Today we spent the day in St. Augustine, Florida. The oldest continually inhabited city in the United States, St. Augustine was discovered by Ponce De Leon in 1513 while searching for the Fountain of Youth and later founded as a city in 1565 by Florida's first governor, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés.
This is Old City Gate. Built in 1808 as a line of defense again attacks, it is the north entrance to St. George Street, the multi-block long pedestrian-only shopping district in St. Augustine.
The oldest masonry fort in the continental United States, Castillo de San Marcos, is more than 320 years old and is now a national monument built, originally by the Spanish to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route.
Admission is $15 for age 16 and over and free for those under 15.
With a National Park pass being $80 a year and allowing three adults in with the passholder, it is a no-brainer what a great deal the pass is. Bonus for those over 62 - the $80 fee gets you a lifetime pass.
Our St. Augustine Santa's Red Express Nights of Lights Tour by Ripley's (Believe it or Not) was preceded by a showing of The Polar Express. We watched the last half in English as they started it earlier than scheduled and then the first half in Spanish. Luckily, we were able to stream it on our phone in perfect synchrony to hear the dialogue in English.
It was now time to board the train.
It was one of the first chilly nights in Florida and we were about to embark on a Christmas Sing-A-Long train ride with our special magic glasses (not shown).
Watch a video of Santa's Red Express Nights of Lights Tour by Ripley's by clicking HERE
To see more pictures and videos, click HERE
And don't miss these blog entries from our visit to St. Augustine in 2008!
The Fountain of Youth, click HERE
Old Jail of St. Augustine, click HERE
Old St. Augustine Village, click HERE
More Sights of St. Augustine, click HERE
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