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Old 01-25-2011, 07:51 PM
 
Location: Inis Fada
16,966 posts, read 34,702,389 times
Reputation: 7723

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My family is in St Aug Beach and everytime we visit my youngest wants to do the same thing -- Alligator Farm and Old Town. I am losing my mind and do not want to smell gators again. Last trip I talked her into visiting the light house, which we both enjoyed. We always sneak in some mini golf by the beach.

Any suggestions on places to go, things to do with a tween around the St Augustine area? We are not looking to shop or come home with a bunch of tchotkes -- I am hoping to go home with the carry on luggage we arrive with and some new happy memories

Thanks in advance!
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Old 01-25-2011, 08:00 PM
 
Location: On the banks of the St Johns River
3,863 posts, read 9,504,831 times
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see if she will go to Ft Matanzas you have to take the boat to get to it she might enjoy it, maybe look for sharks teeth at Washington State park down by there. Marinelands open again isnt it?
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Old 01-25-2011, 08:09 PM
 
Location: San Francisco
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Time to take a "trip" to Jacksonville. St. Augustine is really only "fun" if you've never been or if you love love love the beach or if you are a history buff (or if you're a student at Flagler from up north). Your tween might want to see a new place that's really only 30 minutes or so north (total time). Take A1A up to Jax Beach and eat lunch at Cruisers or Colhane's Irish Pub. Then take her to MOSH or the Jacksonville Landing downtown. Does she enjoy exploring? Does she enjoy shopping? I'm guessing she's not into golf . I would say that perhaps our zoo is more interesting and well rounded than the Alligator Zoo, but you'll be smelling animals. I'm guessing that you'll have time to spend at the Prime Outlets or at St. Johns Town Center. NE FL doesn't offer much for tweens like Orlando does. Good luck.

And I second Madcapmagishion on his activities (Marineland is now a research park that allows guests to see behind the scenes rather than a SeaWorld Light like it used to be, still fun to check out!)
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Old 01-26-2011, 12:25 AM
 
Location: On the banks of the St Johns River
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LOL @ Seaworld Light thats a good one...and yes the Jacksonville zoo is awesome one of the highest ranked in the South if I hear right.
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Old 01-26-2011, 12:27 AM
 
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
10,757 posts, read 35,426,246 times
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I always thought the haunted St. Augustine tour sounded like a lot of fun. St. Augustine has many very old structures and is supposed to be simply overflowing with ghosts. I read about the tour, I'm sure it would be easy to track down.

It would give you a chance to see some historical buildings and your tween to say they had seen ghosts while on vacation...
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Old 01-26-2011, 03:44 AM
 
Location: Amelia Island/Rhode Island
5,130 posts, read 6,123,485 times
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World Golf Village for the new 3D IMAX (if it has been completed)

Busch factory tour (minus the beer tasting)

A+A+A+ The zoo

Amelia Island, Fort Clinch

Mayport Ferry and lunch at Singletons

Me Personally, I will be so happy when there will be enough to do that the The Landing is no longer mentioned as a destination!!
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Old 01-26-2011, 09:38 AM
 
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Zoo for sure. This time of year since its not so hot a lot of the animals are very active during the day. My kids ( and we) love the bonobos and apes
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Old 01-26-2011, 11:22 AM
 
278 posts, read 664,504 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jsimms3 View Post
Time to take a "trip" to Jacksonville. St. Augustine is really only "fun" if you've never been or if you love love love the beach or if you are a history buff (or if you're a student at Flagler from up north). Your tween might want to see a new place that's really only 30 minutes or so north (total time). Take A1A up to Jax Beach and eat lunch at Cruisers or Colhane's Irish Pub. Then take her to MOSH or the Jacksonville Landing downtown. Does she enjoy exploring? Does she enjoy shopping? I'm guessing she's not into golf . I would say that perhaps our zoo is more interesting and well rounded than the Alligator Zoo, but you'll be smelling animals. I'm guessing that you'll have time to spend at the Prime Outlets or at St. Johns Town Center. NE FL doesn't offer much for tweens like Orlando does. Good luck.

And I second Madcapmagishion on his activities (Marineland is now a research park that allows guests to see behind the scenes rather than a SeaWorld Light like it used to be, still fun to check out!)
For somebody who doesn't want to do much shopping, I'd steer clear of the malls (Town Center, outlets, Landing, etc). MOSH is a great way to kill the half an hour it will take to tour the building but is really geared towards younger children.

There are tons of parks in the area, lots of great places to eat, but for an 11 or 12 year old, it's a tough call. My wife's sister is in that age range and we always ended up taking her to... Old Town in St Augustine and theme parks in Orlando! Well, after we exhausted the parks here in Jax.

The IMAX theater at World Golf Village is a good idea and the restaurant out there isn't too bad. St Augustine Beach is a cool place to hang out. Other than that...

It'd be great if somebody would open up an old fashioned cheap video arcade somewhere near St Augustine Beach.
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:35 AM
 
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Our tween girls really enjoyed St. George Street in St. Augustine as they love all the gift shops and Ripley's Believe It or Not museum has some unusual exhibits.
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Old 01-27-2011, 09:53 PM
 
Location: Inis Fada
16,966 posts, read 34,702,389 times
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Thank you everyone for your suggestions.

I am traveling from the NY area, so some of the things on the list, like shopping and IMAX, are things we can readily do up here. This is more about trying to do some things which are unique to the region. Granted zoos are all over, but there might be some species at the JAX zoo which aren't at the Bronx Zoo.

Fort Matanzas, looking for shark teeth and the zoo sound interesting. We've always enjoyed the Bronx Zoo, so it would be a refreshing change to see the Jacksonville Zoo. How much time should we allow ouselves?

Is Cruisers or Culhones anywhere near the zoo?

We did Marineland a number of years ago and it sounds as though it's improved if it is more research. That will certainly be considered.

I've seen the Ghost Train and other ghost tour ads. Prior trips my daughter was too young. I think she might be ready to check one out. If not -- can I blame L_M for any nightmares? LOL

floridabirdlover -- St George St is on the list -- we do that every trip. It's tween heaven! We've been to Ripley's a few times, so that is getting placed on the back burner.

Thank you all for your great suggestions!
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