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<\/a><\/p>\nDay one was on and off rain, so we took the trolley around the city for an overview.\u00a0 There is so much great history here, and the city is preserved beautifully.\u00a0 We loved it!<\/p>\n
During our visit to the Lightner museum we managed to avoid the downpour that drenchd the city. \u00a0This was originally the Alcazar Hotel – Flagler\u2019s party house for the rich.\u00a0 The highlight of the building is the third floor balcony\/ballroom\u00a0 that looked down on the indoor swimming pool.\u00a0 And at night the ceiling retracted, so you could dance to the tunes of\u00a0 2 bands under the stars, while watching the swimmers below.\u00a0 The pool is now a restaurant!\u00a0 (The water is gone so you can go to the deep end \u2013 LOL)<\/p>\n
The museum was purchased by O.C. Lightner, who was the founder of several periodicals (magazines).\u00a0 His most famous was \u201cHobbies\u201d and he was an avid collector of EVERTHING.\u00a0 Four floors of amazing stuff, from cigar wrappers and buttons to \u00a0rooms full of crystal, furniture, oddities (a real shrunken head, ugh), and a collection of old music making instruments.\u00a0 We got a history lesson and a concert at the same time.<\/p>\n
Then took a mini wine tour of the San Sebastian Winery and enjoyed some samples!<\/p>\n Day two was perfect weather,77 degrees, slight breeze, NO CLOUDS, so we decided to take a walk on the beach.\u00a0 Although the beach is a distance away from the campsites, once there we had 4 \u00bd miles of gorgeous sun and sand practically all to ourselves.<\/p>\n Later we visited the Lighthouse and it\u2019s museum, and climbed all 219 steps.\u00a0 On top the view was spectacular and\u00a0 a couple had just gotten engaged, so that was fun!\u00a0 The mechanism for lighting the lamp involved climbing the steps with 30 lbs. of hot oil, and every two hours winding the mechanism to turn the light \u2013 a fascinating contraption like a grandfather clock, going down the center of the lighthouse.<\/p>\n Then on to the fort. Castillo de San Marcos, finished in 1695.\u00a0 It went back and forth between the Spanish and British, but was never \u201ctaken\u201d , only exchanged through treaties.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n From St. Augustine to Winter Haven (near Orlando) and on to Destin (in the Florida panhandle) to visit family & friends.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Next Post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Previous Post<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Judith here. \u00a0The BEST\u00a0She-Crab soup and Shrimp and Grits for lunch In Charleston! In St. Augustine, we booked a site at the Anastasia State Park campground , which is just across the bridge from the old city and on the beach.\u00a0 The trailer tucks into the site and is surrounded by palms, ferns, complete Florida … Continue reading Our New Adventure – Part 3, St. Augustine<\/span> <\/a>\u00a0<\/a>Old City Gates<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/a>Reconstructed city wall & city market (with oldest wooden schoolhouse in U.S.)<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>Flagler College \/ Ponce de Leon Hotel<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0<\/a>Lightner Museum \/ Alcazar Hotel<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>Sears Roebuck Mail Order house \u00a0– \u00a0Marble Lions at Bridge of Lions<\/p>\n<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/a> <\/a>\u00a0Cathedral Basilica of St Augustine<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a>Magnolia St. \u00a0 – \u00a0Great Cross at Mission Nombre de Dios<\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n<\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a> <\/a><\/p>\n