Florida — It’s Hard Not to Love St. Augustine!

In December 2023, our family took a road trip all the way from Montreal, Canada 🍁 to the sunny state of Florida 🌞. We explored several cities in Florida, and St. Augustine stood out as our favorite — a charming, historic Spanish-style town that’s both compact and captivating. You can easily explore most of it in half a day! I highly recommend visiting during Christmas 🎄. From November through January, the "Nights of Lights" event illuminates the entire old town with a magical glow ✨. Unfortunately, it was pouring rain the evening we were there 🌧️, so we only got a quick drive-through view. If I ever return to Florida, I’ll definitely plan a longer stay here to truly soak it all in! 🅿️ Parking Tip During the holiday season, parking in the old town can be tricky and paid. We parked at 218 W King St — a spacious and FREE parking lot 🆓. It’s only about a 10-minute walk to the old town. From there, we strolled east on King Street and crossed the bridge to San Sebastian Winery 🍷. They offer free tastings of 9-14 types of red and white wines. Honestly, the wine was just okay (and the pour was a bit messy 😅) — maybe I’m just not a wine connoisseur! Next, we continued east to Flagler College 🏛️ — known as one of the most beautiful campuses in the U.S. It did not disappoint! We spent over an hour there taking photos, exploring, and relaxing on a bench in the garden. I almost wished I could study in such a gorgeous place! The college is located right in the heart of the old town. We then wandered through the charming streets — St. George Street is a must-visit 🛍️, full of cute boutiques and eateries. We tried the famous Hyppo popsicles 🍦, which were a bit pricey ($5-7 each) and tasted just fine, but they come in fun and unique flavors! There was also a lovely Mexican-style ceramic shop 🏺 with beautiful dishes — everything was tempting but too fragile to bring home. When night falls… that’s when the magic begins! ✨ The lights turn the city into a fairy tale — I’m sharing a video in a separate post since words can’t do it justice! We didn’t have time to see everything, but I’ve heard the lighthouse 🗼 and alligator farm 🐊 are also worth a visit! ✅ One day is enough for a compact tour, but for a more relaxed experience, plan for two days. #Florida #StAugustine #Travel #TravelGuide #FamilyTravel #USATravel #RoadTrip #TravelTips