A Magical Season in St. Augustine!
With typically pretty mild weather in the winter, St. Augustine is a wonderful place for a romantic escape. It’s especially magical when you time your trip to coincide with the St. Augustine Night of Lights, which is an award-winning lighted display that runs throughout the holiday season.
The St. Augustine Night of Lights will run from November 20, 2021, to January 31, 2022. It’s the 28th year of this incredible display, which makes this already romantic city breathtaking. It’s a winter wonderland, and though there is no snow blanketing the ground in this tropical paradise, the city makes up for millions of twinkling lights and a festive atmosphere.
Though the St. Augustine Night of Lights is a magical reason to visit the country’s oldest city this winter, it’s not the only reason. There are so many fun things to do in St. Augustine throughout the year. Not to mention, it’s always a romantic place to spend some time with your sweetheart.
Up the romance and stay at one of our Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts in St. Augustine, and you have the recipe for an unforgettable getaway this winter. Though all distinctly different in style and character, each of our Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts is dedicated to providing an exceptionally authentic experience, complete with thoughtful amenities and world-class hospitality.
This winter, experience the difference a Select Registry property can make, and book your getaway to see the St. Augustine Night of Lights!
See the St. Augustine Night of Lights
The St. Augustine Night of Lights celebration is about more than making the city pretty during the holiday season. The festival can trace its origins to an old Spanish tradition of placing glowing white candles in the windows during Christmas. The practice has evolved over the years and today encompasses the entire historic district of downtown St. Augustine.
This year’s St. Augustine Night of Lights will feature more than 3 million twinkling lights, beginning in the historic Plaza de la Constitución and stretching out to illuminate the entire St. Augustine historic district. It’s quite a sight to see the city’s historic buildings and majestic oaks draped with so many brilliant white lights – and something you need to see for yourself at least once.
The St. Augustine Night of Lights is one of the most popular holiday light displays in the country, with thousands of visitors coming year after year to marvel at the gentle glow of the city. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to get around and enjoy the St. Augustine Night of Lights.
The city of St. Augustine offers a complimentary shuttle on select Saturdays of the festival and daily from December 26-30. You can also walk from many of our Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts in the area, making it easier than ever to park off-site and enjoy a hassle-free evening in historic downtown St. Augustine.
Though our favorite way to enjoy the St. Augustine Night of Lights is to stroll your way through town, you can also hop on the Old Town Trolley for their Night of Lights Tour. You can also enjoy the St. Augustine Night of Lights from an entirely different vantage point – on the water! Several other tour companies offer Night of Lights tours, including Eco Tours, St. Augustine Sailing, and more.
More Things to do in St. Augustine
As impressive as the St. Augustine Night of Lights is, it’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things to do in St. Augustine this winter. You’ll be immediately swept up by the historic and romantic ambiance of this incredible place. The city is truly a delightful place to visit any time of year.
While you’re in town, take the time to wander the historic streets of downtown, shopping, eating, and sightseeing along the way. There are plenty of things to do in St. Augustine, and these are just a few of our favorites:
- Meander down St. George Street in St. Augustine’s Historic District, easily ranked as one of the best things to do in St. Augustine. It’s a pedestrian-only zone filled to the brim with shops, restaurants, and art galleries, not to mention plenty of history and historical attractions.
- Visit the Castillo San Marcos National Monument, which the Spanish colonists built in 1672. It’s the oldest masonry fort in the country and offers some stunning views of the bay.
- Visit beautiful Anastasia State Park – an excellent place for birdwatching, kayaking, and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Florida’s coast.
- Visit The Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park – it’s the site of the first settlement in America. It’s also home to Ponce de Leon’s Spring of Eternal Hope!
- Visit the St. Augustine Alligator Farm for an unforgettable afternoon in a quintessentially Florida kind of way.
- Take a ghost tour! St. Augustine is considered to be one of America’s most haunted cities. The Ghosts and Gravestones tour is a great choice.
- Enjoy the sun and play a round of golf at one of the many St. Augustine Golf Courses.
- Enjoy a bit of wine tasting at the San Sebastian Winery.
- Take in the view from St. Augustine’s Lighthouse and Maritime Museum. From the top, you’ll enjoy sweeping views of downtown St. Augustine.
- Explore the many wonderful museums in St. Augustine, and learn more about the history of this remarkable town.
Of course, it goes without saying that curling up and enjoying some romantic downtime at our Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts is our favorite thing to do in St. Augustine. Our Inns offer exceptional lodging, world-class hospitality, and an experience you won’t soon forget. Book your getaway today! Don’t miss your chance to see the St. Augustine Night of Lights this year.
St. Augustine Bed and Breakfasts
Casa de Suenos
The “House of Dreams” is an intimate B&B, located in the center of the nation’s Oldest City. The Inn is near cultural treasures, historic sites, restaurants, shops, galleries, museums and more. Leave your car behind and explore on foot, by trolley or from a horse-drawn carriage. Seven comfortable guest rooms each have unique appointments, some with private balconies or jetted tubs, all with private en suite baths.
Personal service and abundant amenities are a hallmark of the Casa, which blends elegance with casual tranquility. Guests enjoy the hearty breakfast buffet, an afternoon social hour, evening desserts, and free off-street parking.
St. Francis Inn
Located in the historic Oldest City of St Augustine, St. Francis Inn of Florida combines a romantic atmosphere with modern comforts. Your stay at our St Augustine bed and breakfast includes a gourmet buffet breakfast and specialty coffee drinks, evening social hour with complimentary beverages and tasty treats, and nightly homemade desserts.
The St Francis Inn’s location is one of its best assets — right in the heart of the historic Oldest City. Still, the Inn is quiet and serene in its own private corner. Ancient brick-paved streets around the Inn reveal fine restaurants, galleries, museums, historic landmarks, and a variety of specialty shops.
Marker 8 Hotel and Marina
Marker 8 Hotel and Marina is a waterfront boutique hotel located on the Matanzas River at the foot of the Historic Bridge of Lions in downtown St. Augustine. Marker 8 is the perfect location for magnificent views of the City’s historic skyline and breathtaking sunsets.
A series of intimate garden spaces, a cantilevered boardwalk, a waterfront poolscape, and a rooftop look-out all create a relaxing and high-end experience for our guests. Marker 8 also features a 24-slip marina that can accommodate sailboats, boats, and yachts up to 103 feet in length. You are welcome to stay aboard your boat or check in to a guest room.
Bayfront Westcott House Bed and Breakfast
This bed and breakfast is located in the downtown historic district, just south of the famed Bridge of Lions, and there are at least a dozen award-winning restaurants and dozens more street-side cafes within blocks of the Inn. There are coffee shops, high-end art galleries, artisan shops, fashion stores, water sports, and historic sites and attractions everywhere you turn, all within walking distance from Bayfront Westcott House.
Just 3 miles away, you’ll find Anastasia State Park along with more than 1,600 acres featuring 4 miles of pristine beach, a tidal salt marsh, and a maritime and upland hammock. Just a mile further, you’ll find the St. Augustine Beach Pier.
