Historic homes have a timeless charm that attracts people from all walks of life. These old houses, filled with history, tell stories of the past through their architecture. From well-preserved house museums to charming streets to explore, historic homes offer a unique experience.
Best Life, a lifestyle website, has compiled a list of the 13 U.S. cities with the most beautiful old houses. Their selection process combines personal encounters, comprehensive reviews, and input from fellow travelers who have traveled to these beautiful old houses.
What Florida city has the most beautiful houses?
Claiming the fifth spot on the ranking is St. Augustine, a choice that aligns with its status as the oldest city in the United States, having been founded in 1565 by Spanish settlers. Now, St. Augustine has seven National Register Historic Districts. Barbara Golden, the communications and PR manager at Florida's Historic Coast, emphasized to Best Life, that the city has strict preservation policies. This is so they can protect its cherished architectural heritage.
It was mentioned that the Lincolnville neighborhood stands out as having the largest collection of historic homes, originally established in 1866 by newly freed slaves and later playing a pivotal role in the Civil Rights movement. Within the downtown historic district, you can leisurely explore side streets, including one of the country's oldest and narrowest streets, where Spanish-style architecture is prevalent. Additionally, you'll have the opportunity to visit the Oldest House Museum.
Suppose you're considering exploring other cities known for their beautiful old houses. In that case, Best Life's top three include Newport, Rhode Island as the top choice, followed by Old Town Alexandria, Virginia in second place, and Charleston, South Carolina, securing the third spot on their list.
Take a look at what other cities with the most beautiful old houses made their list here.
Florida Has 2 Of The Most Beautiful Bridges In The Country
According to Infrastructure Report Card, there are 617,000 bridges in the United States. Outlets such as Attractions of America and Mr. Hudson have each come up with lists of the most beautiful bridges. Two of them call Florida home.
A bridge can be a historical landmark in addition to a pathway that connects communities. Certain bridges, like the Golden Gate in San Francisco, draw thousands of tourists each year. People plan trips around visiting this site and taking in its incredible views. Unsurprisingly, the Golden Gate Bridge is either #1 or #2 on each of the aforementioned lists.
The bridge that it shares the top spot with is famous for its ability to walk or bike over. The Brooklyn Bridge connects Brooklyn Heights to Manhattan via six lanes. Many charity-driven bike rides also cross here as it offers unique perspectives into New York City without any tollways.
Florida Bridges
In Florida, American Road and Transportation lists over 12,000 bridges in the Sunshine State (though not all of them are in functional condition). There are two however, that stand above the rest. One is architecturally astounding. The other feels like a gateway into a mysterious paradise.
"American bridges are often designed with looks to match their engineering ingenuity," Mr. Hudson explains.
What's fascinating about bridges in America, is they are constructed of different materials and serve different purposes. For example, the final and tenth selection in Attractions of America's feature is the Benson Bridge, Multnomah Falls, in Oregon. This is a foot traffic bridge that is only 45 feet long. It allows visitors to walk 105 feet above the Lower Multnomah Falls cascade
Let's take a look at the two most beautiful bridges in Florida.
Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa
Connecting St. Petersburg to Terra Ceia, this bridge is 4.1 miles long. This stunning bridge over Tampa Bay is often lit up with colors that highlight the skyline. Furthermore, since 2018, there has been a Skyway 10K race that closes the bridge each year.
Seven Mile Bridge, Florida Keys
This two-lane bridge is technically part of Route 1. It's a magical gateway into the Florida Keys. Mr. Hudson points out, "the Seven Mile Bridge usually has space for sightseers to park up and admire the Florida Keys." In 1982, a heavy renovation made the lanes wider, allowing for a safer and more comfortable drive. The last annual seven-mile bridge run took place this past April.
