With millions of twinkling lights in the oldest city in the US, this 3-Day, 2-Night excursion will offer history, sweets, and multiple vantage points for viewing the magic and wonder in St. Augustine’s historic downtown.
*Video is not a representation of what will be included in this tour.
Today, we head straight for St. Augustine.
Upon arrival in the oldest city in the US, we will please our palette at Florida’s oldest restaurant. The Columbia is a Spanish restaurant that serves up: style, a lavishly decorated restaurant, and delicious food.
This evening, head out on the water for a unique sunset and Nights of Lights experience. This cruise is bound to thrill you with live music, gentle waves, soothing ocean breezes, wind-swept hair, and of course, an epic introduction to the holiday Nights of Lights of historic St. Augustine that is like no other.
After the cruise, head to the hotel.
This morning, we begin the day with breakfast at the hotel. After, we join a local tour guide for a delightful Sweets and History walking tour. Bring your sweet tooth along on this tour as you will be having some sweet tastings. The sweeter side of St. Augustine will come to life as you discover mom and pop candy shops, local bakeries, as well as the stories of the nation’s oldest city.
Later, we have some free-time before a visit to Villa Zorayda which is a Gilded Age Museum.
Then, we go to the St. Augustine Lighthouse. This will allow you to explore the keeper’s house, the grounds, and the inside of the lighthouse. Take in the surroundings, and view the uniquely decorated Christmas trees.
After, you will find yourself looking at the lights in historic St. Augustine from a much closer perspective. The train tour will be a perfect opportunity to see the twinkling lights as you chuga, chuga, choo, choo past (the train is a trolley that looks like a train and will drive on the roads of St. Augustine). Viewing of the over 2,000,000 lights is not complete without holiday music playing during the train tour.
Today’s dinner will be at O.C. White’s Restaurant. With a history dating back to 1790, this restaurant is a perfect fit with the St. Augustinian history already discovered today.
After breakfast, we continue our historic exploration at Castillo de San Marcos. This is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States. As the oldest structure in St. Augustine, it is a Spanish stone fortress which was built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. Your experience will be self-guided, so indulge in the history at your own speed.
Then, we hit the road in the direction of home. Enroute, we will stop at the Braised Onion for lunch. This family owned and operated restaurant is proud to make everything from scratch and in-house.
- Roundtrip Motor-Coach
- Tour Director
- 2-Night Hotel Stay at Hilton St. Augustine Historic Bay Front
- Roundtrip Baggage Handling at the Hotel
- 5 Meals (2 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinners)
- Sunset Cruise with Live Music
- Nights of Lights Train Tour
- Guided Sweets and History Tour
- Free-Time
- Admission to Villa Zorayda
- Time at St. Augustine Lighthouse
- Admission to Castillo de San Marcos
- All Taxes and Gratuities (Including Driver, Tour Director, Guides, and Hotel Housekeeping)
$1998 pp Single (CC) or $1932 (Cash or Check)
$1534 pp Double (CC) or $1484 (Cash or Check)
$1324 pp Triple (CC) or $1281 (Cash or Check)
$1310 pp Quad (CC) or $1267 (Cash or Check)
A 3.41% credit card fee is included in your trip cost (if paying by card). If you cancel and receive a refund, at no point will the 3.41% fee be refunded.
Tour Deposit: $150 pp at time you register for the trip
- Space is limited and is based on a first come, first served basis. Deposits will be used to hold a spot on the bus for you (unless there is no more availability on the bus and in such a case, the deposit will be returned to you).
Final Balance Payment: Due on or by 10/1/25
- You are welcome to make payments between the deposit and the final payment if that is easier for you.
- Others can sign up for the trip after the final payment date if there is still availability. If you sign up on or after 10/1/25, the entire trip cost will need to be paid at time of registration.
Other Trip Notes:
- Credit card fees have been included in your trip cost (if paying by card).
- Please note that some meal choices will need to be determined prior to the trip.
- A number of the sites visited during this trip do not have an elevator.
- Hotel incidentals have not been included in the trip cost. Each guest will be responsible for ensuring that their incidentals have been paid before departure from the hotels. Hotel costs (baggage handling, rooms, and breakfasts) are included in the trip price.
This event is in collaboration with Custom Destinations and Armadillo Travel Adventures through the Temple Terrace Uptown Chamber of Commerce.
For Information & Reservations:
•Heather: (413) 432-1978 or heather@customdestinations.net
•Kim: (813) 340-7824 or kim@armadillotraveladventures.com