Page 17 - Guest Advantage Magazine - September 2015

St. Augustine-The Nation’s Oldest City
As the saying goes “24 miles of beaches and the rest is history” Nearby St. Augustine exudes
a playful charm created by a contradiction of Old and New World Influences. Mixed together they create a refreshing mixture
of antiquated romance, youthful vibrance, and Southern sweetness. Evidence of the magic and mystery of St. Augustine is revealed in
more than 60 historic sites and attractions. Many of these points
of interest are tucked along canopied roads of moss-draped
oaks. Streets are lined by signature coquina cottages
topped with red clay roofs. Two National Monuments
reflect the prevalent Spanish and Minorcan heritage: Ihe impenetrable
Castillo de San Marcos (1695), the nation’s oldest masonry fortress, and Fort Matanzas (1742) which can be reached only by boat.
Since 1903, visitors have discovered St. Augustine’s past at the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. Thought to be Ponce de Leon’s eternal spring, it is Florida’s oldest attraction.
The Mission of Nombre de Dios (1565) is
the location that began Christianity in the United States. Visitors can also see the remains of the 1808 City Gate, that are now a grand archway of the oldest city.
One of St. Augustine’s natural attractions are its state parks. Favor- Dykes State Park, on the southern tip of St. Augustine is a 752-acre forest that serves as a refuge for endangered bald eagles and wood storks.
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