Flagler College Saint Augustine, FL

With its distinctive arches, wrought-iron balconies, and red-tile roofs, Flagler College blends seamlessly with the beautiful and mysterious buildings that surround it. With its formal gardens adorned with palm trees and a fountain, you'd think the college was as old as the city itself. But while Saint Augustine is an ancient city established in 1565 -- making it the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the country -- Flagler College is much more recent, established in 1968. The centerpiece of the college is the Ponce de Leon Hotel, an elegant structure built in 1888 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. One of the hotel's founders was Henry M. Flagler, for whom the college is named. In its heyday, the hotel was visited by legends -- Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and Babe Ruth all stayed here. During WW II, the hotel was used as a Coast Guard Training Center. The college is working to fully restore the hotel. Flagler College is a four-year, private Liberal Arts college named the South's second-best college by US News and World Report in 2017. The school is selective, accepting about half of all applicants. Notable alumni include author Linda Evans, NASCAR driver Scott Lagasse Jr., and model Laura Croft. The Flagler Saints compete in 14 varsity sports, including basketball, baseball, soccer, and golf. Saint Augustine is beautiful, mysterious, and very walkable. In fact, it will be your preferred method of getting around the historic city. This fascinating city is home to the mysterious Castillo de San Marcos, the nation's oldest masonry fort, built in 1672 to replace a wooden fort; Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, the original site of the 1565 settlement; the historic Saint Augustine Light, built in 1874 to replace the original lighthouse built in 1737; the Avero House, built in 1749; and the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, built around 1723. When not exploring the city, students can head to the beach, roughly three miles away.