St. Augustine: Florida with Character
It was easy for me to get attached to St. Augustine, Florida. We hit it off immediately, since the city has five things I love: history, water, personality, decent weather and more history.
St. Augustine was founded in 1565, some 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims set foot on Plymouth Rock. It’s been continuously occupied since that time. By American standards, that’s old.
As you might expect, the city has no shortage of historic structures, including a massive stone fort, Castillo de San Marco, wonderful for an afternoon’s exploration. Walk the rampart walls to catch a refreshing breeze and a fine view of the surrounding area.
Appropriately, ancient cannons still sit poised along the top, existing primarily today as photo backdrops. There are also a few exhibits on the lower level, but the walls are the highlight.
If you feel up to more climbing, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum might be worth a stop. It’s a mere 219 steps to reach the top. I say that tongue-in-cheek, since I didn’t make it all the way!
Although the state has approximately 30 remaining lighthouses, only a half dozen are open to the public. This black and white striped beauty was completed in 1874 and is believed to be on the same spot as an earlier watch tower.
Here’s some “lighthouse lore,” just so you’ll know I was paying attention to our guide. The black and white color scheme, with a red top, is St. Augustine’s distinguishing navigational daymark. All lighthouses also have a nightmark, called a signature. By viewing the signature, mariners can determine their position in the darkness. The St. Augustine nightmark is a short white flash, every 30 seconds. See, I learned something! Whether you climb or not, allow additional time for the museum and gift shop located in the restored Keepers’ House.
The Lightner Museum is one of several popular museums in St. Augustine. This ode to the gilded age is housed in a former hotel, commissioned by railroad magnate Henry M. Flagler. You’ll hear a great deal about Mr. Flagler, if you visit this city. Hotel Alcazar, now the museum, was built in the Spanish Renaissance style, in 1887. The Lightner contains artifacts of daily living in the Victorian age, covering three floors. Stained glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany, art glass and cut glass are part of the collection.
We thoroughly enjoyed an evening ghost tour of the historic section of the city. I never miss an opportunity to join in a ghost tour. Others must like them as well, because they seem to be cropping up all over. Besides experiencing the city in the quiet of the night, you hear interesting stories not ordinarily told in other tours. With more than 400 years to pick from, St. Augustine has enough intriguing legends to fill several evenings.
While in St. Augustine, I’d recommend a stay at the Casa Monica hotel. Like the city itself, the Casa Monica hotel has a lengthy and varied history. It began life as a hotel in 1888. Back then, rooms sold for the price of a cup of cappucino, at least by our modern day standards … $3 a night. Photographs in the guest rooms, depict that turn-of-the-century period when the Casa Monica was the destination of the nation’s wealthy and elite. Her elegant ballrooms hosted charity functions, social events and grand balls. It’s not difficult to imagine those simpler days, when ladies in their voluminous skirts and sunshade hats walked the grounds.
But the passing of time has not always been kind to the Casa Monica. After it was forced to close in 1931, the building sat vacant for thirty years. No doubt local residents wondered if this classic structure was destined for the wrecking ball. But, somehow she survived and was later renovated for use as the St. John’s County Courthouse.
Fortunately, an enterprising gentlemen by the name of Richard Kessler recognized her virtues. He restored it to the original purpose, no small endeavor, a world-class hotel.
In 1997, Kessler purchased the property and construction began immediately. The hotel reopened in December of 1999. Lodging at the Casa Monica, you’ll be in good company, as movie stars, dignitaries and politicians are frequent guests.
On the exterior, the Casa Monica resembles a Moorish Revival castle with balconies, arched windows and five stately towers, topped with a red-tile roof. From the minute you step into the lobby, you’ll quickly sense the era of grandeur has been thoughtfully renewed.
Extraordinary antiques and a splashing fountain welcome guests. The decor is accented with Victorian touches of velvet and tapestry fabrics in rich colors of deep red, gold and cobalt blue.
At the Casa Monica, you couldn’t ask for a better location. Sitting adjacent to the Lightner Museum and Flagler College, the property is an easy walk to historic St. George Street, where you’ll find shops, attractions and restaurants. Leave your car behind and enjoy this engaging city on foot or use the convenient sightseeing trains. Better yet, opt for a memorable horse-drawn carriage ride.
Finally, for sun worshipers, this section of Florida has a total of 42 miles of unspoiled beaches. Golf, tennis and year round fishing, are also available. St. Augustine hosts a number of festivals during the year, so you’ll find diverse activities no matter what month you visit. In particular, their historical re-enactments are perpetual favorites.
The word “oldest” is bandied about often in St. Augustine, with various buildings claiming that distinction. Oldest or not, there’s an ageless appeal to this Florida city. Our two-day visit only scratched the surface and I’m eager to return.
