| Page Views: 9,583 Last Visit to Saint Augustine: - | Historic St. Augustine, Florida by noidiotsplease - last update: Jun 21, 2009 |
The Nation's Oldest City | CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, ST. AUGUSTINE |
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| CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS, ST. AUGUSTINE |
|  | Step back in time You're walking down the cobblestone streets of a Spanish colonial town that dates back more than 440 years. Ahead, the narrow alley gives way to a broad, palm tree-lined promenade along the banks of a turquoise bay. At the end of the promenade stands a massive, coquina stone fort. Cannons perched along the fort's upper deck point toward the broad inlet and sandy barrier islands that serve as a picturesque gateway between the ocean and the harbor. A tall-mast ship emerges on the horizon, a sight that centuries ago signaled an attack by British imperialists or buccaneers looking to pillage and burn the town. Strange as it may sound, you're standing in the United States.
St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the continental United States. It was founded by the Spanish in 1565, 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Today, St. Augustine is situated right in the middle of modern Florida -- a mere 40 miles from the glassy skyscrapers of downtown Jacksonville, 100 miles from the rocket ships of Kennedy Space Center and 100 miles from the fantasy theme parks of Orlando -- but its nearly four and a half centuries of history make it seem worlds away. |
| NIGHTS OF LIGHTS, ST. AUGUSTINE |
| | St. Augustine boasts a unique blend of qualities that warrants comparisons to many other renown places throughout the world -- the historic authenticity and architecture of Spain, the picturesque seaside beauty of the Mediterranean, the romantic allure of Paris, the Southern charm of Charleston or Savannah, and the relaxed, artistic spirit of Key West -- all blended together under the North Florida sun.The city's attractions are diverse and plentiful, including forts, historic sites, living history museums, animal parks, sightseeing tours, ghost tours, specialty museums and areas for recreation and amusement. It's common to see authentically clothed soldiers and craftsmen walking around town, particularly at the Colonial Spanish Quarter and at the Castillo de San Marcos, where if you're lucky you'll see (and hear) a cannon firing demonstration. The Historic District is a walkable area centered around pedestrian-only St. George Street. In the Historic District you'll find a vast array of attractions, shops, art galleries, restaurants, bed & breakfasts and hotels within a short walk from one another.St. Augustine also boasts three small beach communities and two state parks along its historic shores. In the north, Guana River State Park serves as a protected natural area separating St. Augustine's beaches from Jacksonville's. South of Guana River, at the very tip of the long barrier island that extends down from Jacksonville is a quaint community of pastel Floribbean beach houses with big aspirations called Vilano Beach. Characterized by its mom & pop nostalgia, this once neglected community now boasts a fishing pier and nature walk along the Intracoastal and is working on developing a community town center along a handful of blocks between the beach and pier.
Across the inlet that creates St. Augustine's harbor is Anastasia Island, which includes pristine Anastasia State Park, small but commercialized St. Augustine Beach and the beach homes and condos of sleepy Crescent Beach. While any of these beaches are sure to please visitors, parts of Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach and Crescent Beach, unfortunately, do allow cars to drive and park on the sand.
For more information about the area near St. Augustine see my JACKSONVILLE home page!
Click here to view my JACKSONVILLE METRO photo gallery on Flickr. |
> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]
| Pros: | "Great history, European ambiance and architecture" | | Cons: | "beach driving, overrun with "ghost" tours, small town trappings" | | In A Nutshell: | "Best seen as a day excursion from Jacksonville" |
noidiotsplease's Saint Augustine Travel Tips
| Overview | Things to Do
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | | | Restaurants
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1 | Hotels & Accommodations | | | | Nightlife | Off The Beaten Path | | | | Tourist Traps | Warnings Or Dangers | | | | Transportation | Local Customs | | | | Packing Lists | Shopping | | | | Sports Travel | General Tips |
 Comments for noidiotsplease about Saint Augustine | | | | |
Mehmet1234 Sun Feb 25, 2007 00:39 UTC
Hi Steve loved the st augustine page so i had to visit again. Great job. Mehmet | Katmosphere Sat Sep 17, 2005 19:31 UTC
I love this place :) |
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