Charming spring getaway: St. Augustine, Florida
Established in 1565, St. Augustine is our nation’s oldest continuously occupied city, with the Spanish colonial architecture to confirm it.
Begin your visit at the 17th-century Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, an outstanding stone-walled fortress with drawbridges, then stop by the Old Jail, which reimagines life for hardened criminals serving between 1891 and 1953.
The mid-19th-century St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum is mega-photogenic from a distance, so don’t forget your camera. And the platform at the top offers rolling views of the northern Florida coastline.
Stop by the Lightner Museum, housed in the original Alcazar Hotel. It includes massive malachite urns, rare Tiffany glass, human hair art, antique Underwood typewriters, and over 5,000 salt and pepper shakers.
But why stop there? The even more eclectic Villa Zorayda Museum is a former antique-stocked millionaire’s residence, built to a 10th scale of a segment of the Alhambra.
A self-guided audio tour on this charming spring getaway will cover 135 years of the house’s eccentric history, including its less-than-savory turns as a speakeasy and casino.
You’ll have many souvenir shopping opportunities on the palm tree–lined walking corridor of St. George Street. Plus, there are loads of other attractions to keep yourself entertained. St. Augustine’s Pirate and Treasure Museum are especially popular with the kiddos!
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is an exclusive location where you can see every species of crocodilian, plus pythons, lemurs, and exotic birds.
Or you can try the 1,600-acre Anastasia State Park, a protected wildlife sanctuary with many miles of beautiful sandy beach. Here, you can rent a kayak or bicycle and explore the Salt Run, which is an estuarine tidal marsh.
Due to the fact that parking in Old St. Augustine can be a a bit of a challenge, booking a stay somewhere walkable to the historic district is recommended.
Be sure to let us know in the comments if you can think of any other charming spring getaways and you’d like our readers to know about them.
And if you’re looking for some more ideas for your springtime travel bucket list, Must See Places has got you covered. Check out: 10 Luxurious US Hot Springs Resorts You Definitely Have to Visit
Reminiscing about my visits to your “7 Small Towns”. I’ve been to all of them except Holland Michigan. My FAVS? Cody, WY and Pella, IA. To others reading this make sure you get to the tulip festival at Pella and be sure to take in a rodeo & shopping at Cody, WY.