2025 March 22-29 St Augustine, Florida and Crescent Beach

How do you capture all of the sites, sounds and experiences that we encountered by spending a week in the oldest city in the United States..... St Augustine, Florida? What a beautiful and historic spot! Cobblestone streets, the Castillo de San Marcos, all the Spanish architecture, beach walks, exploring old forts and museum, lighthouse.... plus the added pleasure of being with ❣️family❣️. 

Sand, seashells, seafood, sightseeing, sunrises, sunsets, siestas, sunglasses, sunscreen, Spanish, SpringBreak2025. (and of course PICKLEBALL....and the insaaaaane after-dinner game of ANARCHY PANCAKES!)

After traveling from Roanoke to St Augustine, 'first things first' on vacation was..... THE BEACH! Our accommodations for the week included sunrises on the beach, as well as sunsets on the balcony of our condo..... The Windjammer Condominiums at Crescent Beach (highly recommend)

Some of our 'party of 5' just couldn't quite get enough of the Atlantic Ocean waves and sand.......regardless of how frigid the water temperatures were. 

****Note the crowds on our 'private beach'👇👇👇

Every morning began with the breathtaking sunrises.

A mere few miles away from our condo was the Fort Matanzas National Monument. The ferry ride was FREE. The watchtower, completed in 1742, defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St Augustine. (The National Park Service contains a digital download of Ft Matanzas.) We included a lovely walk on the grounds prior to our ferry ride. 

St. Augustine was founded in 1565. "This Spanish city was a rich melting pot of cultures.....Europeans, Native Americans, and Africans lived and worked here, bringing their customs and traditions to the city." 

Because there is sooooooooo much to see in St. Augustine's Historic District, the most convenient, and easiest for us was via the OLD TOWN TROLLEY TOURS. "This fully narrated, hop-on-hop-off tour featured 22 stops at key attractions, allowing you to explore the city at your own pace. The 90-minute loop covered over 100 points of interest"  ***Purchase the $5.00 essential guide at the visitors center. Photos and descriptions of each stop are included in the guide. 

Here are a few our our favorite stops/sights in and near the Historic District! 

The first impressive view as we drove into the historic district, was the Bridge of Lions. Two iconic granite lions, named Fiel and Firme(Faithful and Firm) grace each side of the bridge.(actually there are 4 lions from the beginning of the bridge to the end). The Bridge of Lions is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The walk across the bridge and back is 1 mile long.

Castillo de San Marcos is perhaps the largest and most memorable sight in the St Augustine area. It's rich history of being built by the Spanish to defend Florida, the oldest masonry fort in the US, is one that everyone should see.  The walk along the sea wall to the right of the fort was lovely. 

Our (photographer)friend, Carol, met us for the trolley ride and lunch. What a treat to see her! Before boarding the trolley, we stopped at the beautiful Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine.

The Bird of Paradise plant was blooming on the grounds of the Basilica! 

The interior was exquisite.

The Plaza Suite building next door to the Basilica, is now used for weddings and events in elegant spaces. The building is part of the Plaza de la Constitucion area that is a central part of St. Augustine. Built in 1927, this historic landmark was built as a bank, and now known at The Treasury on the Plaza. 

A few of the many sites as seen from the trolley included: Ancient City Baptist Church

Memorial Presbyterian Church

Flagler College

The famous and one of the most beautiful streets in St. Augustine (not my photo) , Magnolia Avenue

We drove by the Fountain of Youth, but decided there was no hope of anti aging for the 3 of us, so we kept on moving🤣.

And here is Pedro (Statue placed behind the fountain of Youth area). Pedro Menendez de Aviles was a Spanish admiral, who became Florida's first Spanish Colonial Governor. Aviles Street is the oldest street in the nation and the early home to St. Augustine's arts district(we did not get to see this on our trolley ride. Thus the photo is not mine!). 

Nombre deDios Mission was an unexpected visit, but well worth the time. A peaceful and serene place,  the chapel was established in 1615 to bring the Christian faith to the Native people of the land, as well as the Spanish settlers. Inside the chapel(A national Shrine) is the statue of Our Lady of La Leche(the Catholic title of the Blessed Virgin Mary).   Included on the land is a 209-foot stainless steel cross, an 11-foot bronze statue of the chaplain of Menendez' fleet, Fr. Francisco Lopez de Mendoza.

Time did not permit a visit to the interior of Lightner Museum, but oh what an architectural beauty! The museum occupies the former Hotel Alcazar, a Gilded Age resort hotel commissioned by Standard Oil executive Henry Flagler.  Henry Flagler's influence on St. Augustine was beyond significant! 

Ahhhhhh. Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille......also located in the heart of Historic St. Augustine...If you know..... you GO! DELICIOUS!

Our day in Historic St. Augustine was completed by stopping at the lighthouse, at the north end of Anastasia Island. built between 1871 and 1874. The tower is the second lighthouse town in St. Augustine. (I'm obsessed with lighthouses, so I try to find one everywhere we go!)

Exploring new places and making memories with 3 of our family members ...................................... the best kind of vacation!