Using Your Unused Vacation Days
Chances are, you’ve had to cancel or postpone summer vacation plans. The good news is, there’s still plenty of good weather ahead to enjoy an extended vacation.
First, you might want to get used to the idea that summer vacation doesn’t have to end when summer ends. In fact, fall is a great time to escape to your favorite getaway, when there are smaller crowds, milder weather, and more room to roam freely. Whether you’re thinking of a road trip to the coast or an extended stay with the family at an oceanside resort, Florida’s Historic Coast offers lots of ways to make the most of the days you didn’t get to use this summer.
Where to Stay
Even if you’re still working from home and the kids are taking classes online, you can do that from anywhere. So why not from the comfort of an oceanside suite at The Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort or the family-friendly World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort? You’ll have access to hi-speed Wi-Fi and business office amenities, while the kids have their own private space to work and take lessons online (recess can be a surfing lesson or just relaxing by the pool).
Discover Local History
St. Augustine is the nation’s oldest city and offers the entire family an opportunity to immerse themselves in history--a combination of education and entertainment. Start with a stroll along the grounds of the Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the U.S., built by the Spanish to defend against the British in the 17th century. Step back a few hundred years at Colonial Quarter, where living history interpreters make three centuries of history come to life with blacksmith demonstrations and live musket firings.
On St. George Street, a visit to the Oldest Wooden School House demonstrates how the children of early St. Augustine learned their lessons in a tiny room. In this 200 year-old building there are examples of the books they used as well as displays that make the experience come to life. Even young students will appreciate the advances in technology that have made learning easier and faster.
Explore the Arts & Culture
At the Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, archaeologists are still digging and uncovering artifacts. Be sure to climb the observation tower for a commanding view of the marsh and grounds where Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez came ashore and celebrated the first mass and Thanksgiving. Throughout the open-air grounds, living history interpreters demonstrate the various day-to-day activities of the earliest inhabitants in the area.
A trip to the St. Augustine Pirate and Treasure Museum is both exhilarating and educational. The museum houses some of the most amazing treasures and authentic pirate artifacts collected from centuries of shipwrecks. Pirate living history interpreters and tour guides both educate and entertain kids of all ages.
Vacations have always been about spending time with the family, connecting with each other, and enjoying activities together. They still are. And on Florida’s Historic Coast, you’ll find lots of ways to make the most of the time you have with an extended vacation this fall.
Related Content:
Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park11 Magnolia Ave.
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Oldest Wooden School House14 St. George St.
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
Colonial Quarter14 S. Castillo Dr.
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum12 S. Castillo Dr.
St. Augustine, Florida 32084
World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort500 S. Legacy Trail
St. Augustine, Florida 32092
Embassy Suites by Hilton St. Augustine Beach Oceanfront Resort300 A1A Beach Blvd.
St. Augustine, Florida 32080