St. Augustine, Florida — Visitor & Local Living Guide

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established city in the United States, and its history still shapes daily life today. Visitors often begin at the famous Castillo de San Marcos fort overlooking Matanzas Bay before walking the historic district along St. George Street, filled with colonial architecture, shops, galleries, and restaurants. Crossing the Bridge of Lions leads to Anastasia Island where the scenery changes to coastal living and wide beaches.

Locals and tourists spend time at St. Augustine Beach Pier and Vilano Beach, where certain areas allow 4x4 beach driving and oceanfront access. The Vilano Beach Pier, waterfront dining at The Reef along the Atlantic, and Aunt Kate’s on the Intracoastal Waterway are popular stops. Because the city blends walkable history with oceanfront recreation, many visitors who arrive for a trip later return to live in the St. Johns County area.

Beyond tourism, the region has rapidly expanded toward World Golf Village, Nocatee, and nearby Ponte Vedra. New communities, apartments, and master-planned neighborhoods continue to grow west and north of downtown, bringing families, retirees, and remote workers relocating to Northeast Florida.