St Augustine

Introducing St Augustine

The first this, the oldest that… St Augustine was founded by the Spanish in 1565 and is the oldest permanent settlement in the US – which means it’s chock-full of age-related superlatives. Tourists flock here to stroll the ancient streets, and horse-drawn carriages clip-clop past townsfolk dressed in period costume around the National Historic Landmark District.

At times it screams, ‘Hey, everyone, look how quaint we are!’ but it stops just this close from being cloying. Because underneath all those bonnets, it’s the real deal. The historical significance of the town occasionally comes into sharp focus while you’re walking on the cobblestone streets or standing on the (approximate) spot where Juan Ponce de León landed in 1513. The main visitor center (904-825-1000, 800-653-2489; www.visitoldcity.com; 10 Castillo Dr; 8:30am-5:30pm) screens a 45-minute film ($1) on the town’s history told through archival footage.

Last updated: Jul 22, 2009