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St. Augustine in Florida claims to be the oldest city in the United States. This is a claim it likes to support with the many Spanish colonial buildings you can still see around town. However, architecture is not the only thing St. Augustine has to offer.
For some creepy history, head to the St. Augustine Old Jail. This prison looks just like a lovely hotel on the outside, but it is not a place you want to check in to. Costumed staff will show you the the cell blocks, the sheriff’s living quarters, and other areas of the prison while you try not to think of the ghosts. This is, after all, one of the most haunted sights in the US!
Afterwards, head to the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fortress on the US mainland as well as the oldest building in the city. You can independently explore the grounds or go on one of the free guided tours before catching a weapon demonstration or canon firing. The fortress is located in St. Augustine’s Historic District, a charming part of town with cobblestone streets and lots of bars, restaurants, and boutiques. If you feel somewhat tired, take the sightseeing trolley or let a horse-drawn carriage show you around.
Should you really want to step into the past, the Colonial Quarter is an outdoor museum that showcases what life used to be like in St. Augustine in the 1740s, when the Spanish controlled the city. You can wander around the quarter by yourself or take one of the many available historical tours for even more insight information.
