Frequently Asked Questions
St. Augustine, Florida, founded by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 8, 1565. It has been continuously occupied for over 459 years, making it the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the U.S. (Note: some Native American sites predate European settlement by thousands of years.)
Yes — the KSC bus tour ($included with $75 admission) drives past active launch pads on its way to the Apollo/Saturn V Center. You cannot walk up to the pads, but you get impressively close. For rocket launches, public viewing from the KSC causeway costs $20–75 depending on the mission. Check the launch schedule at kennedyspacecenter.com.
Absolutely — it is the largest collection of Art Deco architecture in the world, with over 800 buildings from the 1920s–40s. Walk Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue to see the iconic pastel hotels. The Art Deco Walking Tour ($35, 90 minutes) from the Art Deco Welcome Center at 10th and Ocean provides excellent context. Best in morning light or at night when the neon glows.
The Seminoles fought three wars against the U.S. government (1817–1858) and were never defeated. Most were forcibly relocated to Oklahoma on the Trail of Tears, but several hundred fled deep into the Everglades and never surrendered. Their descendants are the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe, both federally recognized. Visit Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and the Miccosukee Village on the Tamiami Trail.
Two options: the Yankee Freedom III ferry from Key West (2.25 hours each way, $195 round-trip, includes breakfast/lunch and snorkel gear) or seaplane from Key West (40 minutes, ~$350 round-trip). The ferry departs at 8am and returns at 5:15pm. Advance reservations are essential — the ferry sells out weeks ahead in peak season. Overnight camping is available (14 sites, $15/night).
Far from it. Florida has one of the richest and most complex histories in the U.S. — Spanish colonization (1513–1821), British control (1763–1783), Seminole Wars, the largest free Black settlement in colonial America (Fort Mose, 1738), a pivotal Civil War role, the Civil Rights movement, the Space Race, and yes, the tourism boom. It is one of the most historically layered states in the country.