End of Summer Events
By Visit Florida Staff
Founded in September 1565 by Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles of Spain, St. Augustine is the longest continually inhabited European-founded city in the United States — more commonly called the Nation’s Oldest City.
Before the kids head back to school, take them to St. Augustine for a stroll down its narrow lanes and a visit to its many museums and historic landmarks such as Castillo de San Marcos, Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, and the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse.
The Old City
Tell your kids that some people believe the first meal between European settlers and Native Americans happened in St. Augustine, not Plymouth, Massachusetts. They ate lots of shellfish for that first Thanksgiving dinner and not so much turkey.
St. Augustine is dripping in history, but a family trip here doesn’t have to be like school. Roam the centuries-old Castillo de San Marcos, and then consider a visit to Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Who wouldn’t want to see a shrunken head or two? A hop-on-hop-off trolley cruises by the highlights.
Aviles Street
Entered by walking under a stone archway, Aviles Street is the oldest street in the nation, dating back to the 16th century. Aviles was once known as Hospital Street and houses the second Spanish Military Hospital Museum. It was also the location of an early church, a cemetery, boarding houses, and schools. Today, it is a thriving arts district, and its sidewalks are lined with outdoor restaurant and cafe seating. There’s even a gourmet ice cream sandwich shop called Peace Pies.
Castillo de San Marcos
Built by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route, Castillo de San Marcos National Monument preserves the oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Construction took 23 years, from 1672-95, using a stone called coquina, Spanish for small shells. Coquina consists of ancient shells that bonded together to form a sedimentary rock similar to limestone.
Take a self-guided tour that’s free with admission, and be sure to cover your ears for the cannon firings and weaponry demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays. Entry is free on August 4, September 27, and four other days each year
Let There Be Lighthouse
The barber-pole-striped St. Augustine Lighthouse, built in 1874, can be seen from miles away. You and children at least 44 inches tall can climb the 219 stairs to the top and then walk outside the still-working lighthouse. At ground level, activities such as scavenger hunts abound, and visitors can check out the restored 1876 keeper’s quarters, now a museum. Scheduled tours include a ghost romp and nighttime walk, suitable for kids in fourth grade and higher.
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