St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum

We bought our discounted tickets online so it came out to $ 11 per person. We climbed the 219 steps up to the top of the lighthouse first. We like climbing towers so the view wasn’t all that important to us; we just liked the climb. Of course it was windy and very open up there so if you’re afraid of heights, then take your pics really fast and go inside and check out the actual light.
We then visited the outdoor displays near the base of the lighthouse, then went inside the lighthouse keeper’s house. Part of it was closed off but the part we saw was still pretty interesting. Loved seeing some of the old photos of the different families who lived and worked at the lighthouse. It’s a peak at a large part of the history of the area. It’s definitely worth a stop; just buy your tickets online to get the 15% discount. Parking is free.
A couple of things to note: You have to be at least 44″ tall to climb the tower. It’s mentioned several times on their website. Also, if there are storms in the area, particularly thunderstorms, or if it’s raining, they close the lighthouse and don’t allow any climbers. The house and other exhibits are still open, tho this is NOT a good rainy day activity.

First off: great views from the top of the lighthouse. It is a little pricey (12.95) in my opinion to get into the lighthouse and grounds. They do run tours at certain times of the day. The old town trolley runs to this route too.

Plan ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the light station, and look forward to a return trip. I purchased my ticket in advance online through their website and received a 15% discount for using coupon code «LH15». I made it my first stop for the day while it was cooler; they’ll give you a wristband so you can return again later in the day, and I did, to climb the lighthouse before they closed (fewer people). In the summer, their hours are extended to 7:00pm.
I didn’t take any paid guided tours, but only paid (discounted) general admission. I did the self-​guided tour and it was great; I love history and there was a lot to see and learn. For kids, there’s a playground on site and a hands-​on outdoor learning area. (Not gonna lie: I learned to tie a better square knot and carrick bend in the kids’ area!)
The staff was kind, knowledgable, and happy to answer questions — they wanted to! Bring water, bring a camera, take your time and enjoy it.

Stopped here while visiting family in the area. Three of us ended up taking the hour-​long tour. We were NOT disappointed! Our tour guide was Herman & he was great. He was very enthusiastic about the lighthouse & all the history/etc…it was catching! It was one of the highlights of our visit – we highly recommend. They have some special things for children as well. Be sure to walk the 219 steps to see the view from the top of the lighthouse – absolutely awesome!

If you’re an acrophobic masochist, then this place is for you. 219 see through steps and don’t forget to look down from the landings.
Aside from the heights, this is great place to visit. It’s $ 12 per ticket. The lighthouse tour starts in an attached work house set up as it would have been back in the day. There are a number of landings, so people can pass one another or catch their breath. The views from the top are breathtaking and well worth it even hating heights.

Visiting this lighthouse is something that I have wanted to do for years. The lighthouse itself certainly didn’t disappoint. The inside was nice, the light/​glass lens up top was rotating, and the view was awesome.
With 219 steps, it is an adventure making it all the way to the top. The lighthouse itself is well maintained. The grounds area is so-​so. There are many trees close around the area, parking is a challenge, and there is one or two buildings to check out.
The cost to visit though is rather steep at $ 13 per person. The Ponce de Leon lighthouse was half that amount, and the grounds area there was more nicely maintained with several buildings to tour.
Obviously in way of lighthouses, St. Augustine’s is so well recognized and a definite place to visit. Even costing a little too much, it is still a must to visit.

Thanks to my ghost-​chasing bestie… we came here really late at night. Everything was already closed, but we made sure to take pictures and look around at whatever we could. Mainly looking for ghosts and things. (Well, she was… not me, to creepy lol.) We planned to come back the next day, but got too busy. Next time we visit this wonderful state, we will definitely come back during the day to get the full monty! Looks like an amazing place to spend the day.

TIME — probably one of the most valuable things we have and also one of the most squandered. It is said that at the end of your life, however far away that might be, the things you value today may not be as important as you think they are tomorrow. So be careful where you place your time, and what you value.
Building life long family memories is a worthwhile investment. Part of that process is venturing to new places as often as we can. It’s great to find a place you enjoy and go there every year. However, in my experience it feels fresh and exhilarating to discover new places and have new adventures. St. Augustine was definitely a new experience.
LIGHTHOUSE INFO
Construction on this lighthouse began in 1870 and was completed in 1874. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. It stands 165 feet tall with 219 steps from it’s base to the lens room! The stairs are made of iron and you will also find an iron landing about every 25 steps or so except at the top where the stairs do a complete spiral until you reach the observation deck.
Views are pretty spectacular in all directions but it definitely will give you butterflies if you are afraid of heights. The surrounding St. Augustine landscape is one of the prettiest of any lighthouse we’ve actually been privileged to climb.
THINGS TO DO
There are several tours to choose from:
— Lost Ships | $ 19.95
— Dark of the Moon| $ 25
— Lens Room | $ 500 (yeah, you read that right!)
— Behind the Scenes | $ 14.95
Included in General Admission | $ 9.95 Adult | $ 7.95 children
* Shipyard play area
* 1876 Keeper’s House
* Climb Lighthouse
* Keeper’s Café (food)
* Nature Trails & Garden
* Heritage boat building displa