Florida’s Historic Coast: Summer 2024 Events, New Hotels & Restaurants

With summer at its midpoint and fall on the horizon, St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches—collectively known as Florida’s Historic Coast—are buzzing with events and attractions for every interest.

Art is abundant across Florida’s Historic Coast. The Lightner Museum in St. Augustine presents “The Gilded Age: Treasures from the Lightner Museum,” a major reinterpretation of the museum’s permanent collection that runs through winter. The St. Augustine Art Association features a photography-focused exhibit, “History Through the Lens of Architecture,” running through Aug. 25.

Live performances are plentiful. Limelight Theatre’s summer lineup includes musicals such as 9 to 5 The Musical, running through Aug. 11. The St. Augustine Amphitheatre hosts a variety of big-name and local acts—T-Pain, Iration and Pepper, Switchfoot, UB40 and more—through Oct. 26. For free community entertainment, head to the St. Augustine Pier on Wednesdays for the Music By the Sea concert series. Additional recurring events include the Boardwalk Bazaar on the last Friday of the month at Marina Munch, the Fourth Friday Improv Show at Third Space Improv, and the Uptown St. Augustine Block Party on the last Thursday of the month, continuing through September.

For action on the sand, the Florida Skimboarding Pro/Am Tournament takes place Aug. 17–18 at Vilano Beach, drawing competitors from more than 75 beaches around the globe.

Vilano Beach recently welcomed the Hyatt Place Vilano Beach, a 120-room property that blends classic Florida vernacular architecture with Art Deco touches. The hotel features a second-floor pool, 7,200 square feet of meeting and event space, and sits just steps from the beach. On-site dining at Pesca Vilano highlights coastal cuisine with Latin influences—indoor fine dining is available on the main floor, while the rooftop offers a curated menu and crafted cocktails with sweeping views of St. Augustine and the Atlantic.

In downtown St. Augustine, guests at The Casa Monica Resort & Spa can dine at Cordova, a Coastal Chophouse & Bar with seating for 145 indoors plus a lounge and intimate wine room. The menu draws inspiration from Spanish and Moroccan cuisine.

Dining at the Plaza has expanded its evening offerings with Bourbon & Boards, available Fridays and Saturdays from 7 p.m. The experience includes a curated selection of more than 137 bourbons and 900 wines, handcrafted cocktails, late-night boards and specially made tapas, all accompanied by live jazz for a cozy, speakeasy vibe.

Uptown St. Augustine’s Chez L’Amour serves tapas-style small plates, elevated plant-based dishes, decadent desserts and a full bar, with live jazz and piano enhancing the dining experience.

Chef Barry Honan’s Lotus Noodle Bar, which opened in September 2023, offers a modern Japanese menu influenced by French technique. The restaurant focuses on thoughtful flavor combinations, textures and presentation, and pairs dishes with saké, Japanese beer and wine. Seating is limited, so reservations are recommended.

On the water, St. Augustine Sailing School offers American Sailing Association courses taught by experienced captains and instructors, helping students build the skills and confidence needed for safe sailing. For a more leisurely experience, choose a shared or private charter to cruise local waters, enjoy refreshments and observe coastal wildlife such as sea turtles, dolphins and shorebirds.

In Ponte Vedra Beach, Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa has unveiled the Cabana Beach Club, giving guests access to 26 miles of Atlantic shoreline, watersports, a junior Olympic pool and three distinct eateries. The 1912 Ocean Bar & Rooftop is open to the public and offers dramatic views of the ocean.

Getting to Florida’s Historic Coast is convenient. St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra and The Beaches lie just off I-95 in Northeast Florida, with Jacksonville International Airport about 50 minutes north of St. Augustine and roughly 30 minutes from Ponte Vedra Beach.