St. Augustine, Florida, the nation’s oldest city, is probably not the first place one thinks of when thinking about Florida. But St. Augustine and the surrounding area is truly the REAL Florida. We are steeped in history, there are beautiful beaches, and nature abounds in the nearby parks and recreational areas. I will try to guide you through the area from the perspective of the handicapped traveler.
Because the St. Augustine area is over 500 years old, most of the Old City is not wheelchair friendly, but this doesn’t mean that you can't enjoy the sights. The sightseeing trains and horse-drawn carriages are not accessible, so your best bet is to get around by car. Attraction maps are free and available everywhere, so you can drive around the Old City at your leisure, making stops along the way. Many of the attractions, such as Ripley's Believe it or Not, the Lightner Museum, etc., are completely accessible and have ample parking. St. George Street, where you will find most of the shopping, can be navigated in a wheelchair, but many of the shops are not accessible. There are some newer buildings close to the City Gates that are easily accessible, as are the shops in the little "malls" off St. George. Get into town before 10am to find the best parking spots.
Want to go to the beach? Go right ahead! All the beaches allow vehicles, so you can drive almost to the ocean's edge. A wonderful way to spend the day!
St. Augustine is famous for its bed-and-breakfast inns, and a few of them do have accessible rooms, but for the most part, these are off-limits to the handicapped. There are many hotels and motels in the area that, although lacking the charm of the B&Bs, are fully accessible, very nice, and reasonably priced.