Every winter, St. Augustine's historic district comes alive during the Nights of Lights, when more than 3 million lights twinkle in Old Town. From mid-November to the end of January, the streets buzz with energy that takes the romantic atmosphere of the beautiful and historic city and elevates it to the highest levels.
At Coleman Concierge, we're a traveling couple who specializes in romance and quiet adventure, and we'll be sharing our six most romantic ways to enjoy St. Augustine's Nights of Lights.
Read along for our tips and tricks, but be careful, you may be packing your bags before the last holiday light flashes.
Nights of Lights Tour in Old Town Trolley
For more than 30 years, the Old Town Trolley has been showing people the best of the historic district with narrated rides and whirlwind tours. However, the Nights of Lights tour is a little more intimate and romantic. You can reserve an entire row in advance for privacy and elbow room and make the 30-45 minute tour a private moment to explore your favorite light displays.
The tour is a continuous round trip that departs and returns to a stop outside the visitor center. You get light-enhancing glasses when you board, and cookies and hot apple juice when you get back. Along the way, the usual narration is replaced by a montage of holiday music.
Professional advice – Arrive early to allow parking, available in the Visitor Center garage.
Self-guided walking tour of Nights of Lights
One of our favorite things about St. Augustine is the walkability of the historic district. St George's Street is a pedestrian-only road, but the whole area is compact and easy to walk.
While you're out and about, be sure to choose your favorite screen and cast your vote on the QR code.
Do you know why this is important? Rusniak Mellon, a postdoctoral researcher at Columbia Business School, put it this way: “Romantic partners who have a stronger sense of shared reality feel closer and more committed to their partners and feel like they have ‘minds merged.'” Moreover, once couples establish Romantics have a strong sense of shared reality and are eager to support and protect it.
Voting for your favorite light display may seem simple, but it creates a moment with your partner that lasts long after the lights go out.
Make it a meal
Columbia is Florida's oldest restaurant, dating back to 1905, and has been a St. Augustine staple for nearly forty years. The Cuban/Spanish decor is inviting, and nothing is more romantic than sharing tapas and a “1905” salad prepared tableside. After a feast, it's easy to head to the visitor center to catch the Nights of Lights wagon, or wander among the twinkling lights for a treat.
Sailing at sunset
Imagine yourself sailing into the sunset with the wind in your hair and a glass of wine on your lips. It's a romantic sight, sure, but if you add 3 million lights and a 320-year-old castle towering over the beach, you might be on to something. Of course, we are talking about St. Augustine, but you still have to choose your boat.
If your vision of romance is closely linked to spoils, go ahead and book a ticket on board the pirate ship Black Raven. However, if you're more meticulous or just love wine, might we suggest Schooner Freedom's Nights of Lights Sunset Sails?
You start by sailing under the Lions Bridge drawbridge and then sail wherever the wind takes you. Silence surrounds you when the engine turns off, and you are alone with the sun, the sea and the occasional dolphin. As the sun sets, head to the beach to see the night lights up close and wait for the bridge to open again.
The Schooner Freedom's sunset cruise has an open wine bar for sipping and sailing or a hands-on game of pirates. You will return to the Municipal Marina which is located a few steps from the central light display of the Plaza de la Constitución. From there, you can clear your head and discover ways to explore the Nights of Lights, or better yet, if you have a room in the Historic District, you don't have to worry about driving home at all. On that note…
Why don't you two get a room?
Seriously, St Augustine has some of the most romantic hotels in Florida, including one of our favorites, The Collector Inn. However, during our time at Nights of Lights, we tried a romantic B&B in the Historic District – Centennial House Bed & Breakfast and it was amazing.
Staying in the historic district during the Nights of Lights makes a big difference because you park your car once and you can enjoy the rest of the evening with nothing but relaxation and romance. The Centennial House was a beautiful home base that had the beauty of a bed and breakfast but with the privacy of a boutique hotel. Plus, check out this gorgeous jetted tub to wash away your worries while you walk.
Go on two wheels
Let's be clear: The Historic District is a treacherous place to ride, especially during the Nights of Lights. Sure, you can take a taxi ride on nights of lights, but the car has bright lights and the driver won't focus on the scene.
However, we found an excellent cycling route through St. Augustine, which is safe for experienced daytime cyclists. You may not see the lights, but plenty of other seasonal decor complements historic sites like Old Town Gate, Flagler College, and Lions Bridge. Additionally, Nights of Lights is during peak cycling time when the weather is pretty much perfect for cycling, including the epic ride along the coast to Ponte Vedra.
We think riding a bike together is one of the most romantic things a couple can do, even if you're just taking a taxi.
Encapsulating our romantic ways of seeing nights of lights
We've given you six romantic ways to view the Nights of Lights, but there are many more. From the twice-monthly Night Market at the Amphitheater to the once-a-season Luminary Night at St. Augustine Lighthouse, there are plenty of festivals to enjoy. Besides your favorite things to do in St. Augustine, you can't cram it all into one trip!
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Hello! We are Ed and Jane Coleman also known as Coleman Concierge. In short, we are a 10th generation couple from Huntsville sharing our stories of amazing adventures through transformative and experiential activity-based travel.
