Spring has sprung and rain is inevitable. While the weather in Northeast Florida is envied by many with an average of 223 sunny days a year, St. Augustine also gets, on average, fifty-one inches of rainfall per year. Keep those rainy days interesting with a trip to one of these classic spots in St. Augustine that will be sure to entertain and educate you.

St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum

AHOY, MATEY! Spend the day at The Pirate Museum and explore owner Pat Croce’s impressive collection of pirate memorabilia. Hunt through more than 800 pirate artifacts and state-of-the-art displays created by the Disney Imagineers. The Pirate Museum is home to the only surviving treasure chest in the world AND one of the only remaining Jolly Roger flags. Before you leave, be sure to stop by the gift shop to purchase a little pirate booty of your own to take home. To plan your day at the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum, visit www.thepiratemuseum.com.

The Old Jail

In 1891, Henry Flagler commissioned the company that eventually built Alcatraz to construct a jail just north of downtown St. Augustine. To avoid instilling fear in the public and to encourage his friends to invest in the city, Henry Flagler disguised the jail to look like a hotel! The Old Jail provides guests a glimpse into the daily lives of St. Augustine’s most notorious prisoners. Enjoy an interactive experience as costumed actors tell stories of the jail and the prisoners behind bars. Visitors will also have a chance to view the large collection of weapons and artifacts on display. The Old Jail is truly a must-visit in St. Augustine!

St. Augustine Distillery

If a rainy day has you in a drinking mood, stop by St. Augustine Distillery. This family owned and operated establishment is committed to making world-class spirits using the best of Florida’s agriculture. St. Augustine Distillery offers free tours everyday so visitors can learn how they make their spirits from farm to bottle, the differences between each spirit, and, best of all, learn how to make St. Augustine Distillery’s FOUR signature cocktails! No reservation is required for these amazing tours and they are FREE – can’t get much better than that! 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum

If you haven’t already visited, you have to admit you’ve always been curious about Ripley’s Believe It or Not! From incredible artwork to shrunken heads, your eyes won’t know where to look next. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum was founded by Robert Leroy Ripley to display the amazing artifact collection from his extensive travels. He documented his adventures in his famous comic strip, “Believe It or Not!”. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit their website

Contact each location for their latest COVID protocols and restrictions.

 
 
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A lot has changed in our community within the past few weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chiefly among those, requirements to practice social distancing.

As a result, many of us are self-quarantined or, at the very least, limiting our time away from home. However, even though we might be stuck at home, it is still important to keep up with exercise to maintain physical health and keep our spirits up!

To help, the First Coast YMCA has temporarily made lots of on-demand virtual workouts and classes available to everyone for free!

Virtual Studio –This is a YouTube channel with loads of on-demand workout routines from Zumba and HIIT training to yoga and light cardio.

Access here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69QazyB2WpZD0ckIsXGnIZHnvdsEj89T

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With all the news coverage about COVID-19, it can be difficult to know how to get the most accurate and up-to-date information to protect yourself and your family.

Further, plenty of misinformation is circulating about prevention. Here are the most basic do’s and don’ts as curated from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Do:  Wash your hands often, for 20 seconds or longer. Also, use hand sanitizer that has at least 60% alcohol.

Don’t: Rely on face masks to protect you. According to Johns Hopkins, “For the general public without respiratory illness, wearing lightweight disposable surgical masks is not recommended. Because they don’t fit tightly, they may allow tiny infected droplets to get into the nose, mouth or eyes.”

Do:  Go about your regular activities but try to keep a distance of at least 2-3 feet from those around you. Also, avoid large groups and mass gatherings. In fact, Gov. DeSantis has asked that all mass gatherings in the state be cancelled for the next month.

Don’t: Try to prevent or kill the COVID-19 virus by ingesting, gargling or applying harsh chemicals to your body. It has been rumored that chlorine bleach or alcohol can mitigate the spread. WHO says this is not true and is very dangerous.

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