A surprise Markie moment for his birthday. A trip to the 450 year old recently celebrated city and oldest city in the United States, St. Augustine. This is the city that Juan Ponce de Leon told the world about the “Famous Fountain of Youth” water springs. A small historic city made up of a Spanish fortress 42 years before  Jamestown, Virginia and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The park is now a National Park. Then it became more famous in 1860s by Florida East Coast Railroad tycoon, land developer and co-founding partner of Standard Oil Company with the Rockefellers, Henry M. Flagler. He wanted better and higher standard accommodations for the wealthy traveling clients.

    Henry Flagler, who only had only an 8th grade education, is also known as the father of both Palm Beach and Miami.  The many affluent St Augustine Hotels Flagler had commissioned to be built in the swampy lowlands were designed for the very wealthy and truly were opulent. His decadent hotels include 540 room Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler College), the Alcazar Hotel and the recently restored Casa Monica Hotel all in St Augustine and the Breakers Hotel Complex in Palm Beach.

    We stayed at the “At Journey’s End Bed & Breakfast” right on the Cedar Ave historic B&B district. Owner, Tim greeted us along with his side kick dog, Morgan. The only open gay bed & breakfast in St. Augustine. Great accommodations, outdoor settings, afternoon wine and the hand made breakfasts were delicious!

 There are so many museums that are an extreme variety to man and mankind to take in and explore.

    We started at the Pirate Museum right across from the waterfront historic fort, Castillo de San Marcos.  Mel Fisher’s multi-million dollar under water shipwrecked salvages and items from hundred year old sunken treasures are on display. 1800-1900 period pieces are in the famed 4 story Lightner Museum which is in the back half of the gorgeous Alcazar Hotel and the front half for St Augustine City offices.

An easy way to get around is by the Old Town Trolleys that take you to over 20 stops. You can get on or off as you like and run continuously every 20 minutes to the many stops.. So we had to go and see Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum at the old Warden Hotel. The old city jail is right next door.

    On the stop was the newly Florida law changed distillery, The St Augustine Distillery for FREE tasting’s. This is the first distillery to open since Gov. Scott had the laws changed in Florida 3 years ago allowing distilleries back in operations in Florida. It is in the old Ice Plant and have a great farm to restaurant food selections next door. So many great places to take in on the cobblestone and brick streets.

    Across the #4 famed Bridge of Lion made of marble and over the intercoastal waterway  is Anastasia State Park 1600 acres of pristine beach and exotic plant and wildlife.

    Kick off your shoes and have a historical sit back feel to the East Coast City of St Augustine.