A Summertime Visit to the Oldest City in the U.S.

Tucked away on the eastern coast of North Florida is a charming city that is the nation's first "enduring settlement." Florida was first sighted in 1513 by Spanish Explorer, Ponce De Leon. Later, Saint Augustine - the first colonial settlement in Florida- was founded by Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in September of 1565. This quaint, coquina-walled city harkens back to European-esque charm and carries within it deep layers of history that every curious traveler will delight in. Avid photographers and architectural enthusiasts will be enthralled by the array of architectural styles this city boasts like Spanish Colonial, Spanish Renaissance Revival, British Colonial, Venetian Renaissance, and even Moorish Revival styles.

It was a hot, humid afternoon on Memorial Day. As we neared the city, we saw rain clouds looming in the distance but decided to take our chances and find a parking spot. We hadn't eaten since that morning, so the first order of business was to find food. And what's a better meal on Memorial Day than a burger and fries? My hubby likes this little burger spot called Auggie's Draft Room that's located right inside the Old City gates across from Castillos de San Marcos on historic St. George Street. While Brett waited for the food in the cold A/C (his choice), Claire & I went outside to explore. We stumbled upon a few shops near the Colonial Quarter, like a distillery, a coffee shop, and a tavern that still has a giant millstone on the outside wall from the former Grist Mill located there as early as 1880.

After our meal, Claire suggested that we get some ice cream. The sun was shining as we walked over to our favorite cafe called Cafe del Hidalgo located at the intersection of St. George St. & Hypolita St. It serves up gelato, speciality coffees, paninis, salads, and more. The cafe's decor is reminiscent of Old World charm. One of my favorite memories from the summer of 2020, when I was pregnant with Claire, is coming to Cafe del Hidalgo with one specific and highly important reason...to satisfy my craving for their unique Lemon Basil Ricotta gelato. It was the best combination of flavors - light, fresh, sweet and slightly tart. The perfect combination for a summer treat. Sadly, they haven't offered this flavor for the last 3 years. So, instead, we ordered Watermelon and Limoncello gelatos. Before we left, we also got a cappuccino to go. While researching for this blog post, I discovered that they import their espresso beans from Italy.

"We specialize in a wood-roasted Italian espresso bean made by Antica Tostatura Triestina from Italy."

After our dessert indulgence, we walked around the city for a bit. We visited the city's square, called Plaza de la Constitución, where some historical monuments are located. A flag display was setup in honor of Memorial Day. Sunlight began to bask the surrounding buildings with its golden warmth. It was a perfect Florida evening.

Our last stop before heading home was to visit our favorite Church Gardens in Saint Augustine located at the breathtaking Memorial Presbyterian Church built by Henry Flagler in 1889. The architecture contains design elements of Spanish, Moorish, Italian, and Baroque style and its exterior was made with gold and white terracotta. The church began to glisten with rose gold hues as the sun began to set. We enjoyed a peaceful stroll in the gardens before calling it a night and heading home.

I highly recommend visiting Saint Augustine if you've never been. Its timelessness, historicity, and Old World beauty will ignite your imagination.

From my home to yours,

~Kate