St Augustine Holidays & Ponte Vedra

This fort was built by the Spanish in 1742 to protect the land of northeast Florida while the New World was being established. Fort Matanzas is a fascinating national monument to visit in itself, but it also gives you an excellent opportunity to admire the wild flora and fauna in the area.

The first European to set foot on Florida came ashore at Ponte Vedra Beach in 1513, and there is a special 17ft-tall bronze statue to commemorate his landing at GTM National Estuarine Research Reserve’s North Beach Access.

Step back in time in this 20.5 acre national park and experience an important part of colonial military history. The Castillo de San Marcos is the only 17th century military building still standing in the United States today. Learn about the unusual construction with a material made up of broken shells called coquina, which withstood enemy fire and kept the area safe. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a live reenactment to get the full experience of this important piece of national history.

Well-known local landmark the Alcazar Hotel, built in 1888, was transformed into the Lightner Museum in 1948 after Otto Lightner bought the dilapidated hotel building to house his eclectic collection of art, artifacts, and curios. You’ll find pieces to delight and surprise you at every corner of this spectacularly restored building, from Tiffany glass to shrunken heads, antique buttons and Renaissance paintings.

Enjoy an evening of live music in a unique space at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre. The grand outdoor theatre seats over 4000 and has modern facilities as well as a lush natural setting. Check out the varied programme of events for an unforgettable show.

The artistic heart of Ponte Vedra can be found here, with public art exhibitions & opening receptions, art and artist-made goods for sale.

Whether you want to learn more about the history and wildlife of the area, of just spend a couple of hours enjoying the long stretches of beach and dunes, Anastasia State Park has it all. There are guided walks to get the most out of the park, some of which take you past the coquina quarry, where the stones used in the Castillo de San Marcos were mined. Visitors are welcome to camp, picnic, bike, hike and fish in this beautiful state park.

If you’re a gold aficionado you won’t want to miss a visit to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Not only can you admire iconic trophies and memorabilia from the most famous tournaments and players, but you can also try out the resort’s own two courses. The King & Bear course was designed by none other than Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

Established in 1928, this high-class hideaway is another haven for sports fans, with superb golf and tennis on offer, as well as a world-class spa and other pampering facilities. The two contrasting championship golf courses alone are worth visiting for.