Things To Do In Saint Augustine

For more than two decades, the non-profit organization Haven Horse Ranch has been using its 26-acre property and team of horses to help youngsters learn life disciplines through riding. The ranch hosts three- and five-day camps, clinics, and trail rides, and has special experience working with children who suffer from mental and physical challenges. Lessons center around the tenets of Western riding, horsemanship, or training, while fun drills such as barrel racing, horse soccer, and speed games help students practice agility without needing to dump ice water on a sleeping bull.

A piece of Spain separated from Europe and landed in Florida. Nestled in Saint Augustine’s historic district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the majestic Villa Zorayda contains architectural features that mirror those found in the Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. Audio tours lead visitors through this restored Spanish villa’s halls and airy inner courtyard, pointing out hundreds of antiquities such as Arabic arches, glazed ceramics, bronze statues, and ancient charcoal burners. When not welcoming tours, the historic building and grounds also host weddings and private parties.

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.

A not-for-profit initiative of the World Golf Foundation, The World Golf Hall of Fame pays homage to golf's most prolific players with a vast collection of historic artifacts and interactive exhibits. Audio tours narrate the intricacies of more than 175 points of interest, including a life-size replica of the Swilcan Bridge that highlights an exhibit honoring the sport's origins as an ancient Scottish frisbee game. A trip through golf's evolving history culminates in a Trophy Room at the pinnacle of a 110-foot tower, which provides rare glimpses at championship crowns and cups from tournaments such as the Ryder Cup. Outdoors, an 18-hole, natural-grass putting green invites visitors to test their swing in the shadow of golf's finest, complete with a challenge hole that mimics the famous 17th hole at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass and awards shots that land on the green with a special limited edition Induction Ceremony print. In its ongoing quest to treat guests to an immersive, larger-than-life experience, The World Golf Hall of Fame is also home to a six-story-tall IMAX screen that inundates the senses with digital surround sound and 3-D displays of full-length and documentary-style films.

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.

One of the oldest tennis-only clubs in the United States, New Rochelle Tennis Club serves up professional tennis teachings as well as a wide range of racket-friendly amenities. A one-hour private lesson assists players in perfecting shots from the forehand to the overhead smash, helping bring players' games to the next level and opponents to the brink of frustrated tears (a $100 value). After a session of spheroid slinging, players can refresh themselves at the snack bar, scrub up in the ample shower facilities, or meditate in the comfort of the TV lounge. The full-service pro shop—stocked with shirts ($20+), rackets ($100+), and hats ($22), and staffed by the club's own expert racket restringer and technician, Chris Tripodi—keeps court commandos from having to craft their own equipment from household items and stolen office supplies. Put newly acquired skills and tennis tackle to the test with a one-week trial of full-time membership, providing access to the club’s eight scrupulously maintained Har-Tru courts at any open time (a $235 value).