gunsmith firing weapons in the garrison.

Operate a Catamaran from Bluewater Adventure

You must divide and conquer if you operate a catamaran from Bluewater Adventure. The catamarans are two-seaters. Only people with a valid driver’s license are allowed to use them.

It would be one parent and one child per catamaran. This can be tricky if you have a larger family. But being out in the water, checking out dolphins and manatees, is a lot of fun if you can manage it.

Take a Boat Tour

If you can’t manage the catamaran tour, you still have options for getting out on the water. A boat tour is one of the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine. During a scenic cruise of St. Augustine, you can sit in chairs inside or up on the top deck.

The boat has drinks and snacks for sale. This means you won’t be hungry during your ride.

The tour is narrated, but that doesn’t mean your kids need to pay attention. They can simply look at the water to see the lighthouse, bridge, and marine life.

You could also try a sunset cruise of St. Augustine.

Act Like a Pirate at the Pirate and Treasure Museum

Most kids love pirates, so take yours to the Pirate and Treasure Museum during your vacation in St. Augustine. This museum has an entire collection of authentic pirate artifacts.

During your visit, you can all learn how to tie knots and steer a ship. You can walk into a tavern and see the inside of Port Royal’s replica.

The one thing you shouldn’t expect is to have your kids stop acting like a pirate anytime soon after your visit!

Visit the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

History is everywhere at the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument. It is the oldest masonry fort in the US. The staff is dressed in period clothing to make your visit feel more authentic.

It is best to walk around the fortress and check things out. Just make sure you stop to watch the numerous demonstrations held throughout the day. Oh, and the gun deck offers fantastic views of the city.

Get Wet at the Splash Pad

There is a splash pad right next to St. Augustine Beach. This might be the answer if you search for a quick way to cool down!

The splash pad is free. So, it is an excellent way to spend either a few minutes or a few hours of your day.

Take a Trolley Tour

The Old Town Trolley Tour is an excellent kid-friendly St. Augustine activity. There are 23 stops in all. You can get on and off at each stop or sit for the duration of the approximate 2-hour ride.

Go on a Ghost Tour

St. Augustine is one of the oldest cities in the country. That means there are probably quite a few ghosts roaming around. You might not think ghost tours are one of the best things to do in St. Augustine with kids (or anywhere with kids!), but it can be fun if your kids are a bit older.

If your kids love all things spooky, going on a ghost tour while on vacation in St. Augustine is a must.

There are a few different guided tours in this city. During your tour, you will hear fascinating stories about ghosts. You will also see which locations in the city are said to be haunted.

Visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not

Odd items, unbelievable items, and so much more can be found inside Ripley’s Believe It or Not. The kids will love the vampire kits, shrunken heads, and optical illusions.

You will simply enjoy watching the looks on your kids’ faces as they wonder what is real and what is not.

Visit the World’s Oldest Wooden School House

The Oldest Wooden School House in St. Augustine can be found within the Old City. It is an 18th-century building that seems to blend in with the rest of the buildings in the area. So, don’t be surprised if you walk past it a time or two before realizing what it is.

During a visit to this school, your family can see what school life was like for kids back in the 1800s. Old textbooks and school supplies are out for people to see. There is also a detached kitchen.

“Shop” at the Oldest General Store

Another old building in St. Augustine is the Oldest General Store. You really can’t go shopping at this store anymore, because it has been turned into a museum.

Your kids will love seeing the modern appliances from the 1900s. You will also find collars and corsets, corn shellers, vintage farm equipment, and all types of elixirs inside the store. Staff members are available to share information about each item you find interesting.

Take a Guided Tour of the Old Jail

Henry Flagler built the Old Jail in St. Augustine back in 1891. Prisoners were housed there for 60 years before it was closed.

Nowadays, you can take a guided tour of this jail to learn about the prisoners and the Sheriff who was the warden. In addition to the cells, you will see the gallows where prisoners spent their final hours.

The kids will love trying to “escape” from jail during your visit.

Taste a Little Chocolate During a Whetstone Chocolate Factory Tour

The Whetstone Chocolate Factory is an excellent place to learn about chocolate. During the tour, you will learn about chocolate’s history and how it is made. This is easily one of the best things to do in St. Augustine with kids if your family likes chocolate!

The best part of the tour is when you can sample the different chocolates! I highly recommend stopping at the store before you leave. It is the best place to purchase some chocolate to hide, I mean, take home with you to share with your family.

Let the Kids Play at the Project SWING Playground

This playground is 23,000 square feet. All that space is filled with slides, swings, towers, a space shuttle, and a lighthouse.

You will love the toddler section with its boat, trolley, and sandbox if you have little ones.

Grab a Family Photo Under a Love Tree

There are seven love trees in St. Augustine. What are love trees, you ask?

They are palm trees that grow in the crevice of a live oak tree. The roots of the palm tree penetrate the bark of the oak tree. The oak tree then grows around the palm tree.

Okay, so now that you know what a love tree is, you can see why it is one of the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine. The most popular of all the love trees in St. Augustine is the one located at 2640 Bridge Street. It is also the biggest love tree.

Grab your selfies and family photos with this love tree and any others you happen to see while you are on vacation in St. Augustine.

The best things to do in St. Augustine with kids

These are the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine. There are many other kid-friendly St. Augustine activities and attractions. Add as many of them to your list as possible to enjoy the family-friendly side of this vacation destination.

If you’re planning a St. Augustine vacation, make sure to check out some of our most popular Florida travel tips nearby:

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• The best things to do in Sanibel and Captiva

About Florida Travel With Kids

Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here.

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