Florida and history are often viewed as mutually exclusive.
But it all started for America in St. Augustine exactly 400-years ago. Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed in September of 1565 and established the first European settlement in the new world. St. Augustine doesn’t have the theme parks of Orlando or the nightlife of Miami but it has a storied past, outstanding restaurants and a plethora of outdoor activities.
The options are staying at the beach or in town. Either works but the latter is appealing since there is so much to experience in the center of the city. The Bayfront Marin House, (142 Avendida Menendez, 904-824-44301,www.bayfrontmarinhouse.com), which is reminiscent of Cape May's historic and comfortable Congress Hall, is at the heart of it all.
The bed and breakfast features spacious suites, which include a jacuzzi and a well proportioned bathroom. The Marin Inn is just off the historic district of St. Augustine. It’s surprising but you need more than a week to experience much of what St. Augustine offers. There are a number of museums. The first stop was the Lightner Museum (75 King street, 904-824-2874,www.lightnermuseum.org).
The Lightner Museum is a perfect place for downtown devotees to congregate since the structure, which was once the massive but elegant Hotel Alcazar, houses priceless antiques, primarily from the Gilded Age. The hotel, which once housed the world's largest swimming pool, was commissioned to appeal to wealthy tourists during the turn of the 20th century. The paintings, sculptures and the grand building are well worth experiencing.
A lower brow changeup and a fun family destination is Potter’s Wax Museum, (31 Orange Street, 904-829-9056,www.potterswaxmuseum.com) which is the oldest wax museum in the country, Potter's, which opened in 1947, houses the typical, athletes, such as Michael Jordan and politicians, such as Richard Nixon. But the attention to detail to over 300 wax figures, makes Potter's unlike most wax museums
No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a sip of the fountain of youth at Ponce de Leon’s Archaeological Park (11 Magnolia Park, 904-829-3168,www.fountainofyouthflorida.com). We're not sure yet if the fountain of youth works. While pondering that possibility it was time to move on to another kind of watering hole. Brews more potent than H20 were necessary after checking out some of the most ancient history in the Sunshine State.
Microbreweries are taking off all over Florida but for those serious about imbibing should stop by the St. Augustine Distillery (112 Riberia Street, 904-825-4962,www.staugustinedistillery.com). If you're up for a unique whiskey experience, there's Florida Cask Bourbon. It was difficult to pass on the free tour since guests were intoxicated by the aroma.
After sampling some bourbon and gin, you’re hooked.
After enjoying the full bodied taste, I popped through the distillery bar to the Ice Plant Bar (110 Riberia Street, 904-829-6553,www.iceplantbar.com) which is one of the finer restaurants in Florida on a par with Tampa’s Haven and Naples’ Ocean Prime.
There are a number of terrific restaurants in St. Augustine. Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, Prohibition Kitchen and Columbia Restaurant.
The Blue Hen Cafe offers a fine Southern breakfast. The Southern omelette, which is packed with collard greens, andouille sausage and Swiss is the go to dish.
The white sandy beaches are pretty and the blue water is clear and ideal for snorkeling. There's areas for surfing, volleyball courts and a sea turtle nesting site.
The oft overlooked gem of the area is the St. Augustine Amphitheater. The intimate venue has a capacity of just over 4,000 and boasts outstanding sound and sight lines.
One of the finest festivals, which not enough folks know about, is Sing Out Loud (www.singoutloudfestival.com). The two-day annual event at the St. Augustine Amphitheater is slated for September 20-21. Charismatic Irish singer-songwriter Hozier is one of the headliners and London's clever Beabadoobee aka Beatrice Laus will close out the other show. Underheralded singer-songwriter Vance Joy, indie rockers Rilo Kiley, country singer Maren Morris and the compelling Father John Misty aka Josh Tillman are among the recording artists, who will take the stage.
When the members of Smile, who are also part of the iconic Radiohead, played the shed in 2023, the word is that they not only enjoyed the venue but also much preferred the chill nature of St. Augustine over a gig in bustling Miami. It's about what each person enjoys since St. Augustine is in Florida but the vibe is different. It's much more relaxed than such destinations as Tampa and Orlando. Perhaps it has something to do with the proximity to Georgia, which is less than an hour away.
St. Augustine offers sun, fun and endless history, which is apt since it's the oldest city in America. It's a unique and under the radar destination that's surprising and satisfying with appeal to families, couples and singles.
For more information, www.visitstaugustine.com
No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a sip of the fountain of youth at Ponce de Leon’s Archaeological Park...But it was time to move on to another kind of watering hole where the brews are more potent than H20.