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St Augustine Travel Guide
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| St Augustine
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Forty miles north of Daytona Beach, Hwy-1 passes through
the heart of ST AUGUSTINE. Few places in Florida are as
immediately engaging as this old city, with the size and
even some of the looks of a small Mediterranean town. The
oldest permanent settlement in the US, with much from its
early days still intact along its narrow streets, it also
offers two alluring lengths of beach just across the bay.
Ponce de León touched ground here in 1513, but European
settlement began when Spain's Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
put ashore on St Augustine's Day in 1565. Sir Francis Drake's
ships razed the town in 1586, the first of many battles
before Florida was eventually ceded to Britain in 1763.
By then the town was a major social and administrative center,
soon to be capital of east Florida. Subsequently, Tallahassee
became the capital of a unified Florida, and St Augustine's
fortunes waned. Expansion largely bypassed the town –
a fact inadvertently facilitating the restoration program
that has turned this quiet community into a fine historical
showcase. |
| St Augustine
Travels & Tours |
Cathedral Basilica
Home of America's oldest Catholic parish, this church was
originally founded in 1565 and was razed time and time again,
mostly by pirates, until the final Spanish Colonial Renaissance
style structure was built in 1797 and reconstructed in the
late 1880's. The church is made of native coquina stone
and features an impressive steeple donated by railroad magnate
Henry Flagler.
St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum
A working lighthouse and museum that contains an array of
displays, collections, and publications that are dedicated
to the history of the St. Augustine Light Station, as well
as the coastal, maritime, and social history of the area.
Ponce De Leon's Fountain of Youth
The exact spot where Spanish explorer, Ponce De Leon, took
possession of the "New World" in the name of the
King of Spain, this archaeological park contains exhibits
which focus on the foundations and artifacts of the first
St. Augustine mission and colony. Sites such as the Landmark
Spring, the Explorers Globe, and the Navigators' Planetarium
are on site.
St. Augustine Scenic Cruise
Learn about St. Augustine's historic landmarks and natural
sites of interest during this 75 minute, partially narrated
tour by third and fourth generation captains that provides
a unique view of St. Augustine available only from the water.
Ghost Tours of St. Augustine
Voted the number one guided tour in Florida, these licensed,
professional guided in period dress light your way with
lanterns through the ancient streets of St. Augustine during
this one and a half hour walking tour where you will hear
strange and unusual tales of centuries past, legendary stories,
folk lore, and ghostly experiences. |
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St Augustine Hotels Discounts Search
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