Travel to St. Augustine: A Past & Present Playground

I'm over at Culture With Travel this week, sharing about my visit to the former Hotel Alcazar in St. Augustine, Florida, built in the late 1800s and now the Lightner Museum. 

Read an excerpt of my post below!


Since I live in Florida year-round I’m not sure I know exactly what it’s like to be a tourist traveling from the north during the winter to stay just for a season. 

But I do head north to visit St. Augustine once a year since it’s only a two-hour drive from my home in Orlando.

What I love about St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city founded in 1565, is that you can catch a glimpse of the major historical eras in its history just by walking through the narrow brick and cobblestone streets. 




Spanish-style homes, colonial architecture and Victorian-era houses stand side-by-side throughout the historic district, along with the three beautiful hotels built in the 1880s by Henry Flagler.

More than a hundred years later, even though the hotels are used for other purposes, they’re all still available for tourists to visit for a peek inside the gilded era in Florida’s history.




Click here to read the rest of my post over at Culture with Travel.



I'm sharing some additional photos here, but I'd love it if you'd come join me as I eat lunch in the space that once housed the world's largest indoor swimming pool inside the Hotel Alcazar!











I'm linking up with Holley Gerth at Coffee for your Heart!

Comments

  1. I've never been to St. Augustine, but the pictures remind me of the Caribbean islands. Lots of the same cultural influences! Have a Merry Christmas, Valerie!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa,
      I so appreciate you reading my travel post! You're right -- there are quite a few island influences in the style of houses and the colors and materials used. I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas, too! xo

      Delete
  2. Clicking over the read the rest. Love St. Augustine. We lived in Jax for a while, and St. Augustine is my favorite memory of that time. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Brenda,
      Oh St. Augustine has so many wonderful spots - -the beach, the water, the history! It's a treasure trove of beauty, isn't it? Thanks for reading my travel post! :)

      Delete
  3. Oh, my, seeing these photos make me long to go back to St. Augustine for another visit! Your photos are just amazing...makes me feel like I am right there! Thank you for sharing with us, Valerie, and I hope you have a Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Cheryl,
      Thanks for popping in here and I'm so glad you liked the photos -- there's so much loveliness to share there! Merry Christmas to you too!

      Delete
  4. Hi Valerie!
    This was so interesting! I loved reading about these hotels. My great grandfather owned a few hotels in upstate New York, and I used to love hearing my grandma tell stories about growing up there. The pictures of course are amazing- and make me want to visit! Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!! sending hugs

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Susie,
      Wow -- listening to your grandmother's stories must have been fascinating! I'd love to hear you share them sometime on your blog! Did you ever get to visit them and are they still around? Thanks so much for reading my travel post and I hope you have the merriest of Christmases! xoxo

      Delete
  5. Hi Valerie,
    I hope I'm not posting twice--I think my first post lost itself in the digital spaces somehow! :-) I love your words and photos, and again am reminded of Eugenia Price's novels. This makes me want to re-read them again, especially her historical fiction centered there in St. Augustine, "Don Juan McQueen" "Maria" and "Margaret's Story." I love her books, and your words and images bring her stories to life for me. Thank you for this treat tonight! May you be blessed with a Beautiful Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Bettie,
      Thanks for being persistent with my finicky commenting system! :) Oh I loved the story of Maria and I'm with you in thinking Eugenia Price's novels are so inspiring and did so much to pique my interest about Florida! Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a wonderful year ahead! xoxox

      Delete
  6. Oh hey!! I wasn't expecting to find a post here! ♥ What an awesome find! But I'm with you that eating at the bottom of a pool would be strange!! Love the history and the pictures as always! I love when I get to virtually travel with you! Maybe one day we can travel together in real life!! I think you'd make an awesome tour guide. xo ♥

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heather,
      Your comment is so funny! True -- I wasn't planning to post until my travel post went live so I thought I'd add my extra photos for a little holiday eye-candy! :) It's like you came calling at my online home and I was home, after all :) I couldn't agree more - -someday we should travel together -- it would be quite fun! xoxo Merry, merry Christmas!

      Delete
    2. ♥♥♥ KNOCK KNOCK!! ♥♥♥ lol! Merry Christmas to you too dear!

      Delete
  7. As always, you make us feel like we've been where you have. Beautiful photos!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tiffany! I love that you come along with me! xoxo

      Delete
  8. Absolutely stunning! Thank you for taking me on a virtual tour. You open up my world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lynn,
      Merry Christmas to you! Can't wait to see what the new year holds for you, I have a feeling it's going to be wonderful! xoxo

      Delete

Post a Comment

Thanks for reading -- I love to hear your comments! To leave a comment, you can choose an ID in the "comment as" box or just choose anonymous. Choose your ID first, write your comment in the box and hit publish. Your comment will be visible just as soon as I can post it!

Popular Posts

Contact Details

I'd love to hear from you! Contact me at valerie@gracewithsilk.com or use the contact box at the bottom of the sidebar.