St. Augustine Marina for extended stay?

cheapboxofwine · #1 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

We're continuing our trek down the ICW and expect to have an extended stay in St. Augustine, FL. I'm seeking marina recommendations for at least 1-4 months time before we ship our boat to Europe either out of Brunswick GA or Ft. Lauderdale FL. We have two kids age 4 and 6, and ideally, would like to find an affordable marina within walking distance to grocery, parks and pool on premises. Also, does anyone know if St. Augustine itself is family friendly?

Thanks,
From a family currently at a marina on Hilton Head that has no transport and nearest grocery is 6 miles away!

Vasco · #2 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

The Municipal marina has no pool. Groceries are about 3 miles away on the highway. St. Augustine is a very touristy town. Expensive restaurants, although the brew pub on the corner isn't too bad. Not the best for kids. Your best bet would be Vero Beach, still no pool but free bus service and beach is a short walk. As for "affordable", that's a relative term.

PBzeer · #3 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Camachee Cove and the Conch House are the only two I show with a pool. Oyster Creek, up the San Sebastian River doesn't have a pool, but it does have showers and laundry and is supposed to be in walking distance from a grocery and Home Depot.

If you want to go a bit further south, Harbourtown at Fort Pierce has a pool, laundry and showers, and walking distance to grocery and pharmacy, plus have Enterprise car rental on site (about $40 a day for a compact).

Vasco · #4 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Oyster Creek is right on the highway, that's why it's close to groceries, fairly dirty and noisy. Camachee Cove has a good reputation but may be a bit out of the way.

PorFin · #5 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

Camache Cove is a pretty fair distance away from town proper. It's surrounded by condos, but there's not a real grocer close by. Very little going for it for a transient.

The Conch House is a nice place, and is only a couple of blocks off of A-1-A. The St Augutine lighthouse is also close, and old town is just across the Bridge of Lions. If your kids want to see an alligator up-close, there are a couple of small ones in a pen in the outdoor seating area of the restaurant.

If you want to Google map it, the address is:
57 Comares Ave, Saint Augustine, FL

Of the two, I'd go with Conch House.

PF.

PF has no connection to either of the marinas cited.

camaraderie · #6 (**permalink**) 12-03-2007

In St. Augustine...Oyster Creek is the way to go. Ask for Walt. Walk to everything and cheaper than the muni and Camatchee cove. Conch house is shoal and exposed in a blow. We couldn't get off our boat in a gale there. Also a long way from food stores but closest to breaches. No pools anywhere. Too cold for swimming this time of year anyway.
St Augustine is a wonderful, interesting city but not real young kid friendly.
I would suggest Daytona Beach and Halifax Harbor marina as a better place for an extended stay with young children. Beautiful beaches, ball games, nascar center, boardwalk, amusements etc. etc.
Further south...Vero Beach and Ft. Lauderdale also would be good choices depending on budget but both are warmer than either St. Augustine or Daytona.

cheapboxofwine · #7 (**permalink**) 12-15-2007

Thanks to all who offered their picks for a marina in St. Augustine. We have settled into Oyster Creek Marina and are very happy with this recommendation. Walt, the dockmaster is a very nice, laid back kind of guy and so is the marina. Nothing fancy but just what we needed. We have two kids and the transients and perhaps liveaboards have all been very friendly with us. The road outside is busy, but we don't hear it from the docks and it has been convenient to walk to grocery, needed haircuts, and the historic old town from this marina.
Thanks again!

camaraderie · #8 (**permalink**) 12-15-2007

Hey...glad you like it. Tell Walt hi from Camaraderie!