Backstage Pass: Model Victoria Elizabeth steps aboard the Red Boat Tours

by VICTORIA ELIZABETH

Recipient of the esteemed and prestigious Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Award and four time recipient of USA Today’s Reader’s Choice “Best Boat Tour” award, Red Boat Tours has also been ranked Number 1 (out of 131 total attractions) by numerous top travel review sites for “Things to do in St. Augustine” in Florida.

This company was founded by Captain Tony Palesotti and his wife, Jennifer, who met working in the corporate world years ago, wed in 1992, and decided to finally head south after realizing they were living in a place that didn’t make them happy, and, as they say…the rest is history, then Red Boat Tours was born.

Stationed at the serene, peaceful St Augustine Marina at Vilano Beach, Fla., Red Boat Tours features a variety of exciting excursion options (including dolphin, sightseeing, and holiday cruises), a beautiful, sleek, 50 foot pontoon boat, a world class cast of captains and crew whom are both personable and highly knowledgeable, and a trove of views and memories that will undeniably last a lifetime.

I was elated to return for two of the company’s highly acclaimed tours, The Dolphin Odyssey and Sightseeing Tour and the Sunset BYOB Cruise, each offering completely different aesthetics and ways to savor the stunning intracoastal waterway and Matanzas Bay.

DOLPHIN ODYSEY AND SIGHTSEEING TOUR

This 90-minute tour, acclaimed by top media outlets and guests alike, showcases the wild, natural beauty of St Augustine’s waterways, unmatched vistas of the city skylines, and exhilarating opportunities to get up close and personal with, arguably, some of the ocean’s most lovable and magical creatures: dolphins.

Though, of course, sightings can never be completely guaranteed, guests are extremely likely to catch a glimpse of a dolphin elegantly gliding through the water, often even in groups.

In addition to the always exciting sights of dolphins, you can also expect some breathtaking views and envy-inducing photo ops of the St Augustine Inlet (a waterway that runs east to west and connects the Tolomato and Matanzas rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, separating Vilano Beach from Conch), Anastasia Park (which features over 1,600 acres of unspoiled beaches and tidal marshes), the St. Augustine Lighthouse (the city’s oldest, tallest, and reportedly most haunted attraction), and one of St. Augustine’s most legendary historic monuments, erected in 1692, the Castillo De San Marcos.

Captain Dave, knowledgeable, skilled, and brimming with trivia and factoids regarding St Augustine’s rich history, led our Dolphin Tour with great aplomb. Meanwhile the crew, Roy, was highly personable and relentlessly warm and friendly, always close by to offer assistance in taking a keepsake photo for the onboard tourists, offering varieties of toys to the younger guests, and serving up signature Red Boat Tour hospitality at every turn.

This unbelievably affordable and undeniably fun family friendly Dolphin Odysey cruise is sure to be a highlight of your St. Augustine vacation.

SUNSET BYOB CRUISE

This relaxing 1.5 hour adults only cruise encourages guests to “BYOB” or any other libation of choice, and savor the sunset over unparalleled vantage points of the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, Fla.

Don’t forget to pack a picnic as you feel your worries slipping away on the spacious deck of the Pellicano.

Many of the same iconic views are offered on the Sunset tour as on the Dolphin Odyssey Tour (such as Anastasia State Park, unmatched views of the city, the historic St. Augustine lighthouse, and the Castillo ); however, decidedly unique and specific sights are available on the sunset tour including the view of swashbuckling “pirate ships” scurrying past as the neon sun sets over the city skyline, the somewhat rare sight of St. Augustine’s iconic drawbridge opening, and opportunities to truly unwind and find respite in the peaceful waters amidst the warm evening breezes.

Our captain, James, extremely knowledgeable regarding St. Augustine’s vast, intriguing history and the backstories of its most famous landmarks and monuments, was hilariously droll and sarcastic, often making wise-cracks that kept the whole tour in stitches.

Special thanks to Captain Tony and Jennifer, and the entire Red Boat Crew for having me and the Backstage Pass team back.

WEBSITE: https://redboattours.com

PHONE NUMBER: (904) 436-3566

INSTAGRAM: @redboattours