Florida’s Historic Coast announced on Mar. 17 a range of new accommodations, dining options, and attractions in St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, and surrounding areas.
The updates are intended to enhance the visitor experience by offering more lodging choices, expanded culinary offerings, improved cultural venues, and easier travel connections to the region.
New lodging includes the Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort’s surfing program in partnership with Surf Station and the Blue Carriage House boutique inn in downtown St. Augustine. Distinctive Beach Rentals received a regional award for best vacation rentals in Florida for 2025. The AC Hotel St. Augustine by Marriott is collaborating with First Friday Art Walk to display local art monthly.
Event spaces have also grown with The Venue – Hastings opening in a restored historic building capable of hosting large gatherings and La Casa Studios entering a new phase as an event venue and podcast studio. Lincolnville Museum now offers two rental venues suitable for ceremonies or gatherings.
Attractions have been updated as well: the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park welcomed twin bearded emperor tamarins; Old Town Trolley Tours will soon launch an app providing real-time trolley locations; Ancient City Tours added small-group golf cart tours; Florida Water Tours introduced Saturday jazz cruises; Spyglass Travel & Tours offers custom scavenger hunts; and the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum upgraded its WRECKED! exhibit about shipwrecks from 1782.
Shopping opportunities have increased with The Pickle Factory specializing in pickles and gifts, Good Condition boutique focusing on sustainable products, expanded outlets at St. Augustine Premium Outlets including Ulta Beauty and food vendors like Hotties Chicken & Shakes.
Dining highlights include Hugo’s Bistro at Hotel Amalga serving French-Spanish cuisine overlooking San Sebastian River; Harvest Restaurant combining fine dining with an artisan market on Plaza de la Constitución; Peace Pie opening a second ice cream sandwich shop location; Foxtail Coffee debuting in Ponte Vedra Beach; Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii bringing island-inspired drinks to St. Augustine Beach; Cajun Beach offering Cajun dishes near the beach; Mayday Ice Cream launching Cookie Crush bakery concept downtown; Cidersmith Restaurant & Cidery opening on St. George Street as the city’s first cidery;
and Black Pearl introducing Italian-Japanese cuisine led by Chef Wei Chen in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Travel access has improved with JetBlue resuming nonstop flights from Puerto Rico to Jacksonville International Airport starting March,
Air Canada restarting Toronto-Jacksonville service from May 2026,
and Avelo Airlines extending Connecticut flights through August 2026.
A new airport concourse is expected late next year.
