This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches, Florida. All opinions are 100% mine.

New Day – Photo by AM Shehadeh

Ponce de Leon, who claimed Florida for Spain, first explored the area of Saint Augustine in 1513.  Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European established city, and the oldest port, in the continental United States.

St Augustine, Ponte Vedra & The Beaches are on the eastern coast of Florida, either on the Atlantic, the intercoastal waterway or riverfront.  There are all types of lodging, from luxurious beach front suite to a cozy room in a bed and breakfast in a historic home in St. Augustine.  There are also state parks, where you may camp in a tent or RV or rent a cabin or a room in a lodge.

My choice of lodging would be to camp with our trailer in Anastasia State Park on the beach.  If that park were unavailable, I would camp in Faver-Dykes State Park, a park that is known as a birding hotspot and is only a short drive to the beaches.  If you want to be closer to the action, then I would suggest the Carriage Way Bed and Breakfast, which is located in the historic section of St. Augustine.  If you stay at the B&B, you are just steps away from sights, dining and shopping.

Once you have checked into your lodgings, look at the area map and mark points of interest to you.  Inlets, barrier islands, bays and estuaries segment the coastline, so you will want to plan your trip.  Spend one or more days exploring the historic town of  St. Augustine.  You may explore St. Augustine on foot or take a scenic boat ride, a fishing trip or an eco-tour.

The St. Augustine Lighthouse was built in 1874 on the north end of Anastasia Island.  The view from the 165 foot tower is wonderful and not to be replicated anywhere else in the area. Although the view of the inlet and harbor from the rampart of the Castillo de San Marcos is inspiring. The inlet is best seen from the north side at Vilano Beach.

Castillo de San Marcos has daily interpretive programs by the National Park Service feature authentically uniformed soldiers from the 18th century.  Live cannon firings and discussion of colonial Spanish military life are included. .

Drive to Fort Matanzas National Monument, located 15 miles south of the city on Anastasia Island.  Pack a picnic, swimsuits and towels.  A free ferry takes you to Rattlesnake Island where you will view a historic reenactment of Spanish soldiers stationed at this remote outpost.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1 -  get maps and brochures from CVB, check into accommodations, swim and plan your days.

Day 2 – spend the day exploring historic St. Augustine, including Castillo de San Marcos, if possible.

Day 3 – take a ride to Fort Manatazas National Monument, catch the ferry to the original site.

Day 4 – cruise to Anastasia State Park, where you can rents bicycles, beach chairs, ocean toys and umbrellas!

Day 5 – explore the beaches north and south of where you are staying

Day 6 – schedule a day for an airboat ride or leisurely cruise to view alligators in the wild. Pack up.

Day 7 -Sit back and relax as you are chauffeured in an horse-drawn carriage.

All photographs courtesy of the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

Panama City Beach is the epitome of a beach town, complete with miles of beautiful white-sand beaches, high-rise hotels and condos overlooking the blue-green water gentled by the barrier islands.

This is the the estuarine environment where 90 percent of the oysters in Florida are found. If you like them, eat them from here to Destin.

You will also find t-shirt shops, putt-putt golf courses, and restaurants.  This is a fun town to visit for the day or a week.

Off the Beaten Path

Cedar Key is a small fishing village and artist colony about 20 miles off  US 19/SH 98.  There are only about 650 residents in Cedar Key, but the town is lively.

We crossed about six canals before we were actually driving on Cedar Key.  Everyone wants a waterfront home, I guess.  Along Second Street, tucked into 19th Century storefronts and restored Florida Cracker* homes, are a treasure trove of  local art and craft stores, galleries and gift shops. You may also stumble upon free art, such as the fisherman and the fish and the underwater art wall pictured above.  We saw some of the most unique items made out of what most people would consider trash, like the motorcycle man made of discarded satellite dishes.

The dock area is busy with tour boats and fishing boats. There are several large seafood restaurants and shops on the wooden wharf.  Huge cement and steel docks, courtesy of FEMA, give you a look at the town as if you were offshore. There are several hotels close to the wharf and a motel with a huge dock on the last canal.  When you get away from the town center, you find a private airstrip and expensive homes.

This is a busy town in the summer, but we were able to enjoy it off season.