Florida East Coast Trip – St. Augustine
We recently took a Florida East Coast Road Trip to St. Augustine. It is about a 2.45 to 3 hour drive from Vero Beach, Florida. The time Depends on if you want to take 95 north all the way to St. Augustine or take the scenic route. We decided to take the scenic route and took 95 north to exit 268 (Ormond Beach) and drove east until we reached A1A north. This route was recommended by a friend and it is one of the most beautiful scenic stretches along A1A. The Mantanzas Inlet is absolutely gorgeous and taking A1A was worth the little extra time that it took to reach St. Augustine.
St. Augustine is a beautiful city and has existed for 450 years. It is the oldest continuously occupied city in the nation and was founded in 1565. It has survived many international wars and the history of this Great American city is phenomenal.
The 2 night/3 day vacation was too short. There is so much to see and do. It was around noon when we arrived on the first day and we decided to take the tour of the Ripley’s Museum and get the 3 day trolley pass. The museum is unique and interesting. I highly recommend getting a pass and taking one of the trolley tours. The full trolley tour allows you to see the entire city. The narrators are great giving the history of St. Augustine and you can get an idea on what you want to see and do. The trolley has many places where you can get on and off and it’s convenient because the streets are very narrow and parking is limited.
The trolley tour will take you back in time and you will hear many famous stories like Ponce De Leon and his search of the Fountain of Youth and Henry Flagler, who was a self made millionaire, who wanted to make the city a playground for the rich and famous. The Lincolnville area of the city played a crucial role throughout the African American history. Dr. Martin Luther King had visited the city on numerous occasions and Dr. King, along with Dr. Robert Hayling, conducted the last major campaign that led to the Civil Rights Act being passed. The Castillo de San Marcos fort protected the city throughout the wars and there are many other historic landmarks, museums and ancient streets to be informed about and to be seen. The trolley is definitely one of the best ways to see the city and get a feel for the history of St. Augustine.
St. Augustine is also known to be one of the most haunted cities in America and we decided to take the Red Train Ghost Tour. The first stop was at the Old Sugar Mill. The mill was a non working mill that was part of the Spanish Florida Land Grants in 1821. The history was extremely interesting and there are many claims of ghosts on the property. The next stop was the The Castillo de San Marcos. This site is said to be haunted by Colonel Marti’s wife Delores. Her and her lover disappeared and 50 years later they were found by Lieutenant Tuttle. He found their skeletons chained to a wall, in a hidden room, in the dungeon area. The last stop was at the Ripley’s Museum. Paranormal Experts have claimed to identify 18 active entities in the castle. There was an infamous double homicide and a tragic fire that occurred in 1944, by a Mr. X., who has never been found. Something was caught on my camcorder and there was no rhyme or reason for it. No one was behind me or beside me and everyone was in another room in front of me. Take a look at the video and You decide.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not! | St. Augustine Tour | Ghost Tour |