My First Visit to Historic St. Augustine, Florida
A day visit to the oldest city in the United States is a trip through the past.
On a recent trip to Florida, I ventured to the town of St. Augustine. This quaint, seaside town has become a top destination for visitors to Florida because of its rich history and charm. Roughly an hour and a half drive from Orlando and about an hour north of Daytona Beach, this town is worth a visit.
History
St. Augustine was founded in 1565 and is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African American origin in the United States., It was established 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
Pedro Menendez de Aviles was sent from Spain to oust the French from the area ensure Spanish presence and maintain their hold. When he arrived, he found that the French had fortified their numbers at Ft. Caroline, near present-day Jacksonville. Menedez realized he was outnumbered, so he continued to the area, now St. Augustine, to wait for the French to attack. When they did, they came by the sea into the Matanzas Inlet (Spanish for slaughters) and encountered a hurricane-strength storm that sunk them. Menedez took Ft. Caroline and returned to St. Augustine, which he named after St. Augustine of Hippo whose feast day fell on the day Menendez sighted land.
The Fort
In 1672, the Spanish erected the Castillo de San Marcos, a fort made from coquina bricks that sits at the shore. Today, the fort is managed by the National Parks Service and receives over 600,000 people a year. Walking through the various rooms, the exhibits share the long history of the fort, including the imprisonment of the local native people. Walking on the top level, you can see the town, Anastasia Island and catch a glimpse of the St. Augustine lighthouse.
The Town
Visiting St. Augustine is a mix of past and present. The architecture of the area is stunning with Spanish and Moorish Revival architecture. Most notable is Flagler College, originally Hotel Ponce de Leon, built by Henry Morrison Flagler between 1885-1887. Flagler would visit St. Augustine and lament that it wasn’t comfortable or interesting, so the oil tycoon built several hotels and a railroad to make the time he spent there more to his liking. His first hotel was converted to Flagler College in 1968. It is impossible to miss with its red clay-colored trim.
His second hotel was the Alcazar, which is now a mixed-use building with shops, the Lightner Museum and a cafe. It sits across the street from Flagler College and just a few blocks from the original colonial village. The serene garden in the center of the building is a nice break from the crowds of visitors.
Main Street
The highlight of the visit is a stroll down St. George Street. It was the city’s main thoroughfare during Spanish Colonial times with many of the original buildings in place. Each building had a plaque that included the year it was built, the prominent family that lived there and some information about the building. Inside you will find modern-day tourist comforts such as restaurants and souvenir shops. At the end of the street, you will find the Governor’s House and the Cathedral Basilica – the oldest Catholic Church in the country.
Chilly Visit
My visit took place on a balmy, winter day so I skipped the trolley tour that drives through the city, the lighthouse and the beach. In the warmer months, these activities would be a must-do in my itinerary. For those that wish to explore more of the village, there are plenty of museums and experiences to fill up a second-day visit. Most were about $15-$30 per entry. I highly recommend a stop into St. Augustine.
