Are you noticing things around St. Augustine seem to be slowly getting back to normal? While the pandemic and precautions are still part of our everyday lives, an overwhelming majority of St. Johns County students are back in school and for most of us that looks like a slight return to normalcy, bus routes in the morning and afternoon, and fewer crowds in our favorite spots. Let’s get out in our great city and safely enjoy the best that St. Augustine has to offer. Grab your bags Moms, Dads, Grandparents, and empty nesters! It’s time to act like a tourist and hit Davidson Realty’s Top 3 Places to Visit in St. Augustine! While it was very difficult for us to narrow it down to just three, our Davidson Realty team focused on a few that aren’t often found on everyone’s list like Leisure Group Travel Magazine and U.S. News & Travel.

St. Augustine Distillery 

As Americans seemed to experience the great hunt for toilet paper and hand sanitizer, one local St. Augustine company stepped up in a big way to help with the shortage of hand sanitizer across the First Coast. The St. Augustine Distillery is located in the historic district of St. Augustine in an old ice plant. Known for their vodka, rum, gin, and whiskey, you can find their labels on the shelves of local liquor stores. But you can also take a free tour of the distillery while also enjoying a sampling of their spirits. The St. Augustine Distillery is operating under CDC guidelines and accommodating tours every 30 minutes with no reservations but on a first-come-first-serve basis. Open Monday through Friday from 10 am until 6 pm, St. Augustine Distillery is a place we highly recommend touring and enjoying a cocktail.

Trolley Tours

With a couple to choose from (and we don’t want to single either one out) we highly encourage you to hop aboard one of the trolley tours in this historic St. Augustine area. Even in the hottest of temperatures, the movement along the bank and through the streets of downtown provides a breeze and a little bit of relaxation as you get a St. Augustine History 101 tour and learn about Ponce de Leon and the early settlers. The Trolley Tours are also a great way to navigate some ideal and popular dining spots. Hop on and hop off as you view the beautiful buildings, experience the historic charm, and enjoy the ride. 

Vilano Beach

With so many beautiful choices of sandy beaches in St. Johns County, our Davidson Realty team selected Vilano Beach as one of our favorite places to visit. It’s important to know the history of Vilano Beach to fully appreciate why it’s one of our favorites. The prestige of this beautiful stretch of shoreline dates back to the late 1800s when Henry Flagler would host his millionaire friends at Vilano Beach. A quaint little beach village, Vilano offers some of the area’s most charming restaurants, shopping, and plenty of rentals to enjoy a “staycation” in your own backyard. Vilano Beach offers a casual, laid back atmosphere, beautiful natural surroundings, and some of the best sunset views. Pack up the car because Vilano Beach also allows four-wheel drive vehicles on the beach making it so convenient to spend a day on the sand.

With so many options to choose from that include the Castillo de San Marcos, the Lightner Museum, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and so much more, sometimes it’s fun to tour the road less traveled. We encourage you to tour our Top 3 Places to Visit in St. Augustine, maybe for the first time but likely for a repeat visit, and let us know what you think!

 
 
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No matter where you live in World Golf Village, Nocatee or other St. Johns communities, it is a common site to see groups of teenagers (sometimes preteens) driving golf carts. While they travel at relatively safe speeds, it is important that they realize the risks. And there are plenty of risks.

Just last year, a teenage girl in South Florida flipped a golf cart she was driving with her friends. The girl was airlifted to a nearby hospital with severe brain injuries. She later died of those injuries. Another teen, a local named Olivia Love, fell off the back of a golf cart and sustained a terrible head injury. She is still relearning how to walk and talk.

Although most teens are fairly safe, the facts remain: These are open-air vehicles with no seatbelts that flip over easily. Add to that distracted drivers who might be tempted to impress friends by jumping a curb or taking a turn quickly in a high traffic neighborhood, and the risks increase significantly.

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If you’re like many of us who are at least partly self-quarantined, you have binged all the Netflix you can handle and taken more naps than you can count. Cabin fever has set in for the entire family and you’re looking for something to engage the whole crew.

Now is the perfect time to start a family home project. Here are some ideas to get inspired and get everyone to pitch in and help—without taking a single trip to the home improvement store or spending a dime!


1.) Garage overhaul –
This is a great project because nearly all of us need to do it, everyone can help, and it doesn’t require any additional equipment! The best way to tackle to garage overhaul is to empty everything onto the driveway. Once empty, determine where all the “like” items will go—lawn equipment, home improvement tools, camping gear, beach stuff, bikes, etc. Everything should have a home together.

Make a point to only add the items you currently use or will use in the next 12 months. Consider donating, selling or tossing anything that isn’t useful to you. JDog Junk Removal & Hauling, a local veteran-owned company, is a great resource to take away your garage junk. Click hereto check out JDog’s garage clean-up guide.

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The St. Johns County School District will host two town hall meetings next week to explore the possibilities for changes to attendance zoning regarding the planned high school, for now known as “High School HHH.” The public is encouraged to attend.

High School HHH is expected to open in time for the 2021-2022 school year. According to WJCT, “It will be built at 11200 St. Johns Parkway at the intersection with International Golf Parkway.”

The new proposed zoning plan will be shared at the town hall meetings, and attendees will have a chance to comment directly to School Board members and district staff. They will also discuss plans for a future “High School III” and possible attendance zoning changes related to SilverLeaf.

The following schools will be impacted by the proposal: Allen D. Nease High SchoolBartram Trail High SchoolCreekside High SchoolLiberty Pines AcademyMill Creek AcademyPacetti Bay Middle School and Switzerland Point Middle School.

Here are the details on each meeting (the same info will be presented at both meetings):

  • Tuesday, February 25at 6:30 p.m. at Nease High School (10550 Ray Road)
  • Thursday, February 27at 6:30 p.m. at Bartram Trail High School (7399 Longleaf Pine Parkway)
 
 
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Have you been looking for ways to get involved in the community, make new friends and stay active? No matter what recreational activities you enjoy from ballet to pickleball, World Golf Village neighborhoods have upcoming opportunities for you!

Ballet

A 6-week beginner ballet series for adults is coming to the King & Bear Fitness Center starting on Tuesday, November 6 at 7:45 p.m. The series cost is $60. Spaces are filling up quickly so reserve your spot by emailing info@destinydancecenter.com.

Writing

The annual Florida Heritage Book Festival Writer’s Conference is coming to World Golf Village on February 21 and 22. Workshops will be held like Kick your Writing Up a NotchE-Publishing–The Future is Nowand Short Story Writing for Publication, as well as speaking sessions by multiple authors and individual writing critiques with award-winning authors. A reception on Sunday, Feb. 22 will feature Craig Pittman, award-winning journalist with the Tampa Bay Times and author of Oh, Florida!: How America’s Weirdest State Influences the Rest of the Country. All writers are encouraged to attend. Register at www.fhbookfest.com.

Pickleball 

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A December to Remember Holiday Party is coming this Saturday, December 7, to the World Golf Hall of Fame at the World Golf Village. Bring the family between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. and join in the festivities.

The free event includes a Santa Meet & Greet, Kids Bounce Zone, dance performance by The Gift of Dance at 11 a.m. and holiday singing by Showtime USA – St. Johns.

Reverb.Church is also sponsoring the event’s Jingle Jam DJ/Dance party, Hot Cocoa Bar, Popcorn Bar,

Donut Walk, Spin to Win Game, Kids Tattoos, Goodie Bags, Photo Booth and perhaps most exciting of all, a Meet & Greet with Anna, Elsa and Olaf from Frozen (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.)

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Do you remember the last time you had an evening out without the kids? Taking time for yourself is important for a parent’s sanity and gives your kids a sense of self and independence. This is true no matter the ages of your children, as everyone can benefit from a little “me” time now and then!

Lucky for us, there is no need to go through the stress of finding, vetting and hiring a babysitter.

 

Instead, your kids can go to a “Parents Night Out” event at one of the several businesses that offer them around World Golf Village. These are great because the kids stay occupied with activities (instead of sitting in front of a screen at home) and get social time with their peers.

Parents Night Out at Little Lambs Playhouse 

When: 3rd Friday of each month (next session: October 18), 5-10 p.m.

Where: Little Lambs Playhouse, 112 Nonami Court in Samara Lakes

Ages: 12 months and older

How much: $40 per child for 4 hours and $15 for each additional sibling

Reservations: (904) 687-0006 or katie@littlelambsplayhouse.com(message Katie to reserve)

More info: This is a great option for parents with toddlers. Pizza and ice cream sundaes will be served in addition to arts and crafts, playtime and a movie. **At this week’s session, kids are welcome to dress up in their (non-scary) Halloween costumes and will be able to decorate mini pumpkins to take home.

 

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Lots of businesses are opening throughout the World Golf Village area and hosting events to celebrate, inviting customers to see the new digs, meet staff, learn about the business and even receive exclusive discounts on services. Here are a few of the celebrations around World Golf Village this fall.

Grand Opening!WGV Gymnastics (135 Center Place Way)

WGV Gymnastics will host a grand opening event for its new facility on Saturday, September 28 from 12 to 3 p.m.The event includes raffles and giveaways, games, bounce house, food truck and facility tours. Come enjoy a meet-and-greet with Olympic Silver Medalist Terin Humphrey. Also, sign up for two sessions at the event and receive half off your registration!

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Now that school is back in session, IMAX is offering the chance to extend learning beyond the classroom! Documentary Days at the World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater will kick off tomorrow, Friday, August 16 and run through Thursday, September 5.

To kick off the annual series, IMAX will introduce two new documentaries: Backyard Wilderness 3D and Superpower Dogs 3D.

On Saturday, August 17, S.A.F.E. Pet Rescue of St. Augustine will be on site at the IMAX for a special dog adoption event to help kick off Superpower Dogs 3D!

Other not-to-miss documentaries include Great Bear Rainforest, Great Barrier Reef, Pandas, Amazing Mighty Micro Monsters, Dream Big: Engineering Our World, Extreme Weather, Hubble, We the People, Lewis & Clark, Under the Sea, Born to be Wild, and Flight of the Butterflies!

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It’s officially wedding season and nuptial planning is in full swing. To help make planning easier, the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort will host the annual Bride to Be & Wedding Expo on Sunday, June 9.

The event will last from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and feature more than 40 exhibitors displaying products and services including bridal attire and fashion, custom gifts, jewelry, photography, catering, gift registries, DJs & entertainment, fitness and wedding planning.

Just some of the vendors include Arbonne Beauty, Mary Kay, 2 Sweet 4 Words, LuLaRoe, Olivia Ellen’s Boutique, Pampered Chef, Saries Fabulous Scents, Club Pilates St. Augustine, Cruise Planners, Sabika Jewelry, Crystal Clear Sounds, Crystal Ballroom St. Augustine, Postscript Weddings and Events, and many more.

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