Why St. Augustine Should Be Your Next Destination for a Girls Getaway

From delicious food to beautiful beaches, St. Augustine, Florida, has all the ingredients for a perfect girls getaway.

Fact checked by Elizabeth MacLennan

If you're lucky enough to have a group of gal pals who love to travel, chances are you've been there and done that when it comes to popular getaways like Miami, Las Vegas, and Nashville. When it's time for your friend group to expand their travel repertoire and try something new, consider heading to northern Florida's Historic Coast for a stay in charming St. Augustine.

While it may be the oldest city in the continental U.S. — founded by Spaniards in 1565, though Indigenous people lived here long before — St. Augustine has a youthful energy that vibrates throughout its brick-paved streets. Whether you're in your 20s looking to have a different kind of travel experience or you're at the stage where the mayhem of packed nightclubs is no longer appealing, this city has something for every friend group. Here's everything you need to know to plan your perfect girls getaway in St. Augustine.

Related: 25 Girls Weekend Getaways That Won't Break the Bank

Instagram-worthy Backdrops

The first thing you might notice about St. Augustine is that it's chock-full of photo-ops worthy of showing off on social media.

Thanks to its centuries-old foundations, St. Augustine is home to a mixture of beautiful architectural styles. A stroll through its colorful downtown streets allows visitors to admire the Spanish Renaissance homes with their often-colorful fa?ades and wooden balconies. Popular Southern styles also come into play with homes that have wraparound porches painted in pristine shades of white. Plus, you can't miss the grandeur of the architecture seen at Flagler College, pictured above, which includes Tiffany stained-glass windows.

And that's just downtown. The beaches, lighthouse, and Bridge of Lions are all picturesque and photoshoot-worthy as well. Long story short, you'll want to pack your best outfits and strike a pose.

Mouth-watering Food

All that sightseeing, photo snapping, and laughing with friends is bound to make you work up an appetite. Despite St. Augustine's relatively small size, the city is a foodie haven with restaurants featuring a variety of global influences. The main attraction, however, is its homegrown Florida cuisine, with a focus on locally caught seafood, fresh ingredients, and Southern classics.

There's no better place to start than The Floridian, an aptly named downtown eatery. There, you'll find fried green tomatoes (a must), buttermilk biscuits served with braised pork belly and hot sauce honey, creamy goat cheese grits topped with blackened seafood and a ginger-passionfruit reduction, among other local favorites.

Meanwhile, at Catch 27, daily deliveries of freshly caught seafood are prepared with a uniquely Southern twist — think deviled egg BLTs with a fried oyster or seafood gumbo, featuring shrimp and clams from Florida waters and Carolina gold rice grits. And don't miss out on the coconut key lime panna cotta for dessert.

For indecisive eaters who want it all, a three-hour food tour by The Tasting Tours offers the opportunity to sample some of the best dishes and drinks in the city. To top it all off, this business is women-owned, so you'll be adding an extra bit of girl power to your St. Augustine girls getaway.

Related: This Charming Florida City Has Quaint Inns, Pristine Beaches, and Year-round Appeal

A Touch of Adventure

While strolling through St. Augustine is entertaining enough, there are also plenty of ways to amp up the adventure factor with some outdoorsy fun. Though several companies in the area offer on-water experiences, St. Augustine Eco Tours makes sure its guests leave with great photos and a better understanding of the local history and wildlife.

Offering boating, sailing, and kayaking tours featuring an expert guide, a trip with St. Augustine Eco Tours is your best bet for spotting the beloved dolphins that live in the waters surrounding the city. Along the way, an interpretive naturalist will explain dolphin behavior and point out the local birdlife. Though wildlife sightings are not guaranteed, these experiences don't disappoint either way.

If eating all that fresh seafood leaves you inspired to catch some of your own, St. Augustine is also the perfect place to go fishing. Whether you're looking for a relaxing day of fishing on the calm Intracoastal waterways or want a high-seas adventure with some deep-sea fishing, look no further than Sea Love Charters. To complete your experience and show off all the fish you caught, head to Kingfish Grill, where they'll prepare your catch in multiple ways: blackened, fried, or grilled.

Rest and Relaxation

Though some travelers love to pack it all in on a trip, hopping from one activity to the next, St. Augustine is also the perfect place to unwind. Plus, you couldn't possibly come to the Sunshine State without visiting the beach, so be sure to make your way to St. Augustine Beach. Beyond the sand and sea, this beach — one of the most popular in the area — offers restaurants and a park with a fishing pier, pavilion, splash pad, and sand volleyball courts. For an experience that takes you away from the city and immerses you in nature, head to the beach at Anastasia State Park, where you can also explore sand dunes on a nature trail and keep an eye out for the many birds that call the area home.

Lounging by the beach is certainly relaxing, but for the friend group that likes to indulge, the Salt Spa St. Augustine offers a variety of massages and other luxurious treatments using Polish and Himalayan Crystal Salt. The facility also provides a salt bath, where you can soak in a sensory deprivation float tank, and a salt cave that has a soothing glow and cool temperatures.

Related: 20 Best Things to Do in St. Augustine, Florida

Just the Right Nightlife

You won't find any raucous nightclubs in St. Augustine, but the downtown area comes to life after dark and offers plenty of entertainment with its many pubs and late-night dining venues. Check out Ancient City Brewing for some craft beer, or head to one of several Irish pubs for a classic pint. Wine lovers will enjoy a visit to the San Sebastian Winery, which offers complimentary tours and wine tastings daily. It's also home to a rooftop bar, perfect for catching the sunset, enjoying some live music, and sipping on wine, sangria, or beer.

If your friends are into a different kind of nightlife — the paranormal kind — St. Augustine is also known for its many ghost tours. Whether you prefer a lantern-lit walking tour around the creepiest parts of the city, an open-air trolley ride with a stop at the super-haunted Old Jail, or a chance to do a paranormal investigation with professional ghost-hunting equipment, you're in for a memorable night with the girls.

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