Visit St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida

“Being a history buff, I had to see Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth while in the St. Augustine area. The privately owned park encompasses some 15 acres located on the Hospital Creek along the intercoastal waterway. As local folklore has it this is supposedly the location of the landing site of the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon and the fountain of youth discovered in 1513. Definitely a tourist trap. But the grounds were beautiful and fun to stroll through. They offer exhibits, tours, shows and demonstrations and of course a gift shop. The kids will love it.”

— ray weithman · ★★★★☆ · 2026-2-24

“We highly recommend exploring this park. Great for kids and adults. They have presentations depicting life in the area. There is an archeological area to sift for fossils. We enjoyed a walkway out over the marsh area. It was so peaceful. A cannon and a rifle were fired. We really liked the rifle presentation. Everyone is very knowledgeable. The fountain of youth was a nice set-up and yes we drank the water. My husband likes to joke that now we act our grandchild's age! The water was not the greatest tasting but you gotta do it lol. The best to things were the planetarium and the huge globe! ”

— Gina Blaes · ★★★★★ · 2026-2-3

“Going in, you kind of have to know that this is a little cheesy and a tourist trap! But the property itself is gorgeous, there are gorgeous views of the water, and feeding the peacocks was a highlight of our trip! For a little over $20 a person, it was well worth our money! We spent a little less than an hour and a half there, but we didn’t have any small children with us, and we didn’t go into the planetarium, so we were able to move through the exhibits relatively quickly. It was also an easy walk over from downtown St. Augustine! Don’t know if we’d go back again, but if you’ve never been it”

— Alina Evans · ★★★★★ · 2026-1-19

“Visiting the Fountain of Youth truly felt like stepping back in time. The site is incredibly rich in history, and our tour guide was an excellent storyteller who brought the past to life in a way that felt immersive and engaging rather than textbook-dry. I really enjoyed the diorama elements surrounding the fountain — they helped set the scene and made it easier to imagine what life was like when the explorers first arrived. The park itself is beautiful, with peacocks roaming freely everywhere, which somehow makes the experience feel even more magical. There are multiple attractions spread thr”

— Kelly Black · ★★★★☆ · 2026-2-3

“The water doesn't taste all that great but I'm hoping to feel younger. The people are very knowledgeable about history. The peacocks are beautiful and were looking for mates based on how many were showing off the day we were there.”

— Sandra Wurm · ★★★★★ · 2026-2-25

“Surprisingly enjoyable, lol. Enjoyed Geronimo (and his assistant Mike) at the blacksmith exhibit. And the 2 folks at the archeological station, they were wonderful. Unfortunately, the firing of the cannon and the weapons was not available due to technical issues, but we still learned a lot and had a great talk with the gentleman at the historic firearms presentation. Very informative museum.”

— joi g · ★★★★★ · 2026-1-17

“Visiting the Ponce de Leon Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine was such a cool throwback to history with a little sprinkle of magic. The grounds are beautiful, full of peacocks strutting around like they own the place, and the exhibits make you feel like you stepped right into the 1500s. Of course, we couldn’t leave without sipping the famous “Fountain of Youth” water—did it take a few years off me? I’m convinced it did! 😆 Between the scenic views, the planetarium show, and the fun demonstrations, it’s one of those places where you learn a ton without even realizing it because you’re having su”

— Angel Gonzalez · ★★★★★ · 2025-11-30

“Lots of peacocks! Real Canon fire demo (and simulated as well) :) The fountain itself is staffed by a great team that gives you the backstory on Ponce - educational! Drinking from the fountain is a must - you're already here! And a shout out to the on site restaurant Smoked Southern BBQ - lovely brisket and pulled pork sandwiches!”

— G P · ★★★★☆ · 2026-2-12

“I absolutely loved the history and display even though the fountain of youth water tasted of Sulphur. Don't worry I understand very well different springs have different taste profiles. Plus I didn't get any younger (joke). The demonstrations were great and for me, especially the blacksmithing! I had a peacock come right up to me and get his peanuts which I absolutely loved.”

— timothy gruba · ★★★★★ · 2025-12-31

“We visited the Fountain of Youth and it truly surprised me. I expected a small attraction, but it turned out to be a large park filled with history and colonial-era demonstrations. We watched several presentations, including how old muskets were loaded and the cannon and crossbow demonstrations—very interesting and well done. One of the most beautiful moments was seeing the peacocks up close. Even though none of them opened their tails, they were still stunning to watch. Definitely a place worth visiting.”

— Migdalia Garcia Roman · ★★★★★ · 2025-11-29