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.<\/p>\n
St. Augustine, Florida<\/p>\n
St. Augustine offers five stops for history-minded travelers:<\/p>\n
Castillo de San Marcos \u2014 a 17th-century Spanish fortPlaza de la Constituci\u00f3n \u2014 the oldest public square in AmericaThe Ximenez-Fatio House \u2014 a former boardinghouse that witnessed the city change hands from Spain to Britain to the United StatesThe Pena-Peck House \u2014 a look at life under Spanish ruleColonial Quarter \u2014 offers a Living History tour, noted as a strong option for families with childrenSan Antonio, Texas<\/p>\n
San Antonio\u2019s five highlights center on its Spanish colonial and frontier history:<\/p>\n
The Missions \u2014 Texas\u2019s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprising four missions along the riverThe Alamo \u2014 site of the 1836 Battle of the AlamoThe Riverwalk \u2014 sustained the city\u2019s 18th-century Spanish colonial missionsThe Briscoe Western Art MuseumThe Saga \u2014 a music and light show projected on the San Fernando CathedralWashington, D.C.<\/p>\n
The nation\u2019s capital provides direct access to founding documents and monuments:<\/p>\n
The National Archives \u2014 holds the original Declaration of Independence and ConstitutionThe Capitol Building \u2014 free to tourSmithsonian\u2019s National Museum of American History \u2014 displays the original Star-Spangled BannerThe Jefferson Memorial \u2014 honors the author of the Declaration of IndependenceThe Lincoln Memorial \u2014 honors the 16th president and the site where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the \u201cI Have a Dream\u201d speechThe American Southwest<\/p>\n
A four-state swing through Colorado and Utah rounds out the list:<\/p>\n
Larimer Square, Denver \u2014 the city\u2019s oldest block, dating to its era as a waypoint for westward travelersDrowsy Water Dude Ranch \u2014 horseback riding with lessons and a chuckwagon lunchArches and Canyonlands \u2014 red rock formations in Utah that predate any scientific explanation available to the pioneers who first crossed throughMoab, Utah \u2014 described as retaining frontier energyCanyon Spirit train \u2014 a rail journey through the region with meals served at the seat<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n