St. Augustine - Florida History Tour
"Jesus said, 'Whosoever drinketh of the water I shall give him shall never thirst,
but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.'”
John 4:14
Join Science Partners as we explore St. Augustine, our "Nation's Oldest City." Our day begins at the Fountain of Youth, a National Archaeological Park. The park is located at the site of the ancient Timucuan Indian town of Seloy. This is where the history of North American began when Ponce de Leon came ashore and claimed ALL of North America for Spain. At that time, "La Florida" was the entire North American continent, not just our state! Our group will tour the Springhouse where we can sample water from the spring that Ponce de Leon thought was the "Fountain of Youth." We'll also see the Explorer's Discovery Globe presentation, Navigator’s Planetarium, Timucuan Indian Village of Seloy, and canon firing (based on availability) as well as other exhibits and the grounds, as time permits.
After eating our picnic lunch at the Fountain of Youth picnic area, we're off to explore Historic Downtown St. Augustine. Parking at the Historic Downtown Parking Facility is $20 per vehicle, per entry (subject to change).
Our activities in the downtown historic district include the sightseeing Red Train - a one-hour fully narrated tour of historic sites downtown! Traveling several miles, we'll see dozens of historic sites that usually include Castillo de San Marcos, The City Gate, City Marina, City Plaza, Colonial Spanish Quarter, Flagler College, Villa Zorayda, Flagler Memorial Presbyterian Church, Lightner Museum, St. George Street, Mission Nombre De Dios, Spanish Military Hospital, The Old Jail, The Old Senator, The Oldest House, and more!
Students will participate in Colonial Kids activities outside Ripley's Believe It or Not. Hands-on activities for students include making things like a Colonial-era toy (whirligig), loom weaving, making a shell necklace, shoe sewing, and more.
We'll also wander down historic St. George Street where we will step back in time on this narrow, paved brick street to see the Huguenot Cemetery, the City Gate, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the USA, and more (including some interesting shopping opportunities).
At St. Augustine's Visitor Information Center, we'll see their changing displays and exhibits.
Students will participate in Colonial Kids activities outside Ripley's Believe It or Not. Hands-on activities for students include making things like a Colonial-era toy (whirligig), loom weaving, making a shell necklace, shoe sewing, and more.
We'll also wander down historic St. George Street where we will step back in time on this narrow, paved brick street to see the Huguenot Cemetery, the City Gate, the Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse in the USA, and more (including some interesting shopping opportunities).
At St. Augustine's Visitor Information Center, we'll see their changing displays and exhibits.
Time is allotted in our schedule for an optional visit to Castillo de San Marcos* (see explanation below), allowing you to explore 300 years of Florida history during a self-guided tour of this unique national monument.
*Explanation: Castillo de San Marcos has changed their rules so that group visits to the fort are very complicated and limited. CdSM does not provide ranger-led tours any more, and Science Partners is not permitted to conduct tours there. School / education groups are limited to 30 minutes inside, only 38 per group at the time, and access to only specific rooms. With reduced numbers for group reservations, these limited reservations are hard to schedule. If we went in as a group, we would have to add the cost of hiring and paying a St. Augustine tour guide, paying the entrance fee of $15 per adult / 16 years and older (see below for info on "Fourth Grader Family Pass"), and be limited on our number of participants, our time, and places inside to visit. The simplest way to visit is for adults to pay their own entrance fee at the fort's toll booth (or families of fourth graders may get free passes). Children (15 and under) are always free, but must be accompanied by an adult. This way, you can see and do anything and everything that you want inside the fort and not be limited by "group rules." Science Partners will provide you with a handout to guide you on your "self-guided" tour.
PLEASE NOTE: Fourth graders can go online and get a free pass for family members (not only for CdSM, but for most, if not all, national parks)! Here is the link: www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.
PLEASE NOTE:
Minimum number is 40 / Maximum number is 54 (Capacity of one Red Train).
Please Note: If you are sure that you'll have 60 or more, we can try to schedule two Red Train Tours.
The minimum for each Red Train Tour is 30, so two trains would require:
Minimum number of 60 / Maximum of 110 (Capacity of two Red Trains).
Minimum age: 5 years old recommended (however, younger children may attend).
Cost: For children 1 year old and younger, the cost is Free;
for 2 years old, the cost is $15;
for 3 years old, the cost is $25;
for 4-18 years old, the cost is $43;
and for 19 years old - Adult, the cost is $49.
Optional Visit to Castillo de San Marcos: Time is scheduled for you to visit CdSM if you wish. If you do visit, children ages 15 and younger are free. The cost for 16 years and older is currently $15 (subject to change) UNLESS individuals have a National Parks pass or you have a fourth grader who goes online to www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm and receives a pass that allows his or her family to enter without charge. This pass is also good for other national parks throughout the fourth-grader's school year.
*Explanation: Castillo de San Marcos has changed their rules so that group visits to the fort are very complicated and limited. CdSM does not provide ranger-led tours any more, and Science Partners is not permitted to conduct tours there. School / education groups are limited to 30 minutes inside, only 38 per group at the time, and access to only specific rooms. With reduced numbers for group reservations, these limited reservations are hard to schedule. If we went in as a group, we would have to add the cost of hiring and paying a St. Augustine tour guide, paying the entrance fee of $15 per adult / 16 years and older (see below for info on "Fourth Grader Family Pass"), and be limited on our number of participants, our time, and places inside to visit. The simplest way to visit is for adults to pay their own entrance fee at the fort's toll booth (or families of fourth graders may get free passes). Children (15 and under) are always free, but must be accompanied by an adult. This way, you can see and do anything and everything that you want inside the fort and not be limited by "group rules." Science Partners will provide you with a handout to guide you on your "self-guided" tour.
PLEASE NOTE: Fourth graders can go online and get a free pass for family members (not only for CdSM, but for most, if not all, national parks)! Here is the link: www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm.
PLEASE NOTE:
Minimum number is 40 / Maximum number is 54 (Capacity of one Red Train).
Please Note: If you are sure that you'll have 60 or more, we can try to schedule two Red Train Tours.
The minimum for each Red Train Tour is 30, so two trains would require:
Minimum number of 60 / Maximum of 110 (Capacity of two Red Trains).
Minimum age: 5 years old recommended (however, younger children may attend).
Cost: For children 1 year old and younger, the cost is Free;
for 2 years old, the cost is $15;
for 3 years old, the cost is $25;
for 4-18 years old, the cost is $43;
and for 19 years old - Adult, the cost is $49.
Optional Visit to Castillo de San Marcos: Time is scheduled for you to visit CdSM if you wish. If you do visit, children ages 15 and younger are free. The cost for 16 years and older is currently $15 (subject to change) UNLESS individuals have a National Parks pass or you have a fourth grader who goes online to www.everykidoutdoors.gov/index.htm and receives a pass that allows his or her family to enter without charge. This pass is also good for other national parks throughout the fourth-grader's school year.
BEGIN YOUR ADVENTURE
Friday is generally the busiest day of the week for groups in St. Augustine. Visitation is lowest from mid-September through mid-November. Visitation is highest around holidays (especially Christmas to New Year's); during spring, summer, and winter breaks from school; and on weekends. School group visitation is quite high October-November and February-May. To visit our website calendar and check for available dates or currently scheduled adventures, click here.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT MERILEE CLIFTON at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Our next "OPEN" St. Augustine - Florida History Tour on Friday, January 22, 2027, is sponsored by Science Partners and The First Academy Hybrid + Home School, Orlando.
See Creation Adventures Calendar tab for information / registration form. Deadline for the minimum number is December 25, 2026. Later registrations may be accepted, space permitting.
Friday is generally the busiest day of the week for groups in St. Augustine. Visitation is lowest from mid-September through mid-November. Visitation is highest around holidays (especially Christmas to New Year's); during spring, summer, and winter breaks from school; and on weekends. School group visitation is quite high October-November and February-May. To visit our website calendar and check for available dates or currently scheduled adventures, click here.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT MERILEE CLIFTON at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Our next "OPEN" St. Augustine - Florida History Tour on Friday, January 22, 2027, is sponsored by Science Partners and The First Academy Hybrid + Home School, Orlando.
See Creation Adventures Calendar tab for information / registration form. Deadline for the minimum number is December 25, 2026. Later registrations may be accepted, space permitting.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Home | Creation Field Trips | Creation Workshops | Calendar | Creation Speaker
Questions? Contact Bill or Merilee Clifton at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Copyright © 2026 by Science Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
Home | Creation Field Trips | Creation Workshops | Calendar | Creation Speaker
Questions? Contact Bill or Merilee Clifton at 407-808-4458 (cell / text) or [email protected].
Copyright © 2026 by Science Partners LLC. All rights reserved.
