Summer Vacation, Part 1

From Fort Lauderdale to St. Augustine via I-95, a mere 4 hours and 16 minutes, just like MapQuest said. We stopped north of West Palm Beach at a lovely rest area that provided sheltered picnic tables and had a bite of lunch. We enjoyed watching the birds tending their nests in the eaves of the picnic shelters while we were there.

Upon arriving in St. Augustine, we checked into our Bed & Breakfast, a first-time experience for both of us. Our hostess at the Spanish Street Inn, Linda, greeted us warmly and made sure we were happy with our room before leaving us to our own devices. We were housed on the second floor with easy access to the front porch and everything was decorated in an authentic and comfortable style. The house, built in the 1920s, was remodeled and refurbished and we felt quite "at home" there. The breakfast she provided the next morning was wonderful, with a bowl of fresh fruit and eggs and bacon just like home! The other guests, many of whom had been there for several days, commented on how much they had enjoyed their visit, so we know we're on to something good at the Spanish Street Inn!

Above, charming signage. Below, the house known as The Spanish
Street Inn, located at 44 Spanish Street in beautiful St. Augustine.

The "historic" section of St. Augustine is beautiful and charming, and unlike any other place I've ever visited. We spent a couple of hours walking the narrow streets, many of which are closed to traffic, and we stopped in a a little shop for a coffee and pretzel and a little "people watching." I took a few photos before my camera battery died, so we vowed to get up early the next morning and do some "serious photography" when the streets were likely to be more deserted and the light would certainly be better. We did! And, the light was truly fantastic!

We chose St. Augustine as our one-night stand between Fort Lauderdale and our final destination in Hopewell, Virginia, and we were so infatuated with the place, we've promised to return for a long weekend and more exploration!

Our big meal in St. Augustine was dinner at Harry's Bar & Grille, a New Orleans style resturant along the Intracoastal. Horse & carriages lined up across the road from Harry's and my darling husband promised a carriage ride the next time we come! We waited at the bar with a glass of wine for about 15 minutes before we were seated! Our waitress was very attentive and the food was delicious and beautifully presented. You can be sure we'll be stopping by Harry's again the next time we visit!

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