Saint Augustine – Florida’s Living History – LOCAL

This past weekend, Hilcia and I took her Mom on a little excursion up to the beautiful and wonderfully historical city of St. Augustine. Only a two hour drive from Orlando, this quaint little city offers so much to do in such a gorgeous setting. Whether you’re looking for silky sand beaches, historic architecture and landmarks, or boutique shopping, it’s all done so well here.

Saint Augustine is actually the oldest city within the continental United States, and was founded around 1565 by the Spanish. It’s seen many a battle, had its share of dark history and come through well maintained and nicely full of charm.

History is literally everywhere here. Of course, you can visit the Castillo de San Marcos and wonder at it’s magnificent stone coral architecture, but you can also see these remnants at low walls and around every corner.

Don’t forget to walk down St. George Street where you can buy just about anything boutique, stop into one of the many great restaurants to grab a bite or wash it all down at one of the pubs. There’s sea glass jewelry to sign makers here that can provide many a nice little gift. Although slightly touristy, we truly enjoyed the mix of Shops with some historic structures along the route.

At the end of St. George Street, turn right and you’ll bump into the incredible Flagler College Building. Now a liberal arts school, this work of art was once the luxurious Ponce de Leon Hotel and housed many a famous visitor, from Mark Twain to President Theodore Roosevelt. Built in 1888, this incredible building looks as new and beautiful as the day it opened. Walk inside and check out the detailed dome ceiling, it’s absolutely stunning. Hilcia and I both fell in love with this magnificent place.

Finally, after a day of walking about, absorbing history and engaging your senses, head back to the gorgeous beaches that St. Augustine has to offer. Chill out, dig your toes in the sand, dip your body in the water and indulge…