Visit St. Augustine when playing golf in Jacksonville

During a recent four-day Jacksonville, Fla., golf trip I only had about an hour to give myself a quick tour of historic St. Augustine.

I’m glad I did. I knew I didn’t have time to visit the World Golf Village just up the road, so I stuck with wandering the cobblestone streets of St. Augustine, founded in 1565 as America’s oldest continuously occupied city. It was a pleasant Friday night and the place was just starting to get crowded with couples heading out to dinner or just stopping by to soak up the live music or sip a glass of wine.

My wife’s a history buff, and I must bring her back. My children would love to see the old fort overlooking the water (see the guard above) and the tiny building reputed to be “the oldest schoolhouse in America.”

St. Augustine has the feel of a classier, smaller version of New Orleans. There’s an eclectic mix of shops and tons of places to eat and drink. The architecture of its churches and the Ponce de Leon Hotel are striking. The waterfront is gorgeous. And romance is just one horse-and-carriage ride away.

If you’re visiting Jacksonville for golf, even with four buddies, put St. Augustine on your must-visit list for dinner and a night out.