Florida’s Historic Coast Announces New Attractions for Fall 2024

St. Augustine, FL, Sept. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Visitors can expect the best in dining, lodging and fun in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches. And new businesses are bringing even more first-class experiences to Florida’s historic coast.

Eat and drink

The culinary scene continues to evolve, offering new flavors and unique locations. San Sebastian Winery has welcomed a new restaurant to its rooftop, La Cocina at Cellar Upstairs, which features a menu of gourmet favorites like ceviche, snails and New Zealand lamb ribs. La Cocina International offers live entertainment on the rooftop every day from Thursday to Sunday.

On Anastasia Island, Isla Blends recently opened, offering protein-packed smoothies, waffles, coffee and veggies. Paladar Cuban EateryIt was introduced The Crescent Beach area is home to Cuban cuisine and pastries, and the new Black Molly Grill recently opened, serving steaks, seafood and more at its new location on State Road 312. On the beach, Vilano Beach, Beachside Caffe by YAMO is now open at the Magic Beach Motel, as is the Vilano Coffee Shop at the Holiday Inn Express, which serves local favorites like Kookaburra coffee, Tillamook ice cream and Crème de La Cocoa pastries.

Historic St. Augustine is enjoying a recent addition to the sweet side of things, Whips Waffle Company redefines desserts with its artisanal waffles and creative toppings. The French Pantry in Jacksonville is teaming up with Little Miss Ha, an award-winning Vietnamese restaurant formerly of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, to open two restaurants with different cultural affiliations in one location, 36 Granada St., St. Augustine, this fall.

The Jacksonville Jaguars recently announced Ancient City Brewing as their Craft Beer Partner for the 2024 NFL season. Greg Tuttle and his team at Ancient City Brewing (ACB) have been handcrafting beloved beers since 2015. But they created a new beer specifically for the Jags Brewhouse – 1st & Gold Golden Ale at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville in a custom-designed 19.2-ounce can.

St. Augustine Distillery has been a trendsetter in the Florida spirits world since opening in 2013. The distillery recently added several guided tours and experiences where guests can learn about the history of bourbon, the influence of food on premium spirits, the Bourbon Steward Certification Program and the opportunity to fill your own bottle of St. Augustine Distillery bourbon.

Discover northern St. Augustine, where an explosion of new restaurants is creating a microcosm of culinary experiences. From sweet classics to savory favorites, each Whip’s Waffles is a delicious journey of flavors. Mayday Ice Cream opens a new location in Nocatee. Vincenzo’s Cucina and The Boathouse recently opened on Ponte Vedra Beach, offering gourmet seafood, sushi and more in a casual setting.

West of St. Augustine along the St. Johns River, Outback Crab Shack has reopened and is serving up the flavors of Florida: fresh seafood, including local shrimp, snapper, mahi-mahi and the famous Outback cook. This popular old-school Florida riverfront restaurant and patio has returned to Six Mile Creek on the St. Johns River after a complete remodel.

New experiences

Pickleball players have a new place to “dink” in St. Augustine at Old Coast Pickleball, with two indoor courts at the Shipyard Marina. The best way to explore St. Augustine’s historic district and unique architecture is with a guide. New this year is St. Augustine Free Walking Tours, which offers a 90-minute guided tour of all the major sites, led by local guides, starting each morning at the Visitor Information Center, and even more new tourist attractions are available on St. Augustine Experiences’ Historic Walking Tours.

The new St. Augustine Shipwreck Museum has opened on Charlotte Street, showcasing the area’s rich maritime history. New this summer, Deep Creek Paddles offers exciting kayaking adventures on Deep Creek in Hastings, Florida. Perfect for both beginners and experienced kayakers who want to explore the area with master nature guides and professional guides.

Fury® Water Adventures recently added St. Augustine to its newest port of call, offering the 65-foot Atlantic Fury sailing catamaran, which offers expansive, 360-degree views during its twice-daily Dolphin Watch & Historical Harbor Tour, combining history with wildlife.

St. Augustine’s newest gallery, The Art Collective, opens this fall in the city’s Historic District. The Art Collective’s resident artists showcase a full range of creative work, from traditional oil paintings, pastels, modern art, paper quilling, kiln-fired ceramics and exquisite jewelry makers.

University of Florida professors are researching and building an exhibit based on another classic product that started in St. Augustine: chocolate. The exhibit, which will open in December 2024 and will be housed in the Governor’s House Cultural Center and Museum, tells the story of how chocolate first came to St. Augustine in 1641. The exhibit, funded by a Forrest E. Mars Jr. History Grant, will document and showcase St. Augustine’s key role in bringing chocolate to North America.

Preparing for adventures will be easier with Bass Pro Shops opening a massive Outlet in the World Golf Village this fall. On A1A, the new Inlet Beach & General Store in Matanzas Inlet offers beach supplies, eco-bike rentals, kayak tours and more. Preserving the pristine beaches on Florida’s historic coast is a top priority for St. Johns County. It’s in the final stages of a major beach restoration project and has launched a helpful Beach App.

Groups, weddings and corporate events will have plenty to do at Ponte Vedra’s sports and social center, The Yards, which offers golf, tennis and pickleball, as well as the upscale Argyle restaurant. Enhance any event with the new Mobile Cigar Lounge Fire and Ash, featuring premium cigars, rich Cuban coffees and a custom lounge.

Fort Matanzas National Monument, located just 14 miles south of St. Augustine, will celebrate a century of preservation with a series of living history programs presented on select dates this fall. Visitors can take a free ferry to Rattlesnake Island, where costumed storytellers will share the history of Fort Matanzas on October 5, 15, 20 and November 3.

This fall, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum celebrates 150 years of being a welcoming light to the historic port of St. Augustine and its beautiful coastline. In mid-October, the celebration will kick off a year-long series of activities, community events, and commemorative ceremonies.

Stay

Distinctive Beach Rentals offers guests luxury beach rentals in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and Crescent Beach. It just expanded its offerings with a variety of new, upscale vacation homes and condo rentals. Hampton Inn & Suites St. Augustine-Vilano Beach guests can now save on a trip and rent beach gear through a convenient on-site service. Spark by Hilton in St. Augustine’s Historic District opened in early spring, offering a convenient, affordable option with on-site parking and a free breakfast.

St. George Inn is one of the more popular pet-friendly lodging options in the Historic District. Their wine bar, Bin 39, just added pet-friendly amenities where pet owners can order pet-friendly meats, dog ice cream, upgraded water, commemorative water bowls, and more.

Planning just got easier.

St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau continues to make it easier for travelers to plan and book trips to Florida’s historic coast. A new Must Do Experiences video series features great advice from locals on the best places to see, eat and stay; and the new AI-powered Know it All Assistant is the perfect tool for travelers to plan itineraries and more.

With so many new experiences to experience, it’s time to plan your vacation to Florida’s Historic Coast. Use the trip planner to create your perfect trip and take advantage of some of the unforgettable stays and deals available on Florida’s Historic Coast this fall.

Getting to St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches has never been easier. Breeze Airways continues to expand service at Jacksonville International Airport, recently adding nonstop service to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. JetBlue is expanding seasonal routes to Florida from Portland, Maine, starting October 28 and year-round flights from Manchester, New Hampshire, starting January 23, 2025. In May 2025, Air Canada will begin offering weekend nonstop service between Toronto and Jacksonville.

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It is located halfway between Dajtoon the beach and JacksonvilleFlorida’s Historic Coast includes historic St. Augustine, the exceptional golf course and coastal elegance of Ponte Vedra, the rural beauty of Hastings, Elkton, St. Johns and 42 miles of pristine Atlantic beaches. Visitor centers are located at 10 Castillo Drive, St. Augustine; 200 Solana Rd. Suite B, Ponte Vedra Beach: and at St. Johns County Beach Pier Park, 350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. Augustine Beach. For advance travel information, call 1.800.653.2489 or visit the Visitors and Convention Bureau website at www.FloridasHistoricCoast.com. Check us out on social media on Instagram @FloridasHistoricCoast: @ViajaStAugustine, Facebook.com/officialStAugustine; and X (Twitter) @FlHistoricCoast.

• Historic St. Augustine Lighthouse