Old Town Trolley Tours

We recently went on the Ghosts and Gravestones tour that the Old Town Trolley Tours run, when we had a friend in town. It is headed by graduates from the Flagler College drama department, and how! This is not the tour for the serious ghost hunter and you will actually not visit any graveyards, but this tour was probably better than any walking ghost tour I've taken as you actually gain access to places such as the old jail and old drug store at night, which is pretty creepy. You get to hear stories on the rides on the trolley and different actors greet you at the various locations. It's a good thing that there were kids on the tour that really got into trying to "solve" the mystery type story that was thinly applied to the tour, or else I don't know how it would be received. Don't count on always being able to sit with your party, however, as you are getting on and off the trolley quite a bit (though the rides are never long). Many people were complaining in the back about people "stealing their seats." I was amazed they were able to keep their seats for so long. If you can't handle sitting alone or with strangers for four minutes, then this isn't the tour for you. It is completely worth the money, which I am surprised to find myself saying. more

And probably a wonderful way to get around town for visitors. Our trolley driver, Charlie, was so much fun and very well informed and we were able (as locals taking the ride for fun) to provide him with some new information as well, particularly regarding Flagler College's newly acquired Florida East Coast Railroad Buildings. If the weather is nice, as it was on a particularly warm November afternoon for us, nothing beats an open-air trolley ride. Locals ride free in November, but ride free all year round with an accompanying paying adult, meaning you could always tag along for free when relatives come to town. It not only shed new light on the town, in historic terms, but made it feel more like we really lived in a desirable destination, a big amusement park of a town. They wrapped all of the best stops into the tour, skirting around from Lincolnville to the Oldest House, near the bay, through all of the obvious stops (including 3 on St. George street), and back to its starting point: the old jail. A fun afternoon for locals, a wonderful way to get around to all of the best attractions in St. Augustine for visitors. There are many nearby hotels (such as the Best Western in the historic district, the Ramada, etc) whose guests could all take advantage of the trolley as transportation. We will remember that if we ever move away and decide to come back for a visit. more