Clippity-clop, cloppity-clop!. This was a very familiar sound to me while visiting St. Augustine, Florida. This beautiful historic city has been apart of my up-bringing . Living less than an hour away has allowed me the opportunity to visit numerous times throughout out my life. As a child, we would visit, always having our picture made by three stuffed Indians, which are no longer there. Josie’s deep love for this Spanish founded city, has allowed my sister and me to really learn a lot of history and come to love this great city.
In all the visits I had not taken, or I don’t remember having ridden a horse-drawn carriage, until Sunday. Who needed one when you have a historian like my mother to tell all of the stories. I must say a carriage ride was a fine way to travel in historic St. Augustine. These tours reveal over 450 years of history, including the first European settlement, Henry Flagler, churches, and more. Tour guides are there and willing to inform and entertain you with historical facts and a bit of humor. The one-hour narrated tour through the tree lined and narrow bricked road was one we won’t soon forget.
If you choose to go, I recommend that you make your reservation ahead of time by calling or email. Carriages book fast so it is highly recommended to book ahead of time. We did not book and waited for a carriage which cost us about 15 minutes. ‘Not bad but in the cold, it seemed like an hour! Depending on the importance of the weekend and season, timing is everything. Our ride costs $20 each with a minimum of $85 per carriage, children 2 and under being free. These cost do not include tip for your tour guide.
St. Augustine, evokes images of church steeples, stained glass windows, brick roads, and just plain southern charm. Capturing these on your tour will be easy, fun and taking pics would be a must! So, if you have a love for photography like my family or just enjoy taking selfies this carriage ride is your vacation event. If the carriage has the canopy, use a flash folks or the pictures will turn out dark. (Little tip). Be sure to ask your tour guide to take a few snap-shots of you, your family or friends. Hang outside the horse-draw carriage as if its yours or ask to cuddle up next to the lovable horse.
Have fun with the pictures whatever pose your choose, we did!
Katie Girl
