Adventures in Florida: A Weekend in St. Augustine
When I turned 25 just a few months ago, one of my first goals was to plan a trip to St. Augustine. Growing up in South Florida, St. Augustine played a big role in my fourth grade education. It was the oldest European-established settlement in the country and the first overnight field trip destination my classmates and I ever visited. I’ve since visited the town in passing, but wanted to spend more time in St. Augustine this winter.
In early January, my mom and I packed our bags and took a short road trip to the nation’s oldest city, where we would stay for the weekend.
Lightner Museum
Our first stop was the Lightner Museum, which was originally the Hotel Alcazar built by Henry Flagler. With gorgeous Spanish-inspired architecture and picturesque landscaping, the museum boasts collections of antique musical instruments, sculptures, paintings, the stained glass art of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and several other historical and science exhibits as well.
During our visit, we were also able to see the hotel’s original spa and Turkish bath areas. However, nothing was more festive than our lunch at the Café Alcazar, a restaurant located where the indoor pool used to be. I loved my hummus salad almost as much as the cafe itself! I would highly recommend grabbing a bite there for an elegant and unique dining experience. (After all, how often do you get to eat lunch in a swimming pool?)
Fountain of Youth
After the Lightner Museum, we walked over to Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. My mom and I drank from the Fountain of Youth, so now I’m hoping to be young and beautiful well into my nineties. If I’m still blogging by then, I’ll let you know how well the fountain really worked. 🙂
We roamed around the park for the afternoon, visited the exhibits, watched a few videos on the discovery of the settlement, and fell asleep during the observatory show (okay, that was just me!). I also made a few unlikely friends.
Ghost Tour
After checking into the hotel and grabbing a quick bite to eat, we ended the night with a Ghosts & Gravestones ghost tour. I have always been a fan of ghost tours, and this one did not disappoint! We stopped at the Lighthouse Park and at the Old Jail, where we were visited by an old (slightly terrifying) inmate. We had a fantastic time, all while learning about some of the more macabre history of St. Augustine.
Castillo de San Marcos
The next morning, we headed out to the Castillo de San Marcos, the country’s oldest fort. It was an incredible experience to walk through a place that survived so many wars and attacks, in the footsteps of so many others before us.
After the Castillo, we enjoyed a quick lunch in the Old City before heading back home. I had a wonderful weekend with one of my favorite traveling companions, and would recommend St. Augustine to anyone planning a vacation. 🙂
For a recap of my other Bucket List adventures, click here!
Have any of you been to St. Augustine? What were your favorite experiences?
