8 ideas for things to do with kids in St. Augustine, Florida
If you’re hitting St. Augustine with kids on a family vacation, you’ll find tons of unique destinations and attractions to keep your family busy and entertained. Kids’ activities in St. Augustine can include playing in the water at Anastasia State Park’s beaches and visiting historic sites like Colonial Quarter. Kid-friendly museums range from the Lighthouse and Maritime Museum to the Pirate and Treasure Museum, and the Civil Rights Museum. You’ll also find plenty of options for free and cheap things to do with kids in St. Augustine, for budget-friendly family fun.
1. Hit the Beaches for fun in the sun
St. Augustine’s beaches offer so many things to do with kids and are budget-friendly with most only charging nominal parking fees. Anastasia State Park beaches are some of the most popular for visiting families, where birds of prey fly from moss-draped oak trees behind the sandy shores. You’ll find a playground, family-friendly picnic areas, a snack bar, and equipment rentals including kayaks and bikes.
2. Explore St. Augustine’s Historical Sites
As one of the oldest cities in Florida, you’ll definitely want to visit some of the historical sites around St. Augustine with kids. You can explore a massive 17th-century military fort of Castillo de San Marcos, a living history museum at Colonial Quarter, and an archaeological site at the Fountain of Youth. Local companies also offer kid-friendly tours around St. Augustine, from sailing the high seas on a pirate cruise to spooky evening ghost tours.
3. Learn in St. Augustine’s Museums and Cultural Sites
Kids’ activities in St. Augustine includes diverse museums and cultural sites around the city, as well as parks and gardens. Kid-friendly options include the Pirate and Treasure Museum, the Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, and Beluthahatchee Park. Make sure to visit historic locations from the civil rights movement, including the Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, the Civil Rights Museum, and Freedom Trail. If you have kids who are into weird stuff, check out the Medieval Torture Museum, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum.
4. Check out St. Augustine’s Animals and Marine Life
St. Augustine family vacations almost always include animal and marine life destinations. You can check out a diverse array of creatures at the St. Augustine Aquarium, feed gators and zip line at Alligator Farms and see dolphin shows at Marineland Dolphin Adventure. You’ll find adventure on the water with local eco-tours, or you can enjoy a coffee with furry friends at the Frisky Cat Cafe.
5. Play and Family-Fun in St. Augustine
When you’re in St. Augustine with kids, you’ll definitely find plenty of places for play. Compete on themed mini-golf courses, beat the clock with your family in an escape room, see life-like sculptures in a wax museum, and run around at playgrounds. If you’re looking for family fun on the water, you’ll find local companies offering surf lessons, equipment rentals for kayaking and paddleboarding, and charter boats for fishing and sailing.
6. Family-friendly shopping in St. Augustine
Kid-friendly shopping destinations can be found all over St. Augustine. In the Historic Downtown District, you’ll find everything from nostalgic candy stores and toy stores, to a steampunk boutique and unique souvenir shops. You can shop quirky boutiques inside vintage travel trailers on Airstream Row in Vilano Beach, or head to the St. Augustine’s Artist District for historic sites and galleries.
7. Cheap and free things to do with kids in St. Augustine
Visiting St. Augustine with kids doesn’t have to be ridiculously expensive, you’ll find free and cheap entertainment options across the city. You can visit the site of the first free African settlement in North America at Fort Mose Historic State Park, or hop on a free ferry over to Rattlesnake Island to explore historic Fort Matanzas. Cool off at Splash Park play fountain at the County Ocean Pier, or play on the Project SWING Playground.
8. Family-friendly events in St. Augustine
With St. Augustine being a popular destination for family vacations, there are tons of kid-friendly events offered throughout the year, with some events even being free. You can enjoy weekly live music across many of the city’s restaurants, as well as weekly farmer’s markets and artist markets at different sites. You’ll also find seasonal art shows, concerts, performances, and cultural events held throughout the year.