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Florida Bucket List spot: St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

Florida Bucket List spot:  St Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

If there’s one thing that’s iconic of a coastal vacation or anything maritime, it’s lighthouses.  They’re tall, striking, weird buildings that really bring the feel of the ocean directly onshore.  In the Pacific Northwest we have them every 100 meters (total exaggeration) because it is so stormy and foggy all of the time, and a lot of our lighthouses are pretty short. The St Augustine Lighthouse is huge and really beautiful.  

Whoever painted the St Augustine Lighthouse was bored so really spiced it up.  And it’s a fun place for all kinds of visitors of any age making it perfect for family travel.  So here’s why you should drive ten minutes out of your way to climb the St Augustine Lighthouse.  We swear, it’s not just a pretty lamp.

If you're in St Augustine, FL you need to visit the Saint Augustine Lighthouse! It's one of the tallest in the USA and is the prettiest lighthouse in Florida. Information on touring the lighthouse, maritime museum and more. #Florida #lighthouse #vacation

 

Location of the St Augustine Lighthouse

Just a ten minute drive across the Bridge of Lions out of downtown lies the lighthouse, one of the best things to do in St Augustine.  It’s visible from almost everywhere and it’s really beautiful.  As far as other activities close by, you’ll probably be visiting the St Augustine Alligator Farm or Fort Matanzas, so you’ll already be close to the lighthouse.  The Alligator Farm is just across the boulevard so is super close.

 

If you’re planning your visit in the latter part of the day, check when the St Augustine Lighthouse closes and plan for traffic…because even charming old towns have rush hour.  And being all about family travel like we are, plan to visit the lighthouse and surrounding sites before nap time, as they’re all great, busy activities that will wear those kids out.

Note:  if you’re using the Old Town Trolley to get around and see the sights of St Augustine, it DOESN’T go to the lighthouse.  Just an FYI.

Drawbridge towers of Lions Bridge St Augustine at sunset 1

Maritime Museum and more at the St Augustine Lighthouse

So there is plenty of parking, and it feels like it’s covered, but that’s just because the Spanish moss is so… so everywhere.  From the lot, head to the museum entrance so you can pay your fee and have fun.  There’s also a gift shop in the event that you need some #LoveFL gear or can’t get enough lighthouse garb.  Once you’re through that building, there are paths through the woods and gardens so you can learn about the lighthouse and the area.  

And then there’s the keepers’ quarters, which is part of the maritime museum.  It’s set up as days of yore would have and is neat, and then in the basement are newly renovated maritime exhibits both about the St Augustine Lighthouse and the shipping history of the area.  We try to consider how interested the kids will be in museums, and some, like this, are pretty good for family travel and will hold a medium to short attention span.

Tip:  The coolest part of the grounds for kids is the playground.  While some kiddos may really dig the museum and pictures, the play space has a ship with a slide to play on.  The playground is located apart from the keepers’ quarters and lighthouse, so the original structures do feel like they’re in their authentic, timeless setting.  

Keepers Quarters museum at St Augustine Lighthouse 2.jpg

Why is the playground so important?  

To climb the lighthouse, you must be at least 44 inches tall…which wasn’t the case for two of the four in our group.  “Whomp wah.”  And that’s why we were thankful for the ship-like playground.  If you’ve got extra time, enjoy the nature trail too.  Why not?  See, it’s not just a pretty lamp!

 

Playground at St Augustine LighthouseClimbing the St Augustine Lighthouse

Do you ever start a hike feeling like you’re in great shape and then on your first ascent you’re like “wow, I need to run more!”  Yeah, that’s what the 219 steps to the top made me think.  Oh yeah, and I have climbed it alone twice because of the tiny tourists we bring with us and one of us  always needs to stay behind with them. 

Don’t be discouraged though, as you’re doing the great climb there are plenty of places to stop and rest.  There are also windows to give you some amazing views on the way up, as well as a few interesting displays about the history of the St Augustine Lighthouse and its construction.  

Spiral Staircase in St Augustine Lighthouse 3

Believe it or not, despite the sweating and huffing and puffing, by the time out-of-shape-Rob got to the top it really hadn’t taken too long to get up there. I forgot about how high I’d just climbed until I realized…how tall a 219 step lighthouse actually is. I just about threw up over the edge when it hit me, but then I calmed down and it was gorgeous.

Tip:  heights are something to consider when you’re traversing anything, especially a lighthouse that has open rails at the top.  I’m so glad I did it because it was really a breathtaking view.  It also go me out of my comfort zone and showed me how out of shape I’d gotten.  Oh, the benefits of travel…

Looking Down from St Augustine Lighthouse 1

The Lantern of the St Augustine Lighthouse

It’s a beautiful glass.  It’s the most perfect piece I’ve seen, and I’ve been to a lot of lighthouses.  The beveling and construction are seamless and the current keepers maintain it very well; all 370 hand-cut prisms of it.  When assembled, like it always is, the lantern is 12 feet tall and 6 feet across.  That’s huge.  And it’s beautiful to stare into and just get sucked into it, kind of like when you’re staring at fire and can’t look away.

Lantern of St Augustine Lighthouse 2traveldads.com

The lamp is no longer running off oil, but electricity…like every other lighthouse in the USA.  It’s still brilliantly bright, but doesn’t need to serve the same function as it did when it was first built in 1871.  Today, it’s a nostalgic beacon and a place to visit and learn about the maritime past of St Augustine.  Besides the yesteryear setup, check out the museum for some cool facts and archival photos from the St Augustine Lighthouse’s history.

St Augustine Lighthouse shadow on Keepers House

I’m glad we made the stop at the lighthouse, even though it was more of a solo vs family travel thing for me.  It was fascinating to learn stuff, inspiring to see how out of shape I was, exhilarating to get to the top, and well, the St Augustine Lighthouse really is much more than a pretty lamp on the coast.  The whole site requires at least an hour and if you’ve got history-hungry folks, around two hours is plenty of time.  

Cost:  $13 for adults and $11 for kids 12 and under AND DON’T FORGET:  you must be 44 inches or taller to go to the top.

Other nearby St Augustine Beach activities

Very near the St Augustine lighthouse you’ll find many other fun things to do and experience.  Check out our full article about all the best things to do in St Augustine for a complete list, but here are four easy additions to your time in the St Augustine beach area:

And you’ll be hungry too. We have a lot of great St Augustine restaurant recommendations! The nearest of our top picks in the Village Garden Food Truck Park, which is about five minutes from the lighthouse.

If you have any questions about visiting the St Augustine Lighthouse feel free to leave a comment or send us a note!

If you're in St Augustine, FL you need to visit the Saint Augustine Lighthouse! It's one of the tallest in the USA and is the prettiest lighthouse in Florida. Information on touring the lighthouse, maritime museum and more. #Florida #lighthouse #vacation

samiya selim

Tuesday 12th of January 2016

I have only been to a few lighthouses, 3 actually now that I think about it! But I have always found them fascinating, they always have such an interesting history and great stories to go with. I know what you mean about thinking one is fit at the beginning a hike and then you climb a lighthouse and realize not as fit as you think :-) well done you for climbing all 219 steps and being able to enjoy the top, even if it was without your tiny travellers :-D

alyssa | Adjust Your Focus™

Monday 11th of January 2016

I love lighthouses and have been to several all over the world. Each is so different. I have yet to visit here though, looks like a great spot to explore!

Elena

Sunday 10th of January 2016

Old lighthouses are so nostalgically beautiful. There is something touching in their clean lines and secluded locations. They are living reminders of a by-gone era of maritime adventures and simpler life. Everyone has a story to tell and a view to admire. St. Augustine Lighthouse is just one of tens (or hundreds?) of thousands of lighthouses in the world and, most probably, I would never visit it, but your excellent photos and great narrative made me wish to go there one day.

Rob Taylor

Thursday 21st of January 2016

Do you mind if we quote you on our media sheet regarding your thoughtful compliments? We hope so, as we strive to make the story as pleasant and compelling as the pictures. :)

Rob Taylor

Sunday 10th of January 2016

Thank you so much! Yes, it is a really impressive place to see. And like we said, we do visit many lighthouses. We have a few more lighthouse articles coming up to. They're each quite different.

elaine massey

Saturday 9th of January 2016

This is a great article with good reasons for us to make a visit. I have never been to a lighthouse! I have paintings of them and have never even been to one. St. Augustine seems like a good vacation idea and the lighthouse makes it even better! I'd have to rest on the way up for sure. I love that first photo!

Beth | Adventuring the Great Wide Somewhere

Saturday 9th of January 2016

This is awesome. I've been to St. Augustine a handful of times, but never visited the lighthouse...or any lighthouse, for that matter! I'm planning a trip up there later this year, so I will have to check this one out. It's too bad your kids couldn't go up just yet, but that slide looks like a kid's dream come true! There really is something for everyone here.