The advantage of a condo or townhouse over a house is simple! When you are ready to go back home you just lock the door and go. The condo association will take care of everything on the outside. No grass to cut, no exterior maintenance, no pool cleaning, no worries! St. Augustine condos can be found at the beach, on the Intracoastal Waterway, on golf courses, near shopping, and just about anything you can think of to suit your needs.
Many of my prospective buyers come here for the first time after hearing about it from friends. Others have visited before and now are coming back to look at the area as a possible choice for their Florida get-away. We also here from many folds that want to relocate from the congestion, crowding, and hot weather in South Florida.
Click here to see all of the condos for sale at Seaside at Anastasia (below)
It’s a unique area with the historic downtown and the beaches that are mostly residential. Read on for some of the rich history and area information that may motivate you to see why St. Augustine condos are a great choice.
St. Augustine’s rich history and cultural diversity have helped shape a dynamic city for both residents and visitors alike. It’s unique mix of both the Old and the New is what beckons visitors to come explore and is what has always brought them back.
The story of this oldest city is the foundation of sightseeing tours via tram, trolley, horse-drawn carriage, walking tour or cruise boat. History comes to life here, where on any given day, you will find guides dressed in old-world costumes, weaving you through the site of the town.
Some of the most popular landmarks include the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a living history museum which interprets life in colonial St. Augustine circa 1740; the Fountain of Youth Discovery Park, where it is said Ponce de Leon sought everlasting youth and the Mission of Nombre de Dios, where Pedro Menendez de Aviles first set foot on Florida’s shore in 1565. Still other landmarks include the Ponce de Leon and Alcazar Hotels, built by Standard Oil magnate Henry Flagler I the late 19th century. Today those grand Victorian structures house FlaglerCollege, City Hall and the Lightner Museum.
There are plenty of terrific bed and breakfasts in the historic downtown area and believe it or not, there are some St. Augustine condos right in the center of the historic district. Pictured below is the Lyon Condos occupying the 2nd, 3rd & 4th Floors of the building. The first floor is commercial with shops.
Just across the Intracoastal Waterway, you will find AnastasiaIsland, a barrier island separating the Atlantic Ocean from the mainland. This island community is most proud of its wide sandy beaches, favorite spots for weekend beach trips and evening walks. On some of our beaches, you can pack the cooler with sandwiches and sodas and drive the car right along on the sand with you.
The north end of Anastasia Island is off limits to motor vehicles. Anastasia State Park starts just a short way north of the St. Johns County Fishing Pier and runs about 2 miles until the north end of the Island separated from Vilano Beach by the inlet. Much of the park area is a sanctuary to wildlife, but the beaches are wonderful, and the campground is amazing. The Park surrounds much of Salt Run where fishing abounds along with water sports and boating.
The most northern access for vehicles is at “A” Street. You can go south on the beach from there, and there are numerous access points to leave the beach, or drive all the way south to a few hundred yards from Matanzas Inlet!
Residents on the Island are never at a shortage of things to do. For outdoor fun, there’s beach volleyball, miniature golf, surfing, bicycling, roller-blading and tennis. Put on your bathing suit and enjoy some of the area’s favorite water sports.
Most of the ocean front St. Augustine condos are on Anastasia Island. Click here to see the condos for sale in the downtown area.
Vilano Beach is located north of Downtown just across the bridge. It is surrounded by water on nearly every side. Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the East, the Intracoastal Waterway on the West and the inlet on the South, it’s the perfect picture of a sunny, Florida beach town.
The name “Vilano” is a shortened version of Latin “villa nova” meaning ‘new town’ although I’ve read that it is Spanish for “villain”. In the 1930’s and 40’s, the southern end of the Beach was transformed into a vacation destination for middleclass tourist looking for moderately priced accommodations. Today, visitors and residents come to here for much of the same reasons they did back then—rest, relaxation, and a lot of fun.
Of course, it’s also synonymous with sand and water. You won’t miss out on any surfing, parasailing, or jet-skiing here—it remains one of the more popular spots in the country for sunning, swimming and surfing.
The boardwalk over the saltwater marsh passes beneath the Usina Bridge and provides a nature walk and bike path joining the residential area to the Town Center where there is also environmental signage. There are 2 pavilions that allow public access to the ocean and river. One of these also features a children’s splash fountain.
Shopping in the area is a buyer’s delight with boutiques, unique gift shops, antique stores and museums waiting to be discovered on nearly every downtown street. On the outskirts are shopping malls and retail centers, including miles of outlet shopping at The St. Augustine Outlet Center and the Belz Factory Outlet World, both at I-95 and S.R. 16. Cobblestone Village is located on S.R. 312 just west of US 1. With its wide array of restaurants and specialty shops, it is a shopping experience not to be missed.
You won’t want to miss everyone’s favorite shopping street—St. George Street. The section starting across from the Old Fort continuing to King Street is pedestrian only and is host to a wide variety of stores, boutiques, restaurants, and watering holes. When you live here and have visitors from out of town, this is a great place to take them.
Jacksonville is 30 minutes away, and Orlando (and Mickey Mouse) just 2 hours away. It’s takes about 1 hour to drive to the Jacksonville International Airport (JAX).
The best way to see if this area and St. Augustine condos are right for you is to come and spend a week. Condos at the beach are available on a weekly basis and there are plenty of hotels, motels, and bed & breakfasts to choose from too.
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