18 Best Things to do in St. Augustine with Kids
St. Augustine is a perfect family vacation destination because there are so many things to do in St. Augustine with kids! From outdoor adventures to learning about America’s oldest city, kiddos will love all of the interactive & fun activities here.
As a local Florida mom, I’ve been taking my daughter to St. Augustine since she was a baby – and we’re always finding more kid-friendly things to do here. Based on this, I’ve written this guide to help you plan the perfect family trip by sharing the best things to do with kids in St. Augustine!
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Looking for the Best Things to do in St. Augustine with kids?
Here are the top kid-friendly activities:
🏴☠️ Black Raven Treasure Hunt Cruise – Interactive pirate ship cruise
🚂 Old Town Trolley Tour – Best way to see St. Augustine
🏰 Castillo de San Marcos – St. Augustine’s historic fort
🐊 St. Augustine Alligator Farm Park – Alligators, zip lines, & more!
Is St. Augustine Worth Visiting with Kids?
Absolutely! St. Augustine is definitely worth visiting with kids. It’s packed with fun things to do with kids — from exploring the historic old town & attractions to having a fun family beach day. Whether you are planning a day trip to St. Augustine or a week long trip – its the perfect place for a Florida family vacation!
Best Things to do in St. Augustine with Kids
Below you’ll find some of the best things to do in St. Augustine with kids – including fun, interactive activities, museums, and some budget-friendly & free things to do.
1. Old Town Trolly Hop-On Hop-Off Tour
📍 Location: Several starting locations
✅ Open Times: Daily from 9am – 4:30pm
🎟️ Book Tickets Here
The Old Town Trolley Tour is an easy and fun way to experience the best of historic St. Augustine. The tour itself covers a 90-minute loop, but there are several different stops to get on and off along the way.
Some of the popular stops include the historic St. George Street, Castillo de San Marcos, the Fountain of Youth Archeological Park, and more.
I love taking the trolley tour in St. Augustine – not only will you learn more about the city’s history but it is such an easy way to get around to all the main attractions. Plus, if you are going in the summer it makes it much more breezy & cool vs. walking in the heat!
💙 Why kids love it: Kids love riding the trolley, and it’s an easy way to get around town without a lot of walking.
⭐⭐⭐ Don’t miss out on the BEST way to See St. Augustine: Book Trolley Tickets Here
Money Saving Tip: If you need to find parking in St. Augustine – the trolley offers free parking for customers at the 1st Trolley Stop (167 San Marco Ave).
2. St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
📍 Location: 999 Anastasia Blvd. St. Augustine, FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Daily from 9am – 5pm
🎟️ Book Tickets Here
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm is a must-visit for anyone who wants to see alligators, crocodiles, and more up close and in person!
One of the highlights of going here is the unique zip line experience, where you’ll zip across real life gators! The zip line is an add-on experience and I’d recommend making reservations in advance.
Kids can ride the zip line, but must be at least 8 years old and over 52″ tall, and weigh less than 250 pounds.
In addition to the zip line there are daily shows and lots of animal exhibits to see – from Albino Alligators to Lemurs from Madagascar!
💙 Why kids love it: SO many alligators! They also have exotic birds, monkeys, and even a zipline that goes over the alligators (for older kids and adults).
3. Castillo de San Marcos
📍 Location: 11 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: Daily from 9am – 5pm
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here or purchase at the entrance
When visiting St. Augustine you can’t miss the famous fort – Castillo de San Marcos. This historic fort dates back to 1695 and was built by the Spanish to defend Florida and their Atlantic Trade Route.
Today, Castillo de San Marcos is a National Monument that you can explore. While there isn’t a ton of things on the inside it is interesting to see if you enjoy history. If you prefer to save money, you can visit the outside grounds of the Fort for free.
On Saturdays & Sundays, there are cannon demonstrations at certain times (see the schedule here).
💙 Why kids love it: Kids can watch real cannon demonstrations, climb historic stone walls, and imagine life as a soldier in a centuries-old fort.
Money Saving Tip: Do you have a 4th grader? If so, check out the Every Kid Outdoors Program, which offers FREE Admission to 4th graders (and accompanying family members) to a number of National Parks & Monuments across the United States.
4. Black Raven Pirate Ship Treasure Hunt
📍 Location: 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: Cruise times vary
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here
If you’re kids love pirates than I’d highly recommend going on the Black Raven Pirate Ship! This boat tour offers St. Augustine’s only interactive pirate cruise. The boat cruise includes a live show with pirates in full costume, plus you’ll be riding on a pirate ship! Arrr! ⚓ 🏴☠️
The Black Raven Treasure Hunt is the boat cruise with the interactive pirate show, which is such a fun activity for kiddos. The Black Raven Boat also offers a Sunset Cruise with scenic views if you are looking for something more relaxed.
💙 Why kids love it: Kids get to pretend to be pirates and sail the seas on this interactive pirate ship cruise!
⭐ Aye Aye Captain! Book your Pirate Cruise Here! ⚓ 🏴☠️
5. St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
📍 Location: 100 Red Cox Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Daily 9am – 6pm (last admission at 5:30pm).
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here or purchase at the entrance
If you are looking for a hidden gem to visit, the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum is it.
This museum is so much more than just a lighthouse to look at. Instead there is WWII history, a shipwreck exhibit, and best of all – panoramic views of St. Augustine from the top of the lighthouse.
💙 Why kids love it: In addition to learning about pirates and shipwrecks there are several things for kiddos here – such as the pirate themed playground, play boats, and a mini lighthouse.
6. Boat Tour on the Matanzas River
📍 Location: Matanzas River, departure points vary
✅ Open Times: varies
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here
If you’re looking for a unique way to experience St. Augustine, consider taking a boat cruise down the Matanzas River! On the way, you’ll get views of the Bridge of Lions, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, and more.
There are a few different options when it comes to boat tours in St. Augustine – including short but scenic 1 hour boat tours, sunset cruises, or dolphin & wildlife tours.
💙 Why kids love it: Kids will love being out on the water, plus you’ll want to keep watch for marine life like dolphins!
✅ Get your St. Augustine Boat Cruise Tickets Here
7. St. Augustine Beach
📍 Location: 1 8th St, St. Augustine, FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Sunrise to sunset
🎟️ Tickets: Beach is free (The Pier has a $2 admission)
One thing I love about St. Augustine is that it is surrounded by beautiful beaches. The closest beach to the historic old town is St. Augustine Beach, which also has a fishing pier, splash pad, and some nearby restaurants & hotels.
St. Augustine Beach is a large, sandy beach that is perfect for kiddos to play in the sand and build sand castles. You can swim here too, although in my opinion it can get bigger waves than other beaches in Florida, making it more difficult for little kids to enjoy.
💙 Why kids love it: Kids love building sandcastles & getting to swim in the Atlantic Ocean!
Important Safety Tip: Rip currents at beaches in Florida can be strong and dangerous.
Near the Pier, you will see a flag – if that flag is red there is a HIGH hazard of strong rip currents and high surf. It isn’t safe to swim in these conditions. Yellow flags indicate medium hazard, green flags indicate lower hazard (but rip currents can still happen).
8. Splash Pad at the St. Augustine Pier
📍 Location: 350 Beach Blvd, Saint Augustine Beach, FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Sunrise to Sunset
🎟️ Tickets: N/A
Splash Park at the Pier is a small, but fun splash pad right at St. Augustine Beach. This is a perfect option for kids to run around and cool off in the warm Florida sun!
As a parent of a young child, I love that St. Augustine has a splash pad as it is a safe way for kiddos to cool off without swimming out far in the ocean – especially if the waves are too high at the beach for swimming.
💙 Why kids love it: Splash pads are perfect for cooling down, plus kids get to run around and get some energy out!
9. St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum
📍 Location: 12 S Castillo Dr, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: Daily, 10am – 7pm
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here
Did you know that St. Augustine was once a famous pirate stronghold? Famous pirates like Sir Francis Drake and Robert Searles used to frequent St. Augustine, as well as many other pirates. Today, you can see some of the most famous pirate artifacts – like one of the original Jolly Roger Flags.
The Pirate & Treasure Museum is both interactive and educational – making it the perfect place to visit to learn more about St. Augustine’s history & the Golden Age of Pirates!
💙 Why kids love it: This museum is perfect for elementary aged kids and up, that are interested in learning about pirates and seeing real pirate artifacts & treasures. ⚓ 🏴☠️
10. Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park
📍 Location: 11 Magnolia Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 9am – 6pm (last admission at 5pm)
🎟️ Tickets: Buy Tickets Here or on-site
Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Park will take you back to the 1st settlement of colonial America (55 years prior to the pilgrims landing on Plymouth Rock).
At this park, you’ll be able to walk around and see what colonial life would have been like through a variety of exhibits.
Some of the highlights include climbing the watchtower, exploring the Navigator’s Planetarium, or watching the blacksmith demonstrations, musket firings, and archaeological digs. You can even drink from the legendary fountain of youth here!
💙 Why kids love it: Lots of kid-friendly, educational exhibits. Plus, there are free-roaming Peacocks!
11. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum
📍 Location: 19 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 10am – 8pm (last admission an hour before closing)
🎟️ Tickets: Purchase on-site
Ripley’s Believe It or Not is a unique museum, filled with quirky objects and interactive exhibits.
Its perfect for kids because its fun, but also allows kids to use their creativity & critical thinking skills. In addition to the unique displays, there are puzzles, optical illusions, and games throughout the museum.
💙 Why kids love it: Kids will love getting to explore this fun, weirdly interesting museum – which is filled with games, puzzles, optical illusions, and interactive exhibits.
12. Whetstone Chocolate Factory Tour
📍 Location: 139 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: Store hours and tour times vary
🎟️ Tickets: Book Tickets Here
Whetstone Chocolates has been a local, family-run operation in St. Augustine since the 1960’s and serves up some delicious artisan chocolates. So, if you love sweets you’ll love taking this delicious chocolate factory tour in St. Augustine!
The tour is a four-tiered tasting experience led by Whetstone Chocolatiers, where you’ll have the chance to indulge on dark, milk, and white chocolate, cocoa nibs and more.
Whetstone Chocolates has 3 locations in St. Augustine, but the tours are held at the 139 King Street location.
Traveling with littles? This tour is free for kiddos under the age of 5!
💙 Why kids love it: Kids love sweet treats and so this is the perfect tour that combines chocolate with a touch of local culture!
13. St. Augustine Shipwreck Museum
📍 Location: 46 Charlotte Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 10am – 4pm
🎟️ Tickets: Purchase on-site
This family-friendly museum in St. Augustine tells the story of famous shipwrecks that happened around Florida, in the Caribbean, and around the world. The exhibits feature artifacts, treasure, and more. They also offer a kid-friendly treasure hunt activity for St. Augustine!
💙 Why kids love it: Kids can learn about famous shipwrecks from around the world and see some of the treasures & artifacts.
14. Old Jail Museum
📍 Location: 167 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 9am – 5pm
🎟️ Tickets: Buy Tickets Here or on-site
The Old Jail Museum is a unique experience that shows what life was like for sheriffs and inmates of the early 1900’s in St. Augustine.
The historic jail that was first built in 1891, and today you can take a guided tour led by a costumed 1900’s deputy to learn more about the interesting (and slightly spooky) stories of this historic spot.
💙 Why kids love it: St. Augustine is known for its haunted history, and the Old Jail is a good way to experience some of the spookiness of St. Augustine in a kid-friendly way that isn’t as scary as a ghost tour.
15. Anastasia State Park
📍 Location: 300 Anastasia Park Road, St. Augustine FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Daily – 8am until Sunset
🎟️ Tickets: $8 per vehicle on-site
Anastasia State Park is the best place to visit in St. Augustine for families that love nature and being outdoors. The park includes over 4 miles of beaches, hiking trails, a campground, and more.
Some of the popular things to do in Anastasia State Park including the following:
⛺ Camping (both RV + tent campsites available)
🏖️ Relaxing at the beach
🐚 Shelling
🚣🏼♂️ Surfing, paddle boarding, & kayaking
🌊 Swimming (be careful about rip currents)
🥾 Hiking along the Ancient Dunes Nature Trail loop
🦅 Bird watching & wildlife viewing
💙 Why kids love it: Building sandcastles on the beach, walking the nature trails, or listening to stories around a campfire are definitely fun experiences for kids!
16. Ripley’s Bayfront Mini Golf
📍 Location: 111 Avenida Menendez, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 10am – 9pm
🎟️ Tickets: Purchase on-site
Not only does this mini golf course have scenic views of the Matanzas River & Bridge of Lions, but it is also the oldest mini golf course in all of Florida!
This historic mini golf course first opened in 1949, and today you can play a fun (or competitive) 18 rounds of mini golf while taking in all the scenic views!
💙 Why kids love it: Mini golf is a fun activity for both kids & adults!
17. Colonial Quarter
📍 Location: 14 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine, FL 32084
✅ Open Times: 10am – 5pm
🎟️ Tickets: Purchase on-site
Colonial Quarter is a cool spot for kids to experience some of the history in St. Augustine.
From climbing the 35 ft Spanish Watchtower to watching a real life black smith demonstration on the hourly historic adventure tour, you’ll get a sense for what life was like in the early days of the city!
If you are visiting in the evening, make sure to check out their Colonial Oak Park – which hosts a variety of concerts & events right in the historic district of the city.
💙 Why kids love it: Colonial Quarter brings the history of St. Augustine to life through an interactive experience.
18. Harbormaster Park & the Bridge of Lions
📍 Location: 20 Bridge of Lions, St. Augustine, FL 32080
✅ Open Times: Sunrise to Sunset
🎟️ Tickets: FREE
If you’re looking for a free activity for littles, check out the Harbormaster Park. This is a small, waterfront park and its also where you can find the Lion Statue for the famous Bridge of Lions.
Between the Harbormaster Park and the Castillo de San Marcos, there is a large waterfront sidewalk that is ideal for a scenic stroller walk in St. Augustine!
💙 Why kids love it: If you are visiting St. Augustine with a baby or toddler – they’ll love going for a stroller ride here and you’ll enjoy the great views!
Free Things to Do with Kids in St. Augustine
In addition to the above things to do, there are also plenty of free options! Here are a few free things to do with kids in St. Augustine that I want to highlight:
- St. George Street – Pedestrian-only street with shops & performers
- Castillo de San Marcos Grounds – Free grassy area with cannons & views
- Love Tree – Unique palm growing through an oak tree
- Bridge of Lions Walk – Scenic walk with waterfront views
- St. Augustine Beach & Splash Pad – Sandy beach near the historic district
- Plaza de la Constitución – Historic park with space to run
- Pirate Treasure Hunt – Free printable scavenger hunts online
Family-Friendly Events in Saint Augustine
St. Augustine also hosts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year.
The most famous event is the Saint Augustine Night of Lights which is held between November through January.
During the Night of Lights festival, the entire historic district is adorned with Christmas lights, creating a magical atmosphere. This is what makes St. Augustine the best place in Florida to visit during the holiday season!
Other fun kid-friendly festivals in St. Augustine include the 4th of July Fireworks Over the Matanzas event, the St. Augustine Lions Seafood Festival, the Cathedral Festival, and the St. Augustine Celtic Festival.
Where to Stay in St. Augustine with Kids
If you are looking for where to stay in St. Augustine with kids, here are a few highly rated options:
📍 Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
⭐ Rating: 4.3/5 Stars on Tripadvisor I ✅ Book Here
- Best location – steps away from old town and views of the Matanzas River
- Kid-friendly amenities like an outdoor pool
- Spacious, modern rooms
👉 Check Prices and Book the Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bayfront
📍St George Inn
⭐ Rating: 4.7/5 Stars on Tripadvisor I ✅ Book Here
- Highly-rated boutique hotel with historic charm
- Spacious rooms perfect for families
- Complimentary breakfast
👉 Check Prices and Book St. George Inn
Kid-Friendly Restaurants in St. Augustine
☀️ The Floridian – Local restaurant with a casual atmosphere
🏖️ Beachcomber – Beachfront restaurant with tables in the sand
🍕 Pizza Time – Award-winning pizza
🦞 Salt Life Food Shack – Delicious seafood dishes & rooftop dining
🐱 The Witty Whisker Cat Cafe – Fun cafe for kiddos that love animals
🌮 Gringos Tacos – For quick, kid-approved bites
FAQs Kid-Friendly Things to do in St. Augustine
St. Augustine is a great place for families and there is plenty of things to do for kids of all ages. St. Augustine has lots of history mixed with interactive museums and activities, making it an educational but fun place for kids.
2-3 days is the ideal amount of time to spend in St. Augustine with kids. This amount of time will allow you to explore the old town and some of the top attractions & museums. If you have 4-5 days you could also add in some beach time!
Yes, St. Augustine Beach is a great option for families. It is a kid-friendly beach and has a splash pad near the pier. Another option is Vilano Beach, which is also a family-friendly beach that is quieter and more relaxed than St. Augustine Beach.
Here are the top kid-friendly museums in St. Augustine, Florida:
– St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum – A hands-on museum where kids can explore real pirate artifacts, touch a 400-year-old treasure chest, and go on a scavenger hunt.
– Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum – Full of weird and wacky exhibits, optical illusions, and interactive displays that are fun for curious minds.
– Colonial Experience at the Colonial Quarter – A living history museum where kids can watch musket demonstrations, explore a replica watchtower, and learn about life in the 1700s.
– St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum – Combines history, science, and adventure. Kids can climb the lighthouse, see shipwreck artifacts, and participate in hands-on exhibits.
The Wrap Up: Best Things to do in St Augustine with Kids
Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or a full family vacation, there are so many unforgettable things to do in St. Augustine with kids. From hands-on museums and historic forts to outdoor adventures and beach fun, this charming city offers something for every age and interest.
As a Florida mom who’s explored St. Augustine with my daughter for years, I can say firsthand that it’s one of the best family-friendly destinations in Florida. I hope this guide helps you plan a fun and memorable trip your kids will talk about for years to come.
Looking for more family travel tips or Florida adventures? Check out my other kid-friendly itineraries below!
☀️ How to Spend 3 Days in Tampa with Kids
👶 Best Things to do in Tampa with a Baby
