Love the Coronation? Can’t get enough of the Royals but you’re on the left side of the pond. We have a solution for you. Here are the 10 best castles in America you can visit this weekend!
Castillo de San Marco | St Augustine, FL
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The Castillo de San Marco is a true American castle built for military purposes and never defeated in battle. Built in 1695 to protect the port of St Augustine, it’s oldest masonry fortification in the continental United States. Castillo de San Marcos has been attacked several times and twice besieged, but was never taken by force. The fort changed possession five times among four different governments, but they were all peaceful. After 251 years of continuous military service, it was deactivated in 1933 and entered into the National Park Service system.
Belvedere Castle | New York, NY
Photo Credit: Stig Nygaard via Wikimedia Commons.
Perhaps the most visited American castle is the Belvedere Castle in the middle of Central Park. It was designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould to be purely ornamental, but today it’s one of the park’s most popular attractions. Visitors climb the castle stair for sweeping panoramic views of the Turtle Pond and Delacorte Theater.
Boldt Castle | Alexandria, NY
Photo Credit: Canva
Continuing the theme of New York castles, we head upstate to the Thousand Islands region to visit the extraordinary Boldt Castle This six-story dream home was bought for $1 in the 70s, but we’re jumping ahead of ourselves. Construction began in 1900 by millionaire George C Boldt, as a gift for his wife, but she died four years after construction began and he never finished the project. The Thousand Island Bridge Authority bought the island in 1977 for $1 and completed the building. Today visitors can tour the castle and grounds leaving from Alexandria Bay or Clayton.
Biltmore Estate | Asheville, NC
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons.
On the subject of millionaire houses, the Biltmore Estate is the biggest private residence in the United States. Built by the Vanderbilts in the late 19th century as a country home for the family, it’s one of the highlights of a visit to Asheville. Visitors can tour the house and grounds including 16th-century tapestries and a banquet hall with 70’ tall ceilings.
Hammond Castle | Gloucester, MA
Photo Credit: Eric Kilby via Flickr.
John Hays Hammond Jr. was many things: inventor, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and a lover of all things medieval. He’s known. as “The Father of Radio Control” pioneering foundational developments in modern radio remote control devices, including modern missile guidance systems and UAVs. In 1922 he built a stone castle in Gloucester Massachusetts to serve as his home, laboratory, and gallery for European artifacts. Today, the Hammond Castle is open for tours including highlights from his private collection and the well manicured grounds.
Bannerman Castle | Pollepel Island, NY
Photo Credit: Canva.
Like their European counterparts, some American castles are in varying states of disrepair and ruin. The Bannerman Castle in New York still towers high above the Hudson River, but is deemed unsafe for visitors. The Bannerman Castle trust still leads walking tours of the island and many paddlers enjoy seeing the castle from the water. These tours let you learn how the castle was built in 1901 by Frank Bannerman to serve as a military surplus warehouse. A series of accidents occurred including an explosion in 1920 and a fire in 1969.
Ha Ha Tonka Castle | Camdenton, MO
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
The Ha Ha Tonka Castle ruins have a much darker backstory than Bannerman Castle. Coleman Concierge states – “Kansas City businessman, Robert McClure Snyder, started construction on the castle in 1905, only to die in a car crash in 1906. His sons, Robert Jr., LeRoy, and Kenneth, completed the project in the early 1920s, just in time for the stock market crash. It struggled as a hotel during the Great Depression, only to burn to the ground in 1942. Initially designed as a 16th-century European fairy tale, these buildings more closely resemble a turn of the century American gothic.” Today, the castle is protected in Ha Ha Tonka State Park and offers some of the best sunset views in the Lake of the Ozarks area.
Loveland Castle | Loveland, OH
Photo Credit: by Jennifer Romer via Pixabay.
Loveland Castle, aka Château Laroche, is built in the style of a Medieval castle on the banks of the Little Miami River. It was built by Harry Delos Andrews, who served in the military during World War I and was prematurely declared dead from meningitis. He recovered, but not before his fiancée , presuming her beloved dead, had married another man. He took life in stride and took a grand castle tour throughout Europe. He returned to the United States and built a castle that resembled castles he visited in France. It’s open to visitors as a museum, wedding venue, and Boy Scout camping destination.
Hearst Castle | San Simeon, CA
Photo Credit: Canva.
Heading to sunny California, we come to America’s most famous castle – Hearst Castle. Built by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan, this 165-room mansion has 123 acres of gardens of exotic flowers, ornate pools, and an extensive art collection. Located halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Big Sur Coast, it’s a popular stop for road trippers on one of the most scenic routes in the country.
Castello di Amorosa | Calistoga, CA
Photo Credit: by Keith Cuddeback via Flickr.
Farther up the California coast is Castello di Amorosa, a Tuscan-style castle in the heart of Napa Valley. It’s an award winning winery with a tasting room and food pairings with architectural features like a drawbridge and moat. You’ll need a reservation to enter the grounds, but you’ll have options for unique experiences including a complimentary tasting of 5 wines from our extensive wine menu or upgraded paid tastings at The Castle of Love.
The 25 Most Romantic Things To Do in St Augustine Florida
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Looking to plan a romantic getaway to St Augustine , Florida, or just to add a special date night into your vacation to America’s oldest city? We will give you the skinny on the 25 most romantic things to do in St Augustine. From large doses of nature to romantic attractions, a delicious food scene to exciting nightlife, there is no shortage of fun things to share with your love!
Exciting Things To Do From Top to Bottom in Ha Ha Tonka State Park
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman
Could Ha Ha Tonka State Park be the most beautiful place in Missouri? Conde Nast Travel thinks so! Read on for all of the exciting things to do in Ha Ha Tonka State Park, from historic castle ruins on the bluff tops to the crystal blue springs at lake level to the woodlands and karst features in between.
Driving the Big Sur Coast
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Stories, advice and photos from an epic trip down the Big Sur Coast . Discover the majestic views along America’s finest Coastline.
Indulgent Itinerary for a Jekyll Island Romantic Weekend
Photo Credit: Jenn Coleman.
Imagine surrounding yourself with nature, history, beach, and bay all on a little seven-mile-long island. Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Jekyll Island makes a beautiful romantic weekend for the Southeast or a long break on an I-95 road trip. No matter how you reach Jekyll Island, Georgia, you will enjoy our itinerary for a perfect 3-day/2-night romantic getaway.
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