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St. Augustine, Florida: 500 Years Old and So Much to Offer

Kim Orlando

Updated

February 28, 2018

Photo Credit: SheBuysTravel Kim Orlando

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The state of Florida celebrated its 500^th anniversary in 2014 and St. Augustine is Florida’s most historic city. With its rich history, there are many surprising things for families to discover there (beyond Walt Disney World). From museums to the shell-filled beach, these stops will help a family relax and celebrate history during a family vacation.

St. Augustine, Florida – A Lesson in History That Kids Will Love

Located only about an hour and a half from the Orlando theme parks, St. Augustine appeals to families looking for an entertaining yet relaxing vacation. If you don’t have the time for an overnight. the 90 minute drive is worth the day trip when you’re looking for an authentic historical experience.

The city is gorgeous and embraces its Spanish heritage while offering plenty of family friendly attractions. Stroll the authentic brick-lined streets, where all major downtown attractions are within easy walking distance. From living museums, a theater and a unique beach, even the kids will soak up all that St. Augustine has to offer.

St. Augustine Colonial Quarter

The Colonial Quarter is a must-see, a living history museum that spans the 16^th through 18^th centuries. Blacksmiths, leather makers, candle makers and boatwrights reenact that old way of life. Costumed historical figures discuss the meals they are cooking or show other day-to-day activities from that time period. There are also musket drills and a watchtower that you can climb up to look over the bay front and the Castillo de San Marcos.

Don’t miss the 50 foot caravel, a sailing vessel similar to the one navigated by Ponce De Leon in 1513. This is history made fun, with engaging, interactive elements for kids of all ages.

St. Augustine, Florida - A Lesson in History That Kids Will Love — Photo Credit: Kim Orlando

There is a theater show that sneaks in education between laughs. The musical Colonial Crew Revue is a hilarious and entertaining way to learn about Florida’s history. End the day with bangers & mash at the Bull & Crown Publick House, an authentic British pub where nefarious townspeople like the Governor have been known to pay a visit.

Lightner Museum

Built in 1888 and housed in a former hotel, the stunning Lightner Museum features an eclectic collection from the 19th century, from a mummy and shrunken heads to Tiffany glass and fine art paintings. Costumes, mechanical musical instruments, chandeliers and toys are displayed throughout the four floors of the museum. Children can touch three goblets to help them understand the difference between crystal and ordinary glass.

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Instead of being stuffy, the museum lets people wander and view the broad assortment on display. Kids won’t get bored looking at rooms and rooms of paintings or Egyptian statues because there’s an interesting new discovery in every room.

Read More: Free Things to Do in St. Augustine

More to Explore in St. Augustine

There are more living history exhibits at Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, an archaeological park that offers both musket and cannon firing. Drink from the Fountain of Youth and explore a Timucuan village that is older than the pyramids.

Teens 16 and over can sign up for the cannon shooting class at Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the US, made of coquina, and dating from 1672. They learn how to shoot a real cannon at the fort; younger ones can participate in the Junior Ranger program.

Beach and Marina

The beach here is particularly rich in shells and shark teeth, so you can collect free souvenirs. And the shark teeth are remarkably easy to find. On my recent trip to St. Augustine, we found three teeth in rapid succession.

I stayed at the kitschy Inn at Camachee Harbor, which has a great view of the marina. The small waterfront hotel has 19 suites, some of which are pet-friendly. Included in the room rate is a complimentary breakfast. You could also rent a beach house.

Read More: Everything you need to plan to best family beach vacation

Getting Around

I flew into Jacksonville and once I was in downtown St. Augustine, I never needed a car. All the attractions are within walking distance. However, you will be hoofing it on real brick streets so pack practical shoes because heels will not cut it!

And if you don’t want to walk, The Old Town Trolley Tours offer open air rides throughout the historic sites. You can take the transportation a bit farther from the downtown for more exploration including the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Alligator Farm.

Kim Orlando

Kim Orlando, founder of SheBuysTravel, is a lifelong traveler, an entrepreneur and a sought-after social media and marketing consultant. She has made hundreds of appearances on TV and in digital and print media, sharing advice and tips built on decades of travel experiences. Hailing from the hills of Kentucky and taking her story to New York, Los Angeles, and beyond, Kim built an online platform, the original TravelingMom, that has reached millions of moms and empowered them to explore the world with their families. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel. Kim has been featured on “News Nation,” “Today,” “Good Morning America” and on numerous satellite media tours. She has contributed travel guidance to outlets including The Washington Post, Good Housekeeping, Forbes, the Wall Street Journal and more. (Read more about Kim’s media appearances here) Her travel mantra is simple: All travel counts. “You don’t have to go far. Leaving your home is travel,” Kim says. “Wherever you go, even just to the next town over, you can learn something new, see someone and something you haven’t seen before. “It’s good for the brain and good for the soul.” An epiphany in early parenthood started Kim on the journey that led to SheBuysTravel. She’d been a fan of a newsletter for women travelers, and she saw an opportunity. “I thought something like that for moms could be extraordinarily helpful,” she said. “I was traveling for work, traveling for fun, and I was looking for support.” That seed grew into the award-winning website TravelingMom, created as a resource for traveling families of all stripes. Today, TravelingMom has evolved into SheBuysTravel, with an expanded mission to serve women travelers at any stage of life. Millions of readers have visited the site for trip planning help, travel secrets, destination information and gear recommendations. What sets SheBuysTravel’s content apart, Kim says, is its foundation in real-world experience. “Our writers and editors have actually gone out there and done this stuff,” she says. “They’ve booked the flights, tried the tour, tested travel clothing, visited that new hot spot to see if it’s worth the hype. It’s all real.” Memorable Adventures A 2022 tour Kim guided to Bhutan was a particularly standout experience. “Bhutan sounds so exotic, of course,” she said. “But the part where my heart just glows and warms is thinking of the people we met – amazing women doing amazing things in Bhutan.” Their ranks included a former police officer whose ventures into food science helped mitigate food insecurity for residents of Bhutan’s highlands. Top Tips Planning for travel can be daunting, Kim acknowledges. “I always say: Go anyway. No trip is going to be perfect. There’s always going to be something you didn’t expect, something that doesn’t go the way you pictured or planned it. And that something is what’s going to make it a great trip.” And on a practical note: “Go early! Getting to the airport or hitting the road just an hour earlier relieves so much stress.” Kim’s Background Kim, a graduate of the University of Arizona’s Eller College of Management, holds degrees in finance and entrepreneurship and has deep experience in developing and running businesses. Her previous work includes developing and running communications workshops and overseeing document management for corporations. SheBuysTravel hits a sweet spot where Kim’s two loves of travel and entrepreneurship meet. “The longer I work in this field, I only want to do more,” she says. “I find the travel world so exciting – not just the trips, but the whole online world of travel. There are still so many opportunities.” The World Awaits “The ‘best trip ever’ probably won’t be the same for an empty-nester or mom of three versus a single woman celebrating a bachelorette party with her friends,” Kim says. “We want to keep it real for traveling women, no matter what their age, life stage, where they came from or where they’re going. “We want to inspire women to travel in any shape or form.” In her free time, Kim enjoys visiting her adult kids, creating trips and traveling with her BFFs to explore the world. Her most recent adventures can be found on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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