Hey, I'm Taylor!
  • Home
  • About
  • Adventure
  • The States
  • International
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Bahamas
      • Grenada
  • Travel Tips
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
  • Adventure
  • The States
  • International
    • Caribbean
      • Antigua
      • Bahamas
      • Grenada
  • Travel Tips
  • Contact

Tea N' Sea Travel

The States, Uncategorized · December 7, 2021

Christmas in St. Augustine: Florida Holiday Guide

When you think of holiday and Christmas travel guides, Florida may not be the first place that comes to mind, but you should definitely addChristmas in St. Augustine to your holiday bucket list! From millions of Christmas lights, to tree lightings, sailing adventures and holiday shows, St. Augustine is the most festive place in Florida to visit for Christmas! This little historic town was even placed in the top 10 places in the world to see Christmas Lights by NatGeo, and was just featured in CNTraveler as well (proud of my little hometown!) With so many popular activities to do, here are the best things to experience while visiting St. Augustine for Christmas!

Nights of Lights Grand Illumination

Christmas in St. Augustine, the bayfront lit up with warm white christmas lights on the buildings and palm trees

From mid-November to early February, St. Augustine is covered in MILLIONS (yes, millions) of warm white Christmas lights. Downtown St. Augustine transforms into a winter wonderland for blocks. The Grand Illumination is the first day of the Nights of Lights, complete with live music, entertainers, and more! Stand in the Cathedral Plaza to experience the most of the fun!

Travel Tip: Don’t drive into town, parking is difficult to find!

Unless you plan on leaving SUPER early and want to deal with lots of traffic, I’d recommend avoiding driving into town for most of the Nights of Lights season. Opt for one of the complementary shuttles, Uber, or even walk from your accommodation!

St. Augustine’s Christmas Parade

A family favorite, the St. Augustine Christmas Parade is filled with floats, performers, horseback riders, dancers, and of course, SANTA! This is a great morning activity for families and friends that want to experience a little more of the local community. The parade travels down the Bayfront, and then turns to go through the Plaza. The parade begins around 9 AM usually, but allow yourself TONS of time for parking if you’re driving into town. Even better, avoid driving and either walk or Uber from your hotel or accommodation.

Surf Illumination

A white Christmas in St. Augustine isn’t complete with the sand from the beach! St. Augustine Beach boasts colorful lights at the Pier, as well as tropical and holiday shaped lights lining A1A. St. Augustine Beach’s illumination takes place at the Pier, complete with colorfully lit palms, a Christmas tree, and lots of festivities including a Holiday market, live music, and more!

festive christmas horse pulling a carriage in st augustine

Schooner Freedom Sails

The best way to see St. Augustine’s Christmas lights from the water is by far by taking a sail aboard the Schooner Freedom. With complimentary drinks, as well as mulled wine, hot chocolate, fuzzy blankets, Christmas candy, and lights up and down the entire boat, you won’t find a better way to see Christmas lights from the water. Definitely make a reservation, as sails sell out in advance, you can learn more here!

view from the bow of Schooner Freedom overlooking the Nights of Lights in st augustine
schooner freedom sailboat decorated with christmas lights

Christmas Lights on the Bayfront

By far my favorite place to see the Christmas lights in St. Augustine are on the Bayfront! Not only can you see them from the water, but every business on the Bayfront continues to out-do one another! Tini Martini is a local’s favorite to enjoy the Christmas lights, and it’s definitely one of my favorite Christmas spots in St. Augustine!

Lighthouse Illumination

The Lighthouse Illumination is something I remember going to as a kid every year. With over 20 lighted Christmas trees in the Keeper’s house, luminaries lining all the paths through the grounds, hot chocolate and hot spiced cider, Santa, and carols by local ensembles and chorus singers, the Lighthouse Illumination is like the start of a Hallmark Christmas movie, without all the cheesy storyline. For Christmas in St. Augustine, you can’t go wrong with an event like this one!

The Red Light

Keep your eyes peeled for a single red bulb hung somewhere in town! This is a fun little scavenger hunt loved by all ages, and I even found the bulb for the first time ever this year! It can be anywhere in town, so be sure to look carefully if you want to find it!

St. Augustine's bayfront lit up with tons of christmas lights w

Tini Martini: The most lights to see at a bar for Christmas in St. Augustine

Arguably the trend-setter for the amount of lights on the entirety of the Bayfront is Tini Martini Bar. With a wait year round, that is also a local favorite, you’ve got to add Tini Martini to your Christmas in St. Augustine bucket list, and your Florida vacation as well! During Nights of Lights, Tini Martini is lit up more than you can imagine, and the cocktails are just as amazing as the lights! Order a pomegranate martini for a nice fruity touch on a red and festive drink. Just one order will give you roughly two and a half martinis, as the bar serves you the whole shaker! It’s a local’s and a visitor’s favorite, so make sure to visit for Bayfront views, great cocktails, and amazing Christmas Lights in St. Augustine!

taylor holding a pomegranite martini wearing a sparkily gold dress at tini martini bar for christmas in st augustine
Tini Martini bar decorated for Christmas in St. Augustine

Holly Jolly Shopping Spree

A perfect shopping experience to support small local businesses in St. Augustine, while enjoying special deals, Christmassy snacks and drinks, the Holly Jolly Trolly is a perfect morning to celebrate the Christmas season in Florida. Hop aboard one of the Trolley Trains after signing in and getting a complimentary Christmas cocktail, and ride to uptown St. Augustine. Once there, you’ll be dropped off and get to shop, with each storefront offering specials, snacks, cocktails, hot chocolate, and brunch! Proceeds benefit a charitable organization here in town, and if you’ve got Christmas shopping to do (or even if you don’t) you’ll love hopping aboard the Holly Jolly Trolley!

Note that this is NOT the Nights of Lights Trolley Tour that you see driving around town.

The Nights of lights trolley tour is great for families that don’t want to walk around town and want to listen to Christmas carols around St. Augustine! Just a heads up though, on weekends the traffic is very heavy, so you may want to opt for a walking experience.

Cathedral Plaza

Probably the most iconic area of town (and the area that gets the most attention), the Cathedral Plaza is the location where the lights cover all the old Oak trees. Formally known as the Plaza de la Constitucion, us locals tend to refer to it as the Cathedral Plaza. The gazebos within the Plaza are lit and are hung with garland, wreaths line the light poles, and the Plaza is where you’ll find St. Augustine’s very own Grand Christmas tree! The tree is real, and although not very large, is one of the only spots in town that you’ll find colored lights! Definitely visit the Plaza, and keep your eyes out for special events and happenings throughout the season! This is also a fun place to experience the Grand Illumination to kick off the Christmas season in St. Augustine!

Christmas tree in St. Augustine's main plaza with oak trees lit up in the background
Christmas tree in St. Augustine's main plaza with a festive gazebo and oak trees lit up in the background
Taylor and Steve standing in front of St. Augustine's Christmas tree

St. Augustine’s Regatta of Lights

Another favorite for those that enjoy boats and the “Florida” side of Christmas. The Regatta of Lights is a lighted boat parade in which vessels from town compete in various categories. The themed vessels can be seen cruising along the Bayfront just north of the Bridge of Lions. Keep your eyes peeled, and you may even see Santa!

Light Up!

One of the newest areas in St. Augustine to experience Christmas Lights is over on West King Street! Beginning this year, the little shops and businesses that lie just outside the Historic District will be lit with over 3,000 lights! With live music and the first year that the neighborhood is lighting 12 businesses, the new Christmas in St. Augustine event is one not to miss!

The Nutcracker

One of my favorite holiday traditions is watching The Nutcracker! If you didn’t already know, the Nutcracker is a ballet that takes place during a Christmas party, where Clara falls into an enchanted sleep after receiving a Nutcracker from her magician uncle. Not only is it a Christmas classic, but the music is incredible. St. Augustine offers a few different performances of The Nutcracker, performed by local ballet schools. Check out The St. Augustine Dance Conservatory’s performance – that is the same school I spent years dancing with!

Taylor dancing the merliton dance from the nutcracker

Miracle Bar at Forgotten Tonic

Last but not least, you can’t miss this Christmas pop-up bar in St. Augustine! Miracle Bar is actually a Christmas Bar in NYC, but they host pop-ups around the country! If you get the chance to experience Christmas in NYC, you’ve got to check out these things to do, but add the original Miracle Bar to that list! With a completely Christmas-themed cocktail menu, delicious recipes, and more Christmas decor than you can imagine, you’ve got to visit Miracle Bar for this time of year! It is the most Christmas-sy bar in St. Augustine, and be sure to try the drink that’s served hot, it’s perfect to warm you up on a chilly Nights of Lights walk!

festive drink being poured at Miracle Bar Christmas pop up in St. Augustine
walking through the nights of lights in st augustine

Planning a trip to St. Augustine for Christmas? Don’t forget to Pin this post!

St. Augustine's Winter Wonderland
St. Augustine Nights of Lights Travel Guide
The Best Place to See Christmas Lights in Florida

Click an icon below to share!

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Posted In: The States, Uncategorized · Tagged: christmas destinations, florida, florida christmas lights, florida travel guide, florida winter travel guide, nights of lights travel guide, st augustine nights of lights, st. augustine, travel blogger, travel guides, vacation, winter destinations

Want to learn more about sailing and tropical destinations? Welcome aboard!

    We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at anytime.

    Built with ConvertKit

    You’ll Also Love

    Adventurous Things to do in St. Augustine, Florida
    girl standing under a palm tree growing out of the crystal clear blue water at silver glen springs in floridaFlorida Natural Springs: The Ultimate Guide
    holding a coconut drink in front of the sunset in key west with a sailboat in the backgroundThe Ultimate Florida Keys Travel Guide

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Next Post >

    A Weekend Trip to Chicago: Travel Guide

    Channeling my inner ✨luxury✨ travel blogger to Channeling my inner ✨luxury✨ travel blogger to share one of the prettiest hotels I’ve ever stayed in!It’s kind of out of my comfort zone to spend on a nice stay. Usually when I travel, it’s for the experiences more than the location, but when my best friend gets married at her favorite resort, it’s an occasion to splurge!The @opalgrandresort has the best tropical beach vibes a gal can ask for. From beautiful rooms to a stunning lobby, and none of that tacky “beach” decor that some places have, I was thoroughly impressed.Not only was the resort itself stunning, but the beach across the street and uninterrupted ocean views made the resort even more special. The customer service and amenities were amazing, and everyone was so friendly! It’s a place I definitely want to return to, next time for a longer stay! 🌴 #teanseatravelPS I felt like I was channeling my inner @jesslitras taking this shot in the lobby, it was the only way I wasn’t going to succumb to the constant giggles 😂
    Nothing makes me happier than a sunny day on the b Nothing makes me happier than a sunny day on the beach, especially to unwind after working so hard on the boat! 🌞And as the work gloves come off, the cute accessories come on! I’ve loved wearing @puravida for over 5 years, they’re the perfect beachy accessories and SO cute for summer beach days and all the tropical vibes! #puravidagiftedIf you want to shop some of these cute pieces and tons more for summer, head to my profile link and use TEANSEATRAVEL20 for a nice discount! 🌺 #teanseatravel #puravida #puravidainfluencer
    POP THE BUBBLY WE’RE FINALLY GOING SAILING!!!!! POP THE BUBBLY WE’RE FINALLY GOING SAILING!!!!! ⛵️After 18 months of hard work, 100 days in the boat yard, countless days of wanting to give up, we get to take our maiden voyage! We get to finally take our first shakedown sail on the boat we haven’t gotten to enjoy as a boat since we got her in October of 2020.It feels totally surreal and almost like this day would never come, but we’re prepping for a fun weekend on the water around town! Stay tuned for lots of pictures and videos to come! ⛵️ #teanseatravel #recycledsailing
•
•
•
•
#saltyvibes #sailingvibes #cheoylee #oceanvibes #oceantravel #liveaboardlife #sailboatrestoration #sailingcouple #womenwhosail #sailingtravel #oceantravel #nauticalvibes #nauticaltravel #saltytravels #sailinginstagram #floridalife #floridasailing #floridavibes
    If you’re looking for the most adventurous thing If you’re looking for the most adventurous things to do in St. Augustine, you’re going to want to try this! ✈️Hop aboard a 1930s vintage biplane that has been beautifully restored for one of the coolest adventures you can take in St. Augustine! From sunset flights with a champagne toast to an aerobatics tour for the adrenaline junkies, Vintage Biplane Rides has something for every flight!And if flying isn’t your thing, I’ve got 6 other amazing adventures to experience in St. Augustine in my new blog post linked in stories! #teanseatravel
•
•
•
•
#staugustinebeach #staugustinefl #floridatravel #adventuretravel #biplane #vintagebiplanes #visitflorida #visitfl #floridaadventures #theinfluencerbootcamp #femaletravelbloggers #travelgirlshub #travelgirlsgo #gltlove #floridalife #saltytravels #beachtravel #instatravelgram #adventuretraveler #adventuretour
    I WAS THE GIRL PULLING HUNDREDS OF STRAWS OUT OF T I WAS THE GIRL PULLING HUNDREDS OF STRAWS OUT OF THE SAND DURING SPRING BREAK 🧉It’s true, in 2017, my senior year of college, I took a cruise to the Bahamas with my best friend, and after a whole day of coconut drinks on the beach, we were heading to grab a taxi back to the ship. The whole day I had been picking up straws that I saw left in the sand from other tourists, but as we were leaving I had hundreds stuffing all the pockets of my backpack. So many people asked why I had so many straws poking out of every corner of my backpack and I was shocked and thinking “why doesn’t everyone?”I’ve always felt a desire to protect our oceans, but never really knew how to make a bigger impact. I grew up around the ocean and am blessed to have worked with some incredible animals that call the sea home, and now call the ocean my home as well. Over the years, I’ve learned the importance of being sustainable every day, and what a big impact we have on our planet with our small changes.In 2019, I moved aboard a sailboat with my partner Steve who has a fiery passion to protect our oceans and bring more to the sailing dream. Together we set out to bring purpose and change to what we were doing while traveling and created Recycled Sailing.In 2020, we collected hundreds of pounds of trash off the beaches in the Bahamas, and kept brainstorming how to make a bigger impact.In 2021, we started hosting monthly beach cleanups here in Florida, and have grown a community of ocean loving sustainably focused friends, both near and far.I am so proud of all that we have accomplished in this time, and can’t wait to see what kind of impact we make together in the future! ♻️⛵️🌊 #teanseatravel #recycledsailing
•
•
•
•
#tropicalvibes🏝 #tropicalvibes #saltyvibes #sustainabletravel #ecofriendly #ecotravel #ecotraveller #sustainablesailing #seastainable #oceanconscious #tropicaltravel #bahamas #bahamas🇧🇸 #oceannomad #beachcleanup #plasticsucks #take3forthesea #protectouroceans #sustainabletravelling #theinfluencerbootcamp #liveaboardlife #femaletravelblogger #oceantravel #beachdestination #oceanfriendly
    T-6 weeks till we’re sailing the world!!! Can yo T-6 weeks till we’re sailing the world!!! Can you guess where we’re headed first? ⛵️Home. Something I never thought I would be apprehensive about leaving, but the countdown is on!In roughly 6 weeks I’ll be leaving my hometown again, this time with no return ticket. I’m excited, nervous, stressed about all the things I still have to do, and sad to be leaving a huge transitional part of my life behind.I’ll miss this little seaside town, but I know I’ll be back to visit. Till then I’ll be savoring every sunset, every moment, and every experience to be had here! ❤️⛵️ #teanseatravel
•
•
•
•
#staugustine #staugustinebeach #staugustinefl #staugustineflorida #stauglocals #visitflorida #loveflorida #schoonerfreedom #floridalife #floridatravel #visitflorida #nauticaltravel #oceanvibes #saltyvibes #womenwhosail #tropicalvibes #sunsetvibes #tropicaltravel #saltytravels #theinfluencerbootcamp #under10k
    DO YOU WANT TO SNORKEL A SUNKEN PLANE IN THE BAHAM DO YOU WANT TO SNORKEL A SUNKEN PLANE IN THE BAHAMAS?! ✈️Pablo Escobar was a famous drug runner back in the 80s, who would often use the Bahamas as a stopping point before coming into the US. On Norman’s Cay, you can find one of his planes in its permanent resting place underwater, that is now an awesome snorkel spot!It’s located in relatively shallow water and is covered in corals and fish that have begun to make this plane somewhat of an artificial reef. You can snorkel through the open cabin and peek through one of the windows, or venture around the wings to see the props and fish that like the shadows.Would you snorkel this sunken plane in the Bahamas?! 🇧🇸 #teanseatravel

    Copyright © 2022 Tea N' Sea Travel · Theme by 17th Avenue

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
    Privacy & Cookies Policy

    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
    Necessary
    Always Enabled

    Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

    Non-necessary

    Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

    SAVE & ACCEPT
     

    Loading Comments...