Activities in Saint Augustine

The goal of the knowledgeable guides at White Ibis Tours is to get you out on the water, no matter the season. Their signature pontoon tours and kayak trips are designed to highlight the area?s unique ecology and sites, including the Bridge of Lions, the Castillo de San Marcos, and Shell Mound Bluff. For those who wish to map out their own journeys, the business rents sit-on-top and sit-inside kayaks in both tandem and single models.

St. Augustine Sailing releases people from their landlocked state of mind, allowing them to go nautical with captained sailing charters around the iceberg-infested Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Augustine inlet. Celebrate a late Valentine's Day with the object of your affections, or gather three friends and enjoy a private water ride on a modern sea car. Charter sailboats available with this Groupon include vessels such as the Hunter 36 and the Hunter 33, which are outfitted with comfy seating, luxurious amenities, and Captain Ahab. If you need more than four to keep your float session fun, upgrade to a group of five or six for an additional fee of $45 per adult or $30 per child (ages 3-12). Children under age 3 are free. Sailors can bring along their own seafaring fare and libations, including alcoholic beverages, or avail themselves of the two harbor restaurants that will cheerfully cook up charter cuisine if notified in advance.

Nestled in a growth of towering trees, the Dow Museum of Historic Houses is a collection of nine colonial homes that date as far back as 1790. Rustic courtyards, fine art, and architecture feed eyes’ appetites as guests meander from home to home, each one revealing a story about the original occupants and the role they played in St. Augustine history. Within the city block of huddled homes lies the Prince Murat House, one of the oldest still-standing colonial structures in the area and the former property of Napoleon Bonaparte's nephew. The museum offers self-guided and guided tours that hop from home to garden and back again, creating a rousing experience for explorers, casual historians, and ding-dong-ditch aficionados.

The Oldest Wooden School House transports museum-goers to the early 18th century and allows them to meander through one of the oldest schoolhouses in the United States. Built more than 200 years ago out of red cedar, wooden pegs, handmade nails, and painstakingly carved Legos, the structure acted as a homestead before becoming one of the first co-ed schools in 1788. Animatronic children and schoolmaster describe a typical classroom day, and guest students examine copies of textbooks, artifacts, and cooking utensils used in the schoolhouse. After the tour, visitors stroll through the lush gardens that wind past the kitchen, privy, and well, and blossom with tropical plants and a 250-year-old pecan tree. Groupon holders can then head to the gift shop to receive 30% off any one item.

David Slemp still can’t wait to get in the water. He began his swimming career at age 5 and landed an 11-year stint as a Marine Rescue–certified ocean-rescue guard. The seasoned watersportsman teamed up with Eddie Toy—a chemical oceanographer who has been surfing for more than 30 years—to help others discover the joys of aquatic adventure while getting fit. They teach guests every water-safety and paddleboarding trick they know, from basic standup-paddleboarding techniques to how to SUP surf at local beaches or in a vacationing-neighbor’s pool. The duo also helps guests pump up their strength, balance, and flexibility during paddleboard yoga, which employs yoga postures and core-strengthening fitness exercises. Monthly full-moon paddle events give guests a chance to take in moonlit skies and calm waters as they quietly skim the surface. On every outing, David and Eddie teach their students to obey the rules of the beach, including maintaining a safe distance from experienced surfers, along with interpreting wind, tides, and surf conditions before hitting the waves.

As a 100% NRA membership club, Ancient City Shooting Range brings together instructors and sportsmen who respect the responsibility required to safely operate a firearm. To help each member become a more seasoned marksman, Ancient City’s staff supervises a 40-acre outdoor range, where shooters can step onto 18 bays with targets positioned between 7 and 185 yards for pistol and rifle shooting. For an added challenge, some bays are outfitted with computerized pneumatic targets. The range also hosts weekend shooting competitions, encouraging camaraderie under expert supervision. In addition to overseeing such events, instructors also teach defense classes tailored for everyone from everyday citizens to security professionals. Additionally, Ancient City Shooting Range’s team supports the Wounded Warrior Project, a program which helps wounded soldiers return to civilian life.