Tour company features St. Augustine history, craft breweries, local restaurants, cocktail hot spots and hidden gems
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL — Experience the magic of St. Augustine, Florida during the Nights of Lights 2024 holiday event with St. Augustine Experiences walking tours. This year marks the 31st anniversary of the celebration, and the city will be illuminated with over 3 million white lights, creating a dazzling spectacle which opens November 23, 2024 and runs each evening through January 26, 2025.
St. Augustine Experiences will offer a special evening availability for the popular history walking tour. In addition to regular times at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., and a special “History Under the Lights” will depart at 6 p.m.
Join professional guides as they delve into 4 1/2 centuries of St. Augustine’s rich history, illuminated by the enchanting Nights of Lights. Named by National Geographic as one of the 10 Best Holiday Light Shows in the world, this is truly a magical time to visit St. Augustine. The History Under the Lights tour will run November 24 through January 26.
Afternoon culinary tours, including the Wine, Cocktail, & Food Experience; the Beer & History Crawl; and the Bourbon, Whiskey & History Experience, provide the perfect daytime activity as guests await the evening’s stunning light display. Starting at 2:00 PM and finishing around 5:30 PM, these tours offer a unique way to explore the city as the sun sets, culminating in a breathtaking light show as night falls.
For families and those looking for non-alcoholic options, the daytime Sweets & History Walking Tour and St. Augustine Food Tour are ideal. The sweets tour features a collector insulated bag that guests will fill along the route with delectable pastries, pralines, chocolates, and more. The St. Augustine Food Tour focuses on favorite restaurants and dishes in town, making it perfect for all ages, including family members under 21 and those who don’t drink alcohol.
“We are celebrating five awesome years in St. Augustine,” said owner Alex Drywa, who opened St. Augustine Experiences in 2019 just before covid. He and his business partner, Garry Zafrani, also own Manhattan Walking Tour in New York City, which was founded in 2010 and features small group history and culinary walking tours.
In 2022, St. Augustine Experiences was voted TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best for Top Wine, Beer & Spirits Experiences in the world. In 2023, St. Augustine Experiences was featured in Southern Living’s “The South’s Best Small Town.” Owner Alex Drywa met the author of the article to discuss why he loves giving tours in St. Augustine and his favorite spots to bring guests for food and drinks.
Also this year, St. Augustine Experiences is offering an early morning “Beat the Heat” history walk at 8:45 AM which started on August 1. Perfect for early birds, this history tour is the perfect way to see the city in the quiet morning hours. This tour will run through November 22.
To reserve a tour and learn more, visit staugustineexperiences.
