Whether you’re sticking around campus for summer classes or a summer job, or you just happen to be looking for somewhere in Florida to spend a mini vacation, I highly recommend St. Augustine. Being a resident here, I might be a little biased, but I haven’t always lived here. I have always thought it was a cool place to visit though and here’s why:

1. The Beaches

St. Augustine has the closest beaches to Gainesville for those of you staying for the summer. Aside from that, they truly are gorgeous. You can wake up early enough for the sunrise and walk the pier so that you’re just above the ocean. You’ll probably see dolphins that early too. It’s a drag getting out of bed, but I promise it’s worth it. Otherwise, the beaches are just awesome. Lots of young and old people alike, volleyball nets, and sometimes they even have music.

2. The History

If you’re looking for a vacation that will also keep your brain flexed so you don’t get that summer slump, there are so many historical sites to hit up downtown. You can visit the Pirate Museum (highly recommended), Fort Castillo de San Marcos, go on a ghost tour and more.

3. The Food

There are so many amazing restaurants in St. Augustine, most of which I haven’t even tried yet. Basically, any part of this town has at least one delicious venue – downtown, the island, and everything in between. If you do visit St. Augustine this summer – skip Chili’s, eat local.

4. The Shopping

I can’t even list how many boutiques and surf shops there are in this little town. Not to mention all the cutesy knick knack souvenir stores. I realize this comes with the territory, but I have to say, St. Augustine has both a unique and a wide variety of things to shop for. Probably because they get tourists from all over the world.

5. The People

Maybe it’s because it is a tourist town, but the people here are so genuine. Granted, this comes with exceptions as I’ve learned from actually living here. The service most places you’ll go is awesome though, there are a lot of locally owned businesses so most of the people here know what it means to work hard for what you want, and it’s just a sunny happy place to visit. Which brings me to my next point.

6. The Atmosphere

If you live somewhat close or have the means to get there, it really is worth visiting St. Augustine if not for any of the above reasons, but because it can feel like absolute paradise. Something about driving over the bridges at night or the way the beach is always so welcoming makes it hard to leave once you’ve had a taste. The locals take it for granted sometimes, but it’s hard to totally hate such a beautiful and serene place. The atmosphere is truly indescribable, which is why I guess you’ll just have to see for yourself!

Happy Summer!