2022’s Journey will entail 25 Campsites – 4,315 Miles (in Rosie the RV) and countless other SUV miles to get us to our adventures. We will see such vacation hotspots as St Augustine, Savannah, Charleston, Lake Placid, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine [primarily Acadia National Park, and Baxter State Park], then head south to West Virginia and Virginia before landing back in Central Florida for the winter months.
Our first stop was St. Augustine. A city with deep roots and history spanning more than 450 years, with plenty to see and experience. Our 4 full days here was just not enough time to soak it all in. For attractions to visit there is the Fort Castillo de San Marcos, St Augustine Lighthouse, Fountain of Youth, Oldest House, Old Jail, Lightner Museum, Flagler College, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and the list goes on. For a little R&R, you can visit the famed St. Augustine Beach and Anastasia Island State Park and their beautiful shore line.
Attractions
National Monument Castillo de San Marcos
No visit to St. Augustine is complete without a tour of the famed Castillo de San Marcos, the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States.
A large Spanish stone fortress built to protect and defend Spain’s claims in the New World. It’s a National Monument over 315 years old, and it’s the oldest structure in St. Augustine. It’s also one of the main attractions visitors to St. Augustine come to see.
There’s plenty of things to do at the Castillo, from the numerous rooms that once housed soldiers and prisoners, to the large interior courtyard and gun deck which offers a great view of the city. Regular 15 minute lectures are available to sit in on and rangers are available to answer questions but at this point there are no ranger-led tours or cannon firings or weaponry demonstrations. The Castillo is open every day of the year except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. Be sure to get there early because it gets BUSY and the entrance line gets LONG. A National Parks pass will allow you “free” access (or you can buy one there), Adults 15 and older are $15 and children 15 and under are free, if accompanied by an adult.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum
Located a few minutes from the historic area, across the Bridge of Lions, closer to Anastasia Island Beach, this historic lighthouse will give you a look into what it’s like to be a light keeper when they climb the 200 odd steps to the top with a heavy container of fuel oil. Not only do guests see the well-maintained, functioning light, they also have a breathtaking, panoramic view of the surrounding St. Augustine area and beaches. The tour of the tower, the keeper’s house and grounds are self-guided. This 19th-century tower is one of only six lighthouses in Florida that is still open to the public.
They are opened daily from 9 am – 6 pm with a modest entrance free of $10.95 for children 12 and under and seniors 60+ and $12.95 for all Adults under 60 years
Oldest House
Also known as the Gonzalez-Alvarez House, the structure is owned and operated by the St. Augustine Historical Society, and is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial residence in Florida.
The 30-minute tour was very interesting. We heard a lot about the history of the building materials used, the various owners of the structure and how they changed/adapted the home to fit the time period, and other tidbits of information through the history of the Oldest City in America.
Sunrise and Early Morning
If you are able to awaken in the wee hours of the morning and walk the streets before the crowds, you will experience a magical place with abounding history.
After Dark
St. Augustine, the oldest city in USA, boasts a summery climate almost perennially thus attracting tourists in plenty who soak in its majestic colonial atmosphere, the Gothic structures, sidewalk art cafes, numerous waterfronts and not forgetting those vintage cobble streets. The balmy nights are perfect for a stroll….
Flagler College
One of our favorites, Flagler College. Now a private liberal arts college, but try to imagine visiting in it’s heyday as a hotel guest during the elite Gilded Age with such luxury and opulence as was afforded by their wealth?
Beaches
St Augustine Pier
South of Anastasia State Park, just off A1A is the ever popular St Johns County Ocean Pier aka St. Augustine Beach Pier or variations of same. It’s a popular gathering point for St. Augustine Beach goers and Sunrise is a busy time as we say Hello! to the day.
Anastasia State Park
Right outside of the busy streets of St. Augustine is a beautiful State Park with more than 1,600 acres of unspoiled beaches, tidal marshes, maritime hammocks and ancient sand dunes, making for a captivating destination for campers and visitors alike. Unfortunately, our RV is too large to be accommodated at this lovely State Park but that didn’t stop us for visiting on an early weekday morning. The walk along the unspoiled and vacant shoreline was heavenly.
Dining
As [almost] full-time RVers we have to watch our budget so we only experienced a few of the many dining choices. After careful consideration, these two options were excellent choices and we were very happy with our experiences at:
Osprey Tacos and Old Coast Ales. These two establishments are right next door to each other connected by a single wall. Both have outside seating so we choose to sit on the Osprey Tacos side at a well shaded picnic table and enjoy our food and drink. We opted to go with four of the most popular tacos: The Saint Augustine w/ fresh fried local shrimp, the San Diego w/ skirt steak, the Baja Fish w/ local seasonal fish and The Sprout w/ fresh Brussel sprouts. Our favorites were the San Diego and the Sprout… would definitely get those again. The other two were tasty, for sure. The beer from Old Coast Ales was refreshing and we made good choices. For me it was the Lite-House a Blonde Ale, a light, crisp and refreshing ale. For Mike it was the Kookaburra, a coffee brown ale infused with locally-roasted Kookaburra coffee.
Our second choice was Ice Plant Bar. Can’t say enough about this excellent restaurant-bar choice. Our server was exceptionally pleasant, the environment was pleasing and the architectural detailing was beautiful. The food and cocktails were delicious!
Dream Big, Travel Far, Live Well ……
What’s Next?
Next post will be: Amelia Island, Cumberland Island and surrounding areas!
Follow along at:
Instagram: @nspiredadventuresblog
Facebook: Nspired Adventures (Page)
Fine Art America: Nspired Eye Photography
RV Life Campground Reviews: https://campgrounds.rvlife.com/profile/212086
Email: nspiredadventures2020@gmail.com
Nspired Adventures 