I have visited St. Augustine, Florida many times with my friends for a nice day trip, but last year I went for the first time overnight. One thing that makes staying in St. Augustine is that there are very few chain hotels. There are many inns and bed and breakfast accommodations. This was the first time I had ever stayed in one and I was very nervous about it. I finally chose the Cedar House Inn. It is a B&B run by a wonderful lady named Cindy. Because I was so nervous about staying at my first B&B, I made several calls to ask many questions. Not once did Cindy make me feel like I was an inconvenience to her and she was happy to answer all my questions. Once we arrived, she gave us a warm welcome and let us know what her inn had to offer us while staying with her. The best part about this inn is the breakfast Cindy makes each morning. You will not get your normal eggs, bacon, and toast here. She does breakfast reimagined and it is the best food I have ever had for breakfast. Cindy and her breakfast are why we will be going back to the Cedar House Inn.
The Inn is located just steps away from the Lightner Museum. This is a unique museum with many wonderful items from the American Gilded Age. We were there for the demonstration of the many different items in the music room. This was the highlight of the museum for us. Also, the Lightner used to be the Alcazar Hotel built by Henry Flagler and the area that was the pool in now a restaurant. We didn’t get a chance to eat there this time, but it is on the list for our future trip.
The Cedar House Inn is just a few blocks away from St. George Street where all the shops and restaurants are. If you walk all the way to the end of St. George Street, you will see the Castillo de San Marco also known and the St. Augustine Fort. This is now a National Parks landmark. If you have never been to the Castillo, it is a great experience. It shows how the soldiers lived at the time that the fort was built and the difference of the years from Spanish reign to British Reign. Make sure you don’t miss the cannon demonstration they do each day.
We ate at some great places while visiting St. Augustine. After visiting the Castillo, we had lunch at Al's Pizza. This is one of the closest places to the Castillo to have lunch. We didn't get the pizza but what we did get was excellent. The meatball appetizer was wonderful. They were handmade meatballs like the ones my friend makes for me. The pasta was great and the sauce was wonderful. I will go back for sure. We also went to Casa Maya for dinner and the food was like nothing I have ever tried. It is traditional Mexican and really worth a visit if you like traditional Mexican or like to try new things. They have an outside patio out back and the atmosphere was like you were in a Mexican back porch. Ask to sit out there you will love it.
If you are looking for a good snack, I have two places to recommend. The first is French Fry Heaven and they serve just that. French Fries! They have many different flavors so there is something for everyone. The portions are a good size for a snack between meals. The second place is The Hyppo. The Hyppo is a gourmet popsicle place. They have many amazing flavors. The first day, I tried the cucumber jalapeno. I was not too sure about it at first since I am not a fan of spicy food but the cool of the cucumber and the kick of the jalapeno was delicious and I am happy I tried it. The second day, I tried the grapefruit. It was just what I was looking for. It was very tart and refreshing. On a hot day in St. Augustine, The Hyppo is just the place to visit. They have two locations: one on St. George Street and one just off. Make sure to cool off with a cool popsicle.
One of the many things that is popular to do when staying in St. Augustine is a ghost tour. I am not big on made up stories so through some research, I found a tour called the History Mystery Murder and Mayhem tour. This was a wonderful tour that walks you through the Historic area and tells you the true stories of St. Augustine and some are really crazy. I recently took a class at Rollins College and we learned about the early days of the city and many of the stories from the tour were part of the things I learned in class, so these stories are legit.
One of the traditions I had with my friends when we would go on day trips was to go to the San Sebastian Winery. This is a great place to learn about wine making in Florida and what makes Florida wine different from the many other wines you may have tried in the past. The tour is free and there is a free tasting at the end of the tour. They also have a lovely roof top bar that I always enjoy visiting. Even if you are not into drinking wine, you will enjoy the tour. My boyfriend isn’t a drinker and he enjoyed our time at the winery.
These are just a few of the many wonderful things we did on our stay to St. Augustine and there are many things we didn’t get to see while there. This is a place that I would gladly go back to visit and when I do you know where I will be staying. That’s right I will be staying at the Cedar House Inn but I will not tell you what room I like — that way I know it will be available when I want it.
