My partner has a work conference next week in Orlando and I’m tagging along. We’re also spending a weekend in St. Augustine (last thread was from 2011). It’s just the two of us, no kids or anything.
Any suggestions on things to do or see, especially non-theme-park things? We love nature & the outdoors (would kayaking get us eaten by gators? or any good hikes that are relatively free of hungry prehistoric predators?), geeky games (like escape rooms, board games, puzzle quests, trivia, things like that), history, science, music, art… anything, really. Oh, and any tasty veggie/vegan food places too.
We’re not opposed to theme parks, we just won’t have any full days in Orlando, so didn’t want to pay for an expensive ticket only for a few evening hours. That said, we were considering checking out the EPCOT center just for an evening (seems more cultural and adult-friendly than the ride-based ones).
Edit: And thanks so much for mentioning that just now, lol. We were on the way to the airport, totally having forgotten our America the Beautiful pass and turned around and got it just in time. We owe ya!
Sorry, Voice of Doom, here: almost everything in St. Augustine (with the exception of the fort) is shameless kitsch and touristy traps. I’ve been once, no need to return.
Oh, now that I remember, here’s something that’s actually helpful: if you’re driving on I-95 to get to St. Aug, beware of the new Buc-ees at one of the exits (sorry, don’t remember which exit), the 95 off ramps are insane and the traffic to get into the Buc-ees is monstrous. Use alternate exit and thank me later.
Buc-ees, my friend, is a humongous chain of humongous gas stations taking over the South. We have several threads about them. Worth your while to check them out. You may not believe your eyes. I’ll see if I can find the most recent one(s).
Fascinating. Out West we just have regular mid sized boring gas stations and truck stops and Safeways and such. Definitely nothing worth stopping for…
So we should avoid any exit leading to a Buc-ees? And if we wanted to see one to experience the cultural phenomenon, we should find an older, less… fashionable… location?
If you’re going up I-4 you can stop in Longwood, rent a canoe at Wekiva Island and paddle to Wekiva Springs. Will probably see a gator or two but will be fine. You will also drive right past Daytona International Speedway if you’re interested in touring. If you have time I’d suggest once you get up to Daytona on I-4, instead of getting onto I-95, make your way through town to A1A and drive up the coast to St.Augustine. I lived in Daytona Beach for 5 years and made that drive dozens of times by motorcycle and car. Really relaxing.
Most of the other Buc-ees we’ve been to have almost no huge traffic problems, just for St. Aug they picked the busiest of the 5(?), 7(?) exits to set up shop.
Buc-ees is a phenomenon — they may have as many as 100 gas pumps per station, restrooms are spic AND span and private, the soft drinks counter is half a mile long, the food is outstanding (pulled pork/brisket sandwiches/platters, too much to mention), the place is clean, the checkout is fast, the employees are amiable, and no matter how busy the place is, you won’t be stuck in there forever. If you like to investigate these kind of joints, give yourself an hour at least to take it all in.
And Beaver Nuggets. You’ll need to buy a couple dozen bags of the assorted flavors of Beaver Nuggets.
Just to present the other side of @burpo_the_wonder_mutt 's comment, I love St. Augustine. It is kitschy and touristy, but also historic and easily walkable. Plus, the Fountain of Youth is there. Also, they offer excellent ghost tours and the one they do at Ripley’s is a gas. It’s Orlando that’s unbearable to me.
Here’s a quiet site in St Augustine that I enjoyed:
And Disney was less kitschy than I feared. If you don’t want to spend $$ on a park ticket, you might think of looking in at Animal Kingdom Lodge, which is a beautiful hotel (the lobby is spectacular) with great African and Indian inspired restaurants with vegetarian options, as well as a savanna where animals can be viewed. If you’re there at night, you can look at the animals with night-vision glasses, provided by the staff https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/animal-kingdom-villas-jambo/
Was there a particular operator that’s good? We actually had one booked, but that got canceled due to a family emergency. Looking for an alternate one now…
Hah! There’s a Buc-ee’s on I-95 just 5 or 6 miles north of the I-4 junction at Daytona Beach; same exit as the Tanger Outlet Mall. Look for the giant Beaver sign.
