Q-Tips Reviews

PIZZALLEY’S Restaurant 117 Saint George St., Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 825-2627-

Q-Tips say: – Stopped for a glass of wine and Bruchetta-was ok for what we wanted at the time. There is a person handing out samples of pizza out front, it was extra, extra cheese pizza – tasty.
Mrs. Q says: This is really a pizza place. Saw many families having pizza and they seemed to be enjoying themselves. The service was good as was the wine and Bruchetta. Yes, most restaurants you get a !0% off your bill w/ trolley ticket or the discount from the discount books, so use them.

FLAGLER COLLEGE – 74 King St., St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-2424 www.flagler.edu

Q-Tips say: A must see/do. The 45 minute tour given by a student is worth taking. Yes, you are correct, I believe it was $10.00 pp but worth it. You’ll learn a fantastic amount of history about the old hotel and Flagler’s legacy plus you’ll get to see parts of the auditorium and Women’s lounge that are closed off to the general public. The Tiffany stained glass windows and Tiffany carved chairs (yes, they did make the chairs) and their imitations are definitely worth the price of admission. Mrs. Q says: The dorms are NOT co-ed. There were areas that were off limits, like the dorms. You can take photos except for the last room which was the Women’s Section of the Hotel – your guide will remind you.

GRACE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH – 8 Carrera St., Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-8272 www.umc.org

Q-Tips say: Stop in for a visit if you are in the area. Lots of history. Mrs. Q says: Word has it that Mr. Flagler wanted some of the land that the Methodist owned so he told them he would build the church in exchange for the land he wanted, to construct the Ponce de Leon Hotel. However, it cost him more than he anticipated. It is not as ornate as the Basilica but worth seeing due to its history. Remember, this is a Church so hats off men, and no loud boisterous talking.

The Grace Church is built in authentic Spanish Renaissance style. The exterior has not changed significantly. Two significant changes were made to the interior, both relate to the Wurlitzer pipe organ; one when it was installed (1925), the second when it was removed in order to provide space for the organ pump.

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCO – 1 S Castillo Dr., Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-6506 www.nps.gov/casa

Q-Tips say:A must see for all including children. This castle, built in the 17th century, is the oldest existing castle of it’s time. This is a National Monument. There are 400,000 blocks of stone in the Castillo all of it cut and set by hand. Ground was broken on October 2nd, 1672 to start the building of Castillo de San Marcos. Built in the 17th century, originally meant to defend the Spanish empire’s holding of Florida, today its run by the National Park Service. The NPS performs live reenactments of troop marches, flag ceremonies, and cannon firings for all to enjoy.

Mrs. Q notes: Bought the Senior Pass when in Pisgah Forest, NC and it allows you to get in to any National Park for free, and those with you, I believe. Also, allows a discount for certain fees. Please REMEMBER this is a NATIONAL PARK – so stay off the walls and the cannons. Even tho there are signs stating this we did see a young woman on top of a cannon taking a selfie. A guard immediately told her to get off. The admission is, you guessed it, $10.00 per adult.

LIGHNTER MUSEUM – 75 King St., Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-2874 www.lightnermuseum.org

Q-Tips say: Must see and do. One of Mrs. Q’s favorite tours. Mrs. Q says: My favorite part of the first floor is the Natural History room, including a mounted African Lion, a dinosaur egg, and many tribal artifacts (like a shrunken head!). Who can invite people into their home and offer them a look see at your own shrunken head or mummy (in a private room and respectfully represented). NOT sure the very little children would enjoy this one because this is NOT an “interactive-hands on museum”. Probably good for older children. There are Docents on every floor who are happy to explain and share their knowledge.

A unique and incredible bit of history, the Lightner Museum is situated adjacent to the beautiful Flagler College and shares a similar sense of architecture.

The Museum has a super collection of the wealthy northerner Mr. Lightner. Mr. Lightner was not content to collect some particular item, his collection consisted of other people’s COLLECTIONS. And that is principally what you get to examine throughout 4 floors of museum.

They really have a lot of everything – most of it from the 19th and early 20th century. The first floor has the best collections, from mundane (still cool) things like canes, tobacco accessories, and dolls (including one from the remnants of Hiroshima/Nagasaki). The first floor is the Natural History part.

The second floor has more history on the museum’s days as a hotel, including its Turkish Baths and a large number of vases and other art.

The third/ fourth floors have art, statuary, some Napoleonic furniture, as well as a great view from the ballroom of the former hotel pool down below which is now a restaurant.

Twice daily there is an informative music show put on by the staff in which they play old musical instruments on the first floor. Go and enjoy, we did.

CATHEDRAL BASILICA -38 Cathedral Pl., St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-2806 www.thefirstparish.org

Q-Tips say: Stop in and see it – It is FREE and Gorgeous!

It is in the middle of historic St. Augustine right at the end of the very busiest street in town, across from the central park. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine is where the Bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine resides. The architecture is from the Spanish Colonial period.

The architecture is lovely and the details inside including the stained glass is impressive.

Mrs. Q says: Please respect that it is a church. Men should take off their hats and no loud boisterous talking and be properly dressed.

RIPLEY’S – Believe it or Not Odditorium – 19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 824-1606 www.ripleys.com/staugu

Q-Tips say: Mr. Q wanted to see this, so Mrs. Q went along. Mrs. Q says: Sure, it can be cheesy, but that is part of the fun!

Yes it is good for kids but for heaven’s sake if your child is the sensitive kind and says they are frightened, take them out don’t force them to see it. After all, there are a few creepy things here including some of the exhibits.

Just what we thought it would be. Many exhibits are bizarre to us but those are the customs of what other cultures believe in and practice. Some funny and hands on exhibits as well. Go and enjoy then you don’t have to ever go again. PS: You see some of this on your local street corners.

OLD JAIL MUSEUM 167 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-3800

Q-Tips say: Mr. Q really wanted to do this so Mrs. Q went along. It was ok. Lasted about 45 mins. and we had a family with 5 teenagers along with us on the tour so the teens made it a lot more fun.

Good for families and the tour guide does an excellent job of acting like a Jail Warden for that period in time.

Mrs. Q says: If you seen one jail you have seen them all. NOT that mrs. Q was in jail, she TOURED Alcatraz when in Ca.

OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS – 167 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 829-3800 – www,trolleytours.com/st–augustine

Q-Tips say: Get your Trolley tickets and go for the complete ride and get an idea of what you might like to see and do. Also, do a little checking via the internet ahead of your trip and it helps you with how much each tour/museum, etc costs and how much you can see in one day along with restaurant reviews. The trolley tickets last for 3 days and take you back and forth but the last trolley pick up is usually around 4:30. No trolleys in the evening. Mrs. Q suggests you drive to restaurants/bars in the evening because street parking is free after 5:00. Certain lots have 1/2 price after 5:00.

The trolley drivers are helpful and explain what they are going by and a little history behind each exhibit. As always, some trolley drivers are better than others and the Q’s had two exceptional drivers, Matt and Jimbo. Matt was younger and shared a younger person’s perspective and Jimbo was older and shared his years of experience. Both excellent trolley drivers.

A note of caution: The trolleys are open with a top cover – so if you are there when it is windy, cool or extremely hot come prepared.

Also, most things seem to cost around $10.00 to see/do and park. Yes, even to light a big candle in the Basilica cost, yes you guessed it, $10.00

THE OLD SENATOR – 137 San Marco Avenue, Saint Augustine, FL 32084
(800) 889-9735 – www.hojo.com

The Old Senator, the 600-year old treee on the ground of Howard Johnson Hotel. No need to make a special trip to see it. All Trolley tours go past it to turn around and tell you about the tree.

Mrs. Q’s Note: Suggest you don’t stay at HOJO unless you really want to. Read some of their reviews before staying at HOJO.