I think the best vacation destinations offer a mix of recreation, relaxation, and learning. St. Augustine, Florida, checks all those boxes.
My family visited St. Augustine in June and had a wonderful time. Here’s a picture of us at the Old City Gate.
St. Augustine was founded in 1565 and is our nation’s oldest continuously operated city. Because it was colonized by the Spanish, it has a decidedly different look and atmosphere than cities in New England and the Mid-Atlantic that were colonized by the British.
Hop-on-hop-off Tour
A fantastic way to get an overview of the city is to take a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour. Because the tour has a guide who provides commentary, we rode the entire circuit to get the full tour before hopping off. Be sure to notice the architectural details on the buildings while you’re riding around. It’s a beautiful city.
Historic Sites
St. Augustine has a wealth of historic sites. A must-see on our list was the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the USA. That may have been Connor’s favorite part.
A large cross marks the site where Christianity was introduced to the North American continent.
You can also visit Florida’s oldest Spanish Colonial home, which has flown five different flags during its history.
Living History
I think living history museums are a great way to interest kids in history. They’re also fun and interesting for adults. We watched the firing of a canon and a gun demonstration.
Nature and Adventure
St. Augustine offers biplane rides along with several boat tours and scenic cruises so that you can appreciate the natural beauty of the area.
Just for Fun
I’m a big believer in the “Why not?” philosophy of travel. If you have an opportunity to feed a peacock or drink from the Fountain of Youth, why wouldn’t you?
We also enjoyed the shops and a stroll along the sea wall.
Beaches
You can’t write an article about St. Augustine without mentioning its beaches. Whether you are looking for a fun beach or a quiet natural experience, you won’t be disappointed.
We spent a few days in St. Augustine, but could easily have stayed a week or more and not gotten bored.
Ready to visit St. Augustine?
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