St. Augustine Beach

No matter where you go in St. Augustine, you'll almost certainly come face to face with American history. This town in northeastern Florida, founded by Spaniards in 1565, is the country's oldest continuously occupied European settlement. Along with narrow cobblestone streets and colonial architecture, there are Romanesque Revival-style buildings, many of which were designed by railroad and oil tycoon Henry Flagler, who was instrumental in the development of St. Augustine and the rest of Florida's east coast. With so much history, it's no surprise that St. Augustine has a fascination with the paranormal: Nighttime ghost tours are promoted by many of the town's top attractions, which are said to be haunted by Spanish settlers and original inhabitants.

Though the abundance of landmarks dating back to the Spanish occupation is the main draw here, the Ancient City also has a variety of boutiques, eateries, live music venues, and art galleries. Visitors who are traveling with children should visit the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum and the St. Augustine Wild Reserve. The Lightner Museum's eclectic collection will appeal to art enthusiasts, while shopaholics will enjoy browsing the boutiques on St. George Street. And when you're ready to unwind, grab your beach gear and head to the beach. St. Augustine, like many other coastal Florida towns, provides easy access to the Atlantic Ocean and year-round sunshine.