It
seems like yesterday some of us were complaining about hot weather, and now the
fall is in full effect. However,
if you’d like to get back to summer and see a
very old and interesting town, I invite you to St. Augustine.
Stroll down St. George Street - many visitors enjoy the many shops along the street and the ambiance. Take a Scenic Cruise aboard the Victory III--a fun and inexpensive way to see St. Augustine from the Matanzas River with plenty of opportunity for dolphin sightings.
Keep in mind that there are no better views of St. Augustine and the sea than from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. The 219 steps will take you 165 feet above sea level. Constructed of Alabama brick and Philadelphia iron, the lighthouse is St. Augustine’s oldest brick structure and was completed in 1874.
If you do not feel like walking take the Old Town Trolley Tour, highlighting the best St. Augustine Attractions, with 22 stops and more than 100 points of interest.
I’d like to mention
some of them:
Villa Zorayda located at 83 King Street looks like a red castle! Personal Guided tours start at 10:00 AM - last one is at 4:30 PM. On-your-own guided tours with ear phones are also available - very cool. The tours are about 45 minutes. Walking into the longtime tourist attraction is a bit like entering a scene from the Arabian Nights, designed to look like a portion of the fabulous Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. The castle features a 2,400-year-old Egyptian rug woven from cat hairs. You know the Egyptians revered cats! Brass fixtures hang in every room. Peacock brass lamps, a tree of glass, statues, paintings and Flemish, Chinese, Moorish, Italian, English and Burmese furniture are scattered throughout the house. Tiled floors, carvings and arches reflect the influence of the Alhambra.
St. Augustine is the nation's oldest city and it also holds
the distinction of being one of the nation's most charming.
Known as the "Ancient
City," Saint Augustine is nestled
between North East and Central East Florida and is conveniently located near Jacksonville,
Orlando, and Daytona airports. North Florida's year-round
mild climate is perfect for strolling St. Augustine's delightful historic
district, with its cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and
bed-and-breakfast inns. Stroll down St. George Street - many visitors enjoy the many shops along the street and the ambiance. Take a Scenic Cruise aboard the Victory III--a fun and inexpensive way to see St. Augustine from the Matanzas River with plenty of opportunity for dolphin sightings.
Keep in mind that there are no better views of St. Augustine and the sea than from the top of the St. Augustine Lighthouse. The 219 steps will take you 165 feet above sea level. Constructed of Alabama brick and Philadelphia iron, the lighthouse is St. Augustine’s oldest brick structure and was completed in 1874.
If you do not feel like walking take the Old Town Trolley Tour, highlighting the best St. Augustine Attractions, with 22 stops and more than 100 points of interest.
In the heart of the walking historic
district you’ll find the Lightner Museum.
It opened its doors in the1880's as one
of Flagler's hotels, Hotel Alcazar, with what was at the time the largest
indoor swimming pool in the world! Its architecture is amazing. The building
features soaring ceilings, and enough marble to refill a quarry.
Villa Zorayda located at 83 King Street looks like a red castle! Personal Guided tours start at 10:00 AM - last one is at 4:30 PM. On-your-own guided tours with ear phones are also available - very cool. The tours are about 45 minutes. Walking into the longtime tourist attraction is a bit like entering a scene from the Arabian Nights, designed to look like a portion of the fabulous Alhambra palace in Granada, Spain. The castle features a 2,400-year-old Egyptian rug woven from cat hairs. You know the Egyptians revered cats! Brass fixtures hang in every room. Peacock brass lamps, a tree of glass, statues, paintings and Flemish, Chinese, Moorish, Italian, English and Burmese furniture are scattered throughout the house. Tiled floors, carvings and arches reflect the influence of the Alhambra.
A
quick drive from
the Old City over the bridge
is The Alligator Farm, which also has monkeys and a bird
rookery. It is a great place for young and old alike!
Fort Matanzas
- a Spanish "outlook" fort
that was built between 1740 & 1742 on Anastasia island about 16 miles down
A1A South near Crescent Beach.
There is no admission charge for the site, the eight minute video or the five
minute boat ride to the fort. It is an "interactive fort" where one
is allowed to climb up to the roof on a wooden ladder so children of all ages
love it.
Sun, fun, history and mystery—St. Augustine has it
all!
Wow, superb blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is fantastic, as well as the content!
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