Some of the best things to do for the entire family in St. Augustine are FREE! Check out our list of the best free fun in St. Augustine, Florida - the nation's oldest city!
Jump to:
- Fort Matanzas National Monument
- Wednesday Pier Farmers Market
- Memorial Presbyterian Church
- St. Augustine Distillery
- First Friday Art Walk
- Fort Mose Historic State Park
- Farmers Market on the Amp
- Anastasia Island State Park
- Project Swing Park
- Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
- Frank B. Butler Park with Beach Access
You might also be interested in my review of the Best Coffee Shops in St. Augustine in case you want a cup of joe while you're out and about!
Fort Matanzas National Monument
A perfect place for families to picnic and explore is at the fort. First you'll get to ride the free ferry ride to the fort which is always exciting for kids. Then you'll find beautifully shaded picnic areas with a public restroom nearby. After that you could take the kids to become a Junior Ranger, explore the Marsh Trail or nature trail, enjoy the fishing pier, or play on the beach.
Wednesday Pier Farmers Market
Open 8am-noon, the Wednesday Pier Farmers Market is a great place to discover local food artisans, community artists, and enjoy the community. If you bring the kids, grab something yummy to eat from the market or check out the crafts geared toward kids. The best part about this market is that it's located right along the beach, so when you're done shopping head on to the beach to play!
Memorial Presbyterian Church
Henry Flagler, known for his development of the east coast of Florida, had this built in memorial of his daughter in 1889. Take a self-guided tour of this stunning church and just take in the beauty. Spend as little or as much time as you'd like and take advantage of the knowledgeable tour guide/ docents that are available. While there is a suggested donation of $5 on their website, you can technically visit for free.
St. Augustine Distillery
The St. Augustine Distillery offers free tours of their facilities. There is no reservation required and any age is allowed on the tours. You'll see them bottle spirits by hand, look at the barrels up close, and learn about their rich history.
First Friday Art Walk
On the first friday of every month, visitors of St. Augustine's historic downtown area can experience free fun at the First Friday Art Walk. This is a great way to get a peek into more than 25 galleries and even have a chance to meet some of the artists. There is free parking and free admission. There are often other free events tied into this, like the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine free organ concert. For extra fun, take the Old Town Trolley which makes stops at Hypolita Street, Cathedral Place, Lightner Museum, and San Sebastian Winery and more. You can find a map of the stops here.
Fort Mose Historic State Park
The fascinating history of Fort Mose State Park includes the story of the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what would become the United States. There is free admission to the park, and costs only $2 for people older than 6 years old to enter the visitor center. The park offers plenty of activities:
- Explore open spaces and see wildlife such as blue heron and bald eagles.
- Canoe or kayak in the creek.
- Hike the 700 foot boardwalk that extends over marshy wetlands.
- Picnic in one of the free pavilions
Farmers Market on the Amp
The Saint Augustine Ampitheatre Farmers Market is open every Saturday from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m and is a great place for free fun. Here you'll find local and fresh food, handmade arts and crafts, live entertainment, and other special events. There is free admission, free parking at The Amp and the Elks Lodge, and they encourage you to bring your reusable bags. This is where I love to get my favorite coffee from Growers Alliance. You can read more about that in my post Best Coffee Shops in St. Augustine. A few times a year they offer a Night Market on a Tuesday night. These special nights include all of the fun that you'd find at the Saturday markets, but with food trucks, a full bar, and live music.
Anastasia Island State Park
Anastasia State Park is home to over 1,600 acres of beaches, abundant wildlife, tidal marshes, and ancient sand dunes. Here at Make Healthy Easy, we love activities like this that get the whole family outside and moving. While state parks do have an entrance fee (this one is $8 per vehicle), there are some who qualify for free entrance! For example, if you're a licensed family foster home are eligible to receive an annual free Family Annual Entrance Pass. There are others eligible, so be sure to check out their FAQ about this. Kids of all ages will enjoy plenty of activities that this state park has to offer.
Project Swing Park
This is a wonderful place to take lots of kids to get their energy out and you'll enjoy plenty of shade. The most convenient parking is in the city parking garage (but it's not free) right next door. You can also look for street parking nearby.
Castillo de San Marcos National Monument
While it does cost $15 to enter the fort, you can walk all the way around the fort, enjoy the beautiful lawns and hear the cannons fired for free. This is a great picnic spot with lots of space for kids to play and run around.
Frank B. Butler Park with Beach Access
This is the best free beach parking access on St. Augustine beach in my opinion. There is a pretty big parking lot that doesn’t usually fill up until nearly lunchtime. There are bathrooms, showers and even a small pavilion all with easy access to the beach. This is also a historical site tied to the civil rights movement and you can read about the history on the display in the park.
So as you can see, some of the best free fun things in St. Augustine are waiting for you! Have fun exploring America's oldest city and all it has to offer.
