There’s no better place to show the timeless quality of your love than St. Augustine, Florida, the nation’s oldest city. If you haven’t been to our lovely city before, here are some tips:
Getting there: Fly into Jacksonville airport on Southwest (totally appropriate for a trip filled with LUV), Delta or USAir, then take a cab (about $70) to the Ancient City. You’ll save money on a car rental, because everything in town is in walking distance (and if you want to give your feet a break, there’s a great trolley system, plus romantic carriages, pedicabs and even electric carts).
Seeing it: There are lots of great sites in the city–the fort (because love can be a battlefield), the Bridge of Lions (I love you and I’m not lion), and the lighthouse (you’re a beacon to me in the storm!)–but don’t stop at the places in the tour books: stop by some of the lesser-known spots in town for a quiet moment with your Valentine.
Off the beaten path: Visit one of the town’s two love trees–consisting of a palm growing up through an oak. The trees are twisted “together forever”, and local legend has it that if you kiss in front of one of them, you’ll be together forever as well. Or take a stroll on the new seawall–a beautiful walkway on the Matanzas Bay that was just completed in January. The new section–located right in front of our inn south of the Bridge of Lions–gives you great views of the bridge, the marina, and the lighthouse.
Make reservations at one of our amazing restaurants (if you don’t have a favorite, here’s a list of our suggestions for a special evening).
Some of the best moments in St. Augustine can be found just walking through our old streets. But if you’re the type who wants to make some plans, plan a romantic carriage ride through town. Call Southern Carriages, and ask them to pick you up at your hotel for a truly royal evening.
The Bayfront Marin House (pictured above) is a 15-room bed and breakfast, boasting modern, sexy rooms (make sure you ask us about showers with body jets and fixtures for two, two-person jetted tubs in the room, and our daily happy hour with our signature sangria, the addictive Maringria). We’re located right on the Matanzas Bay (you can see both the bridge of Lions and the lighthouse from our rooms), in the historic district.
It’s the perfect place to stay for Valentine’s Day, as we have lots of romantic places–our bayfront gazebo, a hammock under the palms, a round “pouf” for lounging on the second floor deck–or ask us for a list of the best places to propose (or just kiss, if the proposal is still a while away). We have an engagement consultant on staff–he’ll be happy to help you plan the perfect place to pop the question.
Give us a call at 904.824.4301 to talk to us about planning *your* perfect romantic getaway in St. Augustine!