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| The Blue Angels, Jax Sea and Sky Spectacular on Jacksonville Beach |
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| Lightner Museum |
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| Castillo de San Marcos |
Any history buff will be thrilled to visit St Augustine! A forty-five minutes drive
from Jacksonville bring you to St Augustine, the
oldest European settlement in America. The preservation of the city’s history
is impressive, with restored buildings dating back as far was the early 1600s.
You can see this fascinating city on board a trolley or horse-drawn carriage,
or you can take a walking tour. St George Street, the main thoroughfare, is
lined with quaint shops, restaurants, museums and historic buildings. A few blocks
away is the Castillo de San Marcos,
the star-shaped Spanish fort built in the mid-1600s. The oldest masonry
fortification in North America, the Castillo has withstood sieges and
hurricanes over the years. Re-enactors in period costumes demonstrate the
historic weapons by firing the Spanish cannons during special events and on the
weekends throughout the year. Check their website for time and schedule. Other
attractions include the Lightner Museum, the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park, Flagler College
(formerly Ponce de Leon Hotel) and the CasaMonica Hotel.
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| Fernandina Beach |
Located on beautiful Amelia Island,
Fernandina Beach is less than an hour’s drive northeast of Jacksonville. Like St Augustine, Fernandina Beach has its
share of history, which dates back 4,000 years, when ancient Timucuan Indians
lived there. Eight flags have been flown in this town (including those of
Spain, France, England, various insurgent groups, the United States and the
Confederacy), reflecting its colorful past. A 50-block area of the quaint
downtown is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. No doubt the
white sand beaches are a big draw to this charming town. Another favorite event
is the three-day Shrimp Festival, which takes place the first weekend in May.
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| to the beach at Cumberland Island National Seashore |
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| Cumberland Island |
If you like nature, camping and hiking, a visit to the Cumberland Island in nearby Georgia is a must. The island is accessible only by boat. You can take the ferry from St Marys, Georgia or Fernandina Beach, Florida. As you explore the island, you will find Dungeness, the ruins of the Carnegie home. You can tour Plum Orchard, the 1898 mansion built by Lucy Carnegie for her son. The mansion was donated to the park service in 1971.
A short hike to the seashore will reward you with a magnificent 17-miles
of hard-packed sand beaches and dunes. The wildlife you encounter along the way
include wild horses, armadillos, turtles and a vast array of birds.
For those looking seeking more action, there is always Daytona Beach and
Orlando, but you would be looking at more than an hour’s drive away.
Sources
http://www.augustine.com/
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