We spent seven days last Spring touring the American Southeast and it has finally occurred to me I never featured it here. It was a very pleasant trip and certainly deserving of a post… or two… or three.
The tour included two nights in St. Augustine, two nights in Savannah, and two nights in Charleston with various stops along the way. I’ll concentrate on the St Augustine portion of the trip for the first post.
St. Augustine is generally regarded as the oldest city in the United States. It was founded in 1565 by a Spanish admiral and was the capital of Spanish Florida for more than 200 years.
The Castillo de San Marcos is a 17th-century Spanish fortress built between 1672 and 1695 to defend Florida and the Atlantic trade route. It is the oldest masonry fort in the continental United States and has strategic views of Matanzas Bay and the St. Augustine Inlet.
The coastal community of St. Augustine has more than 450 years of history to explore. The city has a unique European flavor, and its old town is quaint and worthy of a stroll. Near the city gates is the oldest wooden schoolhouse in the country. There is a fun little winery too, for those who enjoy trying wines like I do!
It is here in St. Augustine that Ponce De Leon discovered healing waters and proclaimed them to be the “Fountain of Youth”. Oh, if only!
Located on a six-acre city block is a Spanish Renaissance style hotel named for explorer Ponce de Leon. Industrialist and railroad magnate Henry Morrison Flagler began construction in 1885 of what would become one of the most exclusive resorts of its day. Today, it is the cornerstone of Flagler College, whose opulent setting is enjoyed by students and visitors alike.
We left St. Augustine and traveled north along a cold and damp Georgia coast to Jekyll Island, a place made famous by the elite families who once vacationed there.
Jekyll Island, one of the Georgia barrier islands, is tranquil and seemingly unaware of the march of time. Even with miles of wide-open beaches and marshes filled with wildlife, I found the thousands of moss-draped live oak trees to be the island’s most amazing feature.
Back in the Gilded Age, some of the country’s most influential families retreated to the luxury of the Jekyll Island Club Resort. The famed clubhouse dates to 1887 but fell on hard times during WWII when local labor was drafted into military service and rich patrons stopped coming. The resort was forced to close in 1942, but these days it once again welcomes guests with historically inspired dining, accommodations, and activities.
My favorite stop on Jekyll Island was at driftwood beach where gnarled and weathered trees litter the beach after decades of erosion. Driftwood and tree trunks that were once a maritime forest, now line the sandy shore creating a lonely and almost prehistoric sight.
My next post will cover more of this trip: lovely Savannah, Georgia.
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Grammy Writes 
Lovely post!
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I appreciate the comment, thanks so much!
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Great post and beautiful photos, Linda. I’ve never been to St.Augustine, but I would love to visit the nation’s oldest city as it is packed with places to go and things to see. Thanks for sharing, and have a good day. Aiva xx
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Packed with history and fun places to explore, it was a pleasant few days in St. Augustine. Thanks so much for the comment, Aiva. Take care!
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I had no idea St. Augustine came with so much history! And a winery? Worth a stop for all sorts of reasons (though maybe not the fountain of youth; looks a little touristy). Jekyll Island has been a temptation for years because it looks like a beautiful and quiet venue for bicycles, less than a four-hour drive from where we live. We’ve done the same on Hilton Head Island and Isle of Palms near Charleston. Your photos make me want to book a room at the resort!
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Do it! Book a room at the resort and then tell me all about it! I expect it would be a grand experience… laid back perhaps, but no doubt enjoyable. I am jealous of your easy access to such fun venues!
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Thank you Linda for this beautiful post. I have visited this beautiful city
and recognise the buildings you show. A fascinating history and it still has an otherworldly charm. We also found a street with charming eateries, Spanish was certainly noticeable.
miriam
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I wasn’t sure what to expect of St. Augustine, but between the history, the Spanish charm, the flowers and the weather, it couldn’t have been more pleasant. And yes, we found fun places to eat as well! Thanks, Miriam
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So interesting! And such beautiful pictures, especially those gorgeous trees.
A pleasure from start to finish.
Gwen.
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This type of tree was plentiful everywhere we went on this trip, but I found them just stunning on the island. Thanks, Gwen!
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Rich share in photos and historical information. Thank you!
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My pleasure. Thank YOU!
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Such beautiful photos of your excursion!! I’ve been to Charleston, such a beautiful place with such character. On my trip there with family, we also visited an old plantation that’s open for tours and we got a horse carriage ride around the place. So FUN!
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Love the photos! 🙂
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Glad you enjoyed them. Thanks!
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Reading this post again, I’m struck by how intimate and personal it seems. How great it would be to meet the people who created these beautiful places
Gwen.
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Great post! Thanks for sharing
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My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by.
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