When the days are gray and cold, nothing seems quite as appealing for a fun family trip as palm trees swaying in the breeze along a sandy beach. What if you could have a tropical paradise like a Brazil tour and a taste of history at the same time?

Imagine walking down brick streets, sipping latte in lush courtyards and listening to the clip-clop of horses and carriages as they wander through the ancient city of St. Augustine, Florida.
Located in northeast Florida on the Atlantic coastline, St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by a Spanish explorer named Pedro Menendez de Aviles. Today its historic district remains much the same as it did 500 years ago. From the grandeur of Henry Flagler’s hotel, now Flagler College, to the simplicity of the Spanish cottages, the city recalls a place and time long forgotten by the rest of the world.
Five Fun Things to Do in St. Augustine
• Visit the haunted lighthouse during the daylight hours or check out its Dark of the Moon evening tours on the weekend. Featured on the TV series “Ghosthunters,” the lighthouse is home to dozens of true stories and documented paranormal activity.
• Walk through the old city gates to St. George Street, the heart of the historic district; then wander down the alleys for a view of stained glass windows, quaint restaurants and Spanish architecture.
• Across the street on the bay, visit the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, now owned by the National Park Service. Originally started in 1672, the fort has been a part of the area’s history for over 300 years, from the protection of the early settlers to its contribution to World War II.
• Endless museums abound in the area: pirates, history, wax celebrities, Ripley’s, ghostly cemeteries, shipwrecks, an old drugstore and more.
• Climb on one of the trolleys that not only provide tours but drop visitors off at destinations along the way. Ride through the narrow streets beneath the gigantic live oaks and feel the energy of another era.
Chances are you’ll run out of time before activities. Nevertheless, if you have a chance, cross the magnificent Bridge of Lions and spend a little time at St. Augustine Beach. It’s a friendly village where locals still live and work. While you’re there, don’t forget the seafood, either.