Saint Augustine, a slice of Europe in Florida
On the “gun deck” of Castillo De San Marcos
When in Florida, one should want to spend most of the time outside (and yes, definitely at the beach). However, I’ve said it before and I will say it again — I do not recommend visiting Florida in the summer… it is miserable and impossible to be outside for too long, even at the beach. Unless you are an extreme heat and humidity lover, you will hate it here in the summer. Winter is when you want to visit Florida!
If like me, you thought Florida was all about the beaches and DisneyWorld, you’ll be totally surprised at the unexpected historical places and European touches throughout the state.
Now that the weather is irresistible, if Florida is a place you’re considering for your travels, I would definitely recommend setting up a trip to Saint Augustine. I’ve wanted to visit this city since the moment I heard about it, and even though our first trip there was short, the impressions it made left me wanting to come back for more! There is so much history and beauty in this city and the best way to experience it is by walking.
Walking through some of the streets sure made me feel like we were in Europe. Others — like I was in Santa Barbara, California, a place dear to my heart.
It’s easy to forget that you are in the USA when strolling the streets and alleys of Saint Augustine. With Spanish-influence architecture and even tiny streets that look like they belong in Italy, this city is a feast for the eye and I feel confident saying it, a place that has something for everyone.
We began our day there with a visit to the Castillo de San Marcos fortress, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States (check here for entrance fees). We arrived shortly after opening hours — 9am and were lucky to beat a few large groups. Keep in mind that it gets very busy with adults, and kids alike (there were several school groups while we were there). Parking is available in front, though it is somewhat limited and costs $2.50 per hour, paid at automated stations which accept U.S. coins and currency, as well as credit and debit cards.
I’m not particularly fonded of fortresses, however, since we were there, we made sure to visit every accessible corner. The history and somber atmosphere were palpable throughout…
While there, make sure you make your way to the top — the gun deck (sadly, accessible only by stairs), to enjoy 360 views of the city and keep your eyes on the water — we spotted several dolphins playing in the waves. For a virtual tour of the fortress, click here.
Once we were done, we proceeded to walk along the water and immerse ourselves in the city and its alleyways as seen in the photos. Since we had limited time, we tried to see as much as possible outdoors, skipping museums and such.
We did stop at a sandwich spot for lunch, however, I will not share the place. We haven’t had issues with the food or service, and when I tried to link them, I did not appreciate the responses I saw on google to several customers’ reviews. Basically, if you want to eat somewhere, check the reviews — yes, they’re not always reliable but when several people mention the same issues and are met with disrespectful replies, well… Anyway… Don’t let that keep you away from Saint Augustine.
Saint Augustine Fun facts:
Saint Augustine is the nation’s oldest town/city, and it was the first European settlement in America!
It was “protected” by three fortresses: Castillo de San Marcos, Fort Matanzas (accessible by ferry), and Fort Mose (free to visit, although the structures are no longer standing).
Its most famous street is Saint George St. (and a very busy one, of course).
St. Augustine is home to the narrowest street in the USA. Being seven feet wide, Treasury Street connects the waterfront Bay Street with the Royal Spanish Treasury. You could almost miss it if you’re not paying attention.
It houses the oldest wax museum in the United States.
The city seeps in history, and, as the oldest city in the U.S., it is rich with ghost stories and allegedly, haunted places and experiences (and tours, of course!).
Castillo de San Marcos
Flagler College
Lightner Museum
Flagler College
After we had lunch, and as our parking time limit was elapsing, we rushed to visit a few other places we had in mind that were somewhat close. One of them was Castle Otttis (more about it here). Note that you’d need an appointment to visit, and there’s virtually no parking outside the property if you want to “just see it” and snap a photo like we did.
We also made it to Fort Matanzas, however, missed the last ferry, and were unable to visit it.
Castle Otttis
We also made a stop at Vilano Beach which is beautiful, and seemed quiet enough, even if very windy.
Vilano Beach
I hope you enjoyed the post and have added this destination to your list, if you haven’t visited already.
xo,
Em
