A History Lesson in St. Augustine with the Family

The Old Town Trolley Tour stops at several of the spots highlighted in this St. Augustine guide. St. Augustine is a great city to wander around and we prefer to walk, but if you would like the opportunity to hop on a tour bus ride, this is an option. The trolleys stop every fifteen to twenty minutes at the stop. Your ticket gets you a three day hop on/hop off pass.

Address: 167 San Marco Avenue
Phone: 888-910-8687
Admission: Adults $23; Ages 6-12 $10; Children under 6 Free (There are discounts if you purchase your tickets on their website.)
Hours of Operation: Runs daily from 8:30am to 4:30pm with the exception of some major holidays

Castillo de San Marcos is part of the National Park Service. Construction for the fort began in 1672 and it was used to protect the Spanish from rivals. Children can participate in the Junior Ranger program and the whole family will enjoy the re-enactments that are held from time to time.

Address: One South Castillo Drive
Phone: 904-829-6506
Admission: Ages 16 and above $6; Ages 15 and below free of charge when admitted with an adult
Hours of Operation: Daily from 8:45am to 5:15pm except December 25

Children of all ages will be surprised by the Oldest Wooden School House and how small it is. It was built by hand over 200 years ago. There was no electricty, running water or bathroom! The one room school house has figures of a teacher and her students and you can hear what they did during the day. You can also visit the kitchen, gardens and see artifacts.

Address: 14 St. George Street
Phone: 904-824-0192
Admission: Adults $3; Children $2.50
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am-5pm (later on weekends)

Anastasia State Park is a stretch of beach, nature trails, and camping. There are playgrounds and picnic tables perfect for a lunch or snack. Take a self-guided nature walk or go swimming in the designated area manned by lifeguards from Memorial Day to Labor Day (be sure to heed all warnings/advice posted for your protection and be aware of the ocean currents). Be on the lookout for wildlife. You could see birds, fish, and maybe even whales.

Address: 1340-A State Road A1A South
Phone: 904-461-2033
Admission: $8.00 per vehicle (limit 2-8 people per vehicle); $4.00 Single Occupant Vehicle; $2.00 Pedestrians, bicyclists, extra passengers, passengers in vehicle with holder of Annual Individual Entrance Pass
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 8am until sundown

Old Florida Museum is an interactive museum. Learn about life in Florida with many different hands-on activities. Use colonial woodworking tools, play toys and games, learn how to weave or grind corn, and comb cotton!

Address: 259 San Marco Avenue
Phone: 904-824-8874
Admission: Adults $11.00; Children ages 3-18 $7.00; Ages 2 and under free
Hours of Operation: Daily from 9am to 5pm

Climb the 219 steps of the St. Augustine Lighthouse which is still in working condition. It was built from 1871-1874 and stands 165 feet above sea level. For children's safety, they must be 44 inches tall to climb the tower. The tower does close during inclement weather so be sure to call ahead if necessary. The museum has exhibits describing the history of the lighthouse. Check the website for a discount coupon before visiting.

Address: 81 Lighthouse Avenue
Phone: 904-829-0745
Admission: Adults $9; Children age 11 and under (and 44inches tall) $7
Hours of Operation: Open daily at 9am with the exceeption of Thanksgiving Day, 12/24 and 12/25, the last ticket to climb the tower is sold at 5:45

A tour of the Whetstone Chocolate Factory is a nice break from all of the history lessons (but you will still sneak a little bit of history in anyway)! During the tour, you will learn about the story of the Whetstone chocolates and the history of chocolate. While on the tour, you will get a chance to do some chocolate tasting as well. Reservations are recommended because the tours are limited to 25 people.

Address: 139 King Street
Phone: 904-217-0275
Admission: Adults $7.00 (Each adult ticket includes a $2 coupon towards a purchase.); Children age 5 to 17 $5.00; Children age 4 and under free
Hours of Operation: Tours are given Tuesday through Friday: 11:00am, 1:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm
Saturday: 10:00am, 11:15am, 1:00pm, 2:15pm, 3:30pm

Fish tacos, grouper sandwiches, and cheeseburgers are just a few things you will find on the A1A Ale Works menu. Enjoy lunch or dinner on the patio. The adults in the party might like to try one of the handcrafted beers.

Address: 1 King Street
Phone: 904-829-2977
Hours of Operation: Sun-Thurs 11:00am-11:30pm;
Fri-Sat 11:00am - midnight