SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) – As the United States prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, travel writer Kelly Stilwell of Food Fun and Faraway Places has four trip ideas for those looking to combine history and travel under the America250 theme.
St. Augustine, Florida
St. Augustine offers five stops for history-minded travelers:
Castillo de San Marcos — a 17th-century Spanish fortPlaza de la Constitución — the oldest public square in AmericaThe Ximenez-Fatio House — a former boardinghouse that witnessed the city change hands from Spain to Britain to the United StatesThe Pena-Peck House — a look at life under Spanish ruleColonial Quarter — offers a Living History tour, noted as a strong option for families with childrenSan Antonio, Texas
San Antonio’s five highlights center on its Spanish colonial and frontier history:
The Missions — Texas’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprising four missions along the riverThe Alamo — site of the 1836 Battle of the AlamoThe Riverwalk — sustained the city’s 18th-century Spanish colonial missionsThe Briscoe Western Art MuseumThe Saga — a music and light show projected on the San Fernando CathedralWashington, D.C.
The nation’s capital provides direct access to founding documents and monuments:
The National Archives — holds the original Declaration of Independence and ConstitutionThe Capitol Building — free to tourSmithsonian’s National Museum of American History — displays the original Star-Spangled BannerThe Jefferson Memorial — honors the author of the Declaration of IndependenceThe Lincoln Memorial — honors the 16th president and the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “I Have a Dream” speechThe American Southwest
A four-state swing through Colorado and Utah rounds out the list:
Larimer Square, Denver — the city’s oldest block, dating to its era as a waypoint for westward travelersDrowsy Water Dude Ranch — horseback riding with lessons and a chuckwagon lunchArches and Canyonlands — red rock formations in Utah that predate any scientific explanation available to the pioneers who first crossed throughMoab, Utah — described as retaining frontier energyCanyon Spirit train — a rail journey through the region with meals served at the seat
Stilwell also recommended two books for children about the American Revolution by Dr. Roger Smith of St. Augustine, and Revolutionary Roadtrip by Darley Newman for adult readers.
More information is available at kellystilwell.com
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