St. Augustine Shines: SouthFlorida.com

Summer travels are running out of time, which makes them all the more precious. Round up the family and head for St. Augustine, the living history lesson, only a half-day's drive up Interstate 95. Begin by checking into beachside lodgings such as the campground at Anastasia State Park or the small but full-service Castillo Real hotel. Its pool, wide beach and open-kitchen restaurant make for restful nights after days of chasing ghosts and legends on the oldest streets in the nation. A variety of chain hotels, including a Hilton, are found inside the old city and on U.S. Highway 1. Those who prefer a prestige address can book at the swank, historic Casa Monica in the heart of the historic district.

Driving narrow, one-way streets isn't recommended, and parking is impossible. Park the car in the multilevel garage at the Visitor Center, and start any visit, even if this isn't your first, with a trolley ride. Hop off and on all day to linger at places of interest, have a meal and shop. The massive, stone fort Castillo de San Marcos is always a hit with kids. The city was sacked twice by real pirates, and now, "soldiers" at the fort can tell you how they dealt with the scurvy knaves. Don't miss the outside execution wall, still riddled with bullet holes.

Through Sept. 1, see the Changing of the Guard every Saturday at 7 p.m. Wearing authentic costumes from the Spanish colonial era, soldiers of the day turn over their weapons to the night watch. A blast of musket fire reminds city residents that the garrison is on duty. Bluegrass, swing, folk and rock play in the plaza on Thursday nights through August, ending with a jazz concert on Sept. 3. Sailing three times daily from the City Marina is the 72-foot topsail schooner Freedom.

The Fountain of Youth has been a tourist staple since great-grandfather's time, and it's still worth a sip. It's not just the water. Rare white peacocks roam the grounds, spreading their tails in awesome displays. A planetarium show displays the night sky that guided Ponce de Leon to Florida, and the original spring still flows. Give the attraction several hours.

Jamestown's 400th anniversary has been in headlines this year, but Florida kids have bragging rights, too. St. Augustine was already a thriving Spanish community long before the English settled Virginia. No matter how many times you go there, there is more to be seen, learned about and remembered.