Scene from the Road - St Augustine

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Today’s Scene from the Road takes us a half day trip up the east coast of Florida to St Augustine.  With its milder year round climate you can visit anytime.

Founded in 1565 by the Spanish, St Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European established settlement in the continental USA.  This could be the real birthplace of America as the Pilgrims didn’t step onto Plymouth Rock until 1620.  It served as the capitol for Spanish Florida, then as British-controlled Eastern Florida until the capitol was established in Tallahassee in 1824.

But you can go back further to 1513 when the area was discovered by explorer Juan Ponce de León as he searched for, and some say found, the fountain of youth. 

Visit St Augustine and step into 500 years of history.  It has been influenced by its first residents the Timucua Native Americans, the Spanish, French and British before being influenced by a name synonymous with Florida history.   Henry Flagler, arrived in the 1880’s and promoted the area as a winter resort for wealthy northerners.  Acquiring several local railroads he created the Florida East Coast Railway and established its headquarters in St. Augustine.

Parking is a premium so park your car in one of the convenient parking lots and take the local trolley.  Here are some of the places you will want to visit;

St George Street is lined with historical homes from different periods of St Augustine’s history.

Historic Churches like Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine built in the late 1700’s, or Trinity Church the oldest Protestant church in Florida, or Grace United Methodist Church built by Flagler in 1886-7 or Memorial Presbyterian Churchalso built by Flagler in 1889.

The Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is located in the downtown area.  Construction started in 1672 costing Spain the equivalent of $30 million to build.  Plan to spend at least two hours, but even then you will want to return.  The park is open daily except December 25^th.

By now you’ve seen several signs inviting you to the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park.  The park contains a spring of fresh water and is considered the likely landing spot of Ponce de León.  Groups are welcome.  Take a sip from the Spring of Eternal Hope.  Who knows?

Old City. This multi block area is made of narrow pedestrian only streets lined with places to shop and eat.  Stroll into history at a slow pace and peel back the centuries.   

Ponce de Leon Hotel was built in the late 1880’s by Flagler and is now part of Flagler College.  Designed in the Spanish Renaissance style it is constructed of poured concrete, and had electricity supplied by D.C. generators.

Lightner Museum was built as The Hotel Alcazar by Flagler.  Step back into the Gilded Age with collections of costumes, Victorian art glass and furnishings of a bygone era.

At Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum you’ll see 100’s of exhibits ranging from the strange to the unusual.  You can believe it, or not.

There are plenty of places to stay, either in the downtown area, with a selection of small motels and or grand hotels like the Casa Monica or a short drive to the motels located near the interstate.   There are campgrounds in the area.

St Augustine is more than shops, teahouses, museums, churches and forts.  Be sure to head to the beach, a short drive away.

Scene from the Road is contributed by Enrico (Rick) Saltarelli the owner of Salty Breeze Cruise Planners.  He can be reached at 727-290-4998 or esaltarelli@cruiseplanners.com.