The spaceGuests are invited to utilize the entire newly-renovated property which includes our 3-story luxury vacation home, 8 car parking area, spacious back patio with an outdoor shower for beach days and a grill and bar for big dinners! Inside our luxury vacation home you will find a private master suite with en suite bathroom, 4 Roku Smart TV’s for entertainment and a beautiful fully equipped kitchen with granite slab countertops for whipping up meals! Our back patio is decorated with glimmering market lights for a cozy, eclectic atmosphere as well as patio furniture and a comfy swing for all your lounging needs. Enjoy the benefits of our perfectly maintained yard that sports a fire pit for s’mores and sand games for all your family and friends. Sand games that we have include badminton, horseshoes, spike ball, bocci ball, and cornhole plus more! Inside the house you will find extra amenities for a fun time such as a Nintendo Wii, cabinet full of board games, and a reading nook for little ones. And of course, guests are welcome to use our semi-private neighborhood beach access for the best beach vacation ever!
Guest accessThe whole house is yours for your vacation!
Additional notesWe require the guest who books our rental to sign a short-term lease agreement through email prior to check-in as a precautionary measure!
*NO PARTIES ALLOWED!* Although we want our guests to have as much fun as possible, Sweet Sandcastle is not a rental suited for parties. Our home is in a quiet family neighborhood and we have an attentive neighborhood watch program that will notify us the moment a party ensues. Please do not attempt to book this rental if you plan on throwing a party, find another rental more suited to your needs.
*COVID-19 Pandemic* As homeowners it is our goal to offer you as much peace of mind as possible during the pandemic. Because of this, we are committed to a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the property prior to and after your stay. We utilize a professional cleaning team to make sure that the property itself is clean and safe for our valued guests. Our beach is a local community beach that is rarely crowded, which means there is typically plenty of space for our guests to practice responsible social distancing, as compared to other crowded public beaches. Our commitment to an enhanced clean is just another reason why our Sweet Sandcastle is the perfect place for your vacation.
Guest interactionAvailable for questions via text & phone call. Hosts live a few minutes away and are available to come in person if needed in case of emergency.
Neighborhood overviewThis is a lovely quiet beach neighborhood with semi-private beach access just a 5-minute walk away. Located directly between the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean just a short walk away for both spectacular sunrises and sunsets.
Anyone who’s ever loved a town knows its worth can’t be counted in a census or measured in square miles. Instead, it’s defined and distinguished by the precise combination of landmarks, lore, and even language that just couldn’t exist in any other place of any size. With its Spanish colonial heritage, melting-pot population, and wealth of Gilded Age relics, there’s truly no other town cut from the same cloth (or, perhaps, patchwork) as St. Augustine, Florida, this year’s Best Small Town in the South. So when it came time to craft an itinerary through one of America’s oldest destinations, I relied on the folks who know and love it best to help chart my path. I’d start each day with an expert recommendation and then strike up conversations on the go to determine where to head next. From picturesque brunch spots to windswept beaches, St. Augustine’s fan club never steered me wrong.
Day 1: Explore Downtown
You wouldn’t need an insider to point you toward St. George Street—the steady foot traffic flowing through this pedestrian thoroughfare lined with colonial-era storefronts is as effective as a neon sign. But to find the sweet spot worth a stop amid all the souvenir shops and “olde tyme” businesses, I turned to Alex Drywa, whose small-group St. Augustine Experiences tours have consistently won both rave reviews and repeat customers.
He suggested we meet on the balcony at Boat Drinks, a bi-level bar and seafood joint with retro tropical interiors, a world-class rum library, and a balcony overlooking St. George Street that’s Drywa’s go-to place for people-watching. We filled up on savory jerk chicken skewers and sweet but stiff Goombay Smash cocktails as a stream of vacationers ambled below. From the vintage seascapes to the teakwood details, it’s decidedly more Old Florida than Old World. This aesthetic is echoed nearby at The Floridian. There, a mounted alligator skull presides over the pineapple-wallpapered upstairs bar, and the palm-shaded brick patio welcomes diners drawn to its energy and adaptation-friendly menu (think gluten-free and vegetarian takes on Southern classics).
Meanwhile, two newcomers on the Matanzas River waterfront have carved out their own distinct niches. Casa Reina, a taqueria and tequila bar in a 120-year-old Spanish Colonial Revival building, has bold, modern Mexican decor and a terrace overlooking the Bridge of Lions. Seafood-and-steaks restaurant River & Fort (two blocks to the north) delivers a postcard-worthy perspective on the Castillo de San Marcos, the city’s iconic fortress that was built more than 300 years ago from the hardy, seashel-laden coquina stone. Both embody the spirit of celebrating the city’s past without being entirely beholden to it, a tricky balance I observed time and time again during my stay.
Day 2: Venture Uptown
While downtown is no time capsule, it is heavily touristed. Lately, more and more residents and entrepreneurs have begun gravitating toward the lively uptown area, where wine bars, vintage boutiques, and decor shops cater to those who could use a little distance from the historical-reenactment hoopla. Artist Jenna Alexander tipped me off to recent arrival Sunday Gathering Table, a hip brunch spot decorated with her own colorful, large-scale paintings of Florida flora and fauna. Over a steaming bowl of shakshuka and a side of house-baked sourdough, I swapped introductions with the couple seated two counter stools away and managed to pick up a dinner lead for the evening: Collage, a cozy white-tablecloth restaurant downtown that had a single 5:30 p.m. cancellation.
In order to work up a good appetite for the feast to come, I spent the afternoon on foot, browsing rattan furniture and vintage barware at Cool and Collected and date-night dresses at Declaration & Co. just down the road. Back downtown, Collage’s clean whitewashed exterior, draped romantically in bougainvillea, opened into a dimly lit space that gradually filled with couples and families gathering to sample house-made pastas, local fish, and indulgent desserts. It could have been the candlelight, the service, or the wine, but I’m pretty sure that I glowed by the time I left.
Day 3: St Augustine's Waterfront & Wildlife
With two rivers and the Atlantic Ocean surrounding St. Augustine on three sides, it’s no wonder that yachting, sailing, and pleasure boating options are plentiful. But I wanted to get a slightly different POV on how the other half lives—that half being the hundreds of fish, bird species, and assorted marine life that also call this ecosystem home. I connected with dolphin researcher and local Flagler College alum Zach McKenna, who runs St. Augustine Eco Tours. Thanks to warm, shallow estuaries that harbor an abundance of fish, these coastal waters are particularly appealing to dolphins, which keep up a rigorous feeding schedule (and by that point, I could relate).
Still, responsible dolphin spotting requires patience, so as we cut the motor and drifted, we occupied ourselves by watching a great blue heron on the hunt, his spindly legs perfectly camouflaged amid the mangroves and spartina grass. When a mother dolphin and two calves finally appeared—and then another and another—it was all the more thrilling for the anticipation. While the mamas herded mullet over a sandbar, their young practiced their diving techniques and—above the surface—I had to keep reminding myself to breathe.
When we returned to the dock, two hours had passed like 30 minutes and I wished we could’ve stayed out all day—but I had a new tip from McKenna and headed over to Anastasia State Park to see it through. The directive? Drive or bike to the beach. Walk out onto the sands. Keep going as far as you can. Then turn around, and walk back. On this uniquely undisturbed stretch of coastline, with 4 miles of car-free (and even dog-free) nature, it’s easy to find your own quiet slice. Within 10 minutes, I’d located mine and plopped down with the grassy dunes at my back.
Climbing into the car an hour and a half later (my hair full of tangles and my ankles crusted with tiny shells), I mentally sent McKenna a thank-you note and then pulled myself together for dinner at Llama, an intimate and welcoming Peruvian restaurant midway between the park and downtown. With the gentle sound of flute music, the generous portions of lomo saltado (providing more than enough tender steak and crispy potatoes for three people), and the evocative burnt-eucalyptus smoke wafting from the Sacred Valley cacao mousse dessert, I felt utterly transported, an experience I’d come to recognize as a signature of St. Augustine.
Day 4: Historical St. Augustine
It’s not just at dinnertime that St. Augustine takes you places. Wake up early for a walk around the sleepy lanes, and you might well forget where you are—or what century it is. On Aviles Street, you could be in the 1600s, when the pathway for this road, the city’s oldest, was first laid down. On the corner of Cordova and King Streets, framed by the Lightner Museum and Flagler College (two former Gilded Age hotels that were designed in the ornate Spanish Renaissance style), you may feel like you’ve just arrived for a winter of relaxation with the late 19th-century upper crust.
To the south and west of both, the calendar resets as downtown crossfades into Lincolnville, a community founded by emancipated Black men and women in 1866. It’s rich in Victorian structures and, more notably, historic sites from the ACCORD Freedom Trail. Throughout the neighborhood, plaques commemorate homes and businesses where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his friends and allies gathered to organize demonstrations in the weeks before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and illuminate the history that unfolded beneath the same Spanish moss-draped oaks that shade this area today. Lincolnville and the west side are still largely residential, but a handful of new ventures have sprung up in recent years to join more established area favorites, like Preserved (a Southern-cuisine standby in an elegant corner Victorian) and Blue Hen Cafe (a homey, rooster-adorned diner known for pint-glass mimosas and a peach butter that harmonizes with every last item on the menu).
Farther west, the St. Augustine Distillery and The Ice Plant have turned an industrial stretch along the San Sebastian River into a craft-cocktail destination with style to spare. One of my favorite unplanned stops, however, was inspired by a debate about the best local taprooms that I’d overheard on my first day in town. With time to kill between a museum visit and a meal, I wandered into Dog Rose Brewing on a Sunday afternoon—which, it turns out, was precisely the right time to be there. The place was packed and humming with energy as the three-piece Dewey Via Band took the stage, instruments (including a washboard) in hand. The bartender poured me a glass of sweet-tart Lion’s Head Honey Sour, and I leaned back to watch the musicians and the loyal audience, young and old, do their thing. It was a moment that could happen only here and in only this way. I was just off the beaten path and felt like I was right at the heart of it all.
Fly directly into Northeast Florida Regional Airport (just north of town), or go with Jacksonville International Airport, but be prepared for traffic delays on both ends of that journey (which ranges from one to two hours by car).
Where To Eat
The Floridian: This spot is bursting with charm; choose a table in the cool shade on the patio, or head upstairs to the atmospheric bar. Either way, don’t skip the Biscuit and Belly.
Sunday Gathering Table: A sourdough-centric pandemic project for husband-and-wife team Ed Baltzley and Misty Lake, this chic but comfortable restaurant doubles as a gift store for artist Jenna Alexander, whose studio and workshop space is just out back.
Collage: This date-night favorite has topnotch service; a new chef; and a warm, welcoming interior. Reserve a table as far in advance as you can.
Llama: Chef/owner Marcel Vizcarra puts his spin on Peruvian classics in this intimate dinner spot just across the Bridge of Lions.
Catch 27: Insiders swear by this historic district destination for fresh, locally caught seafood. Its name riffs on Florida’s status as the 27th state.
Juniper Market: Refuel during an afternoon of uptown shopping with inventive java concoctions (like a spiced Magic Coffee cold brew or a sweet and frothy Greek frappé) and scratchmade sandwiches at this lively cafe.
Where To Drink
Dog Rose Brewing: Visit this downtown-adjacent taproom on Sundays, when regular performers the Dewey Via Band take the stage and a block party vibe prevails.
Odd Birds Cocktail Lounge & Kitchen: A vibrant patio scene, expertly crafted tropical cocktails, and a menu inspired by the owner’s Venezuelan roots make Odd Birds a perennial favorite.
Boat Drinks: You could mistake this bright and modern St. George Street establishment (pictured above) for a juice joint were it not for the frozen-drink machines whirring happily behind the bar and the menu with a dedicated section for overproof potables. Start with shareable snacks or sandwiches as a safety—and don’t miss the oysters.
Forgotten Tonic: A robust cocktail list and comfort food menu have won this Aviles Street spot a devoted following as well as beverage industry cred.
Where To Play
Anastasia State Park: Come for the pristine beach, and stay for the bird-watching at this 1,600-acre nature lover’s haven. It’s also home to 139 camping sites for RVs and tents.
St. Augustine Eco Tours: Book a morning kayak trek, midday dolphin watch, or sunset sail with this outfitter that your inner conservationist can feel good about.
Lightner Museum: Celebrating 75 years as a museum (and 135 years since construction), the former Hotel Alcazar (below) features contemporary and traveling exhibitions alongside its permanent collection of Gilded Age artifacts, fine art, and design pieces.
The St. Augustine Amphitheatre: The dreamy upland forest setting surrounded by live oaks is just one reason this unique music venue, known as The Amp, draws acts that are normally booked for much larger shows.
Getting aroundUse your vehicles to get around our lovely neighborhood and feel free to park in our private 8 car parking lot directly in front of our vacation house.
