St. Augustine: The Oldest City in the United States
St. Augustine, Florida was founded in 1565 by Spanish explorer Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and is recognized as the oldest continuously occupied European-established settlement in the continental United States. It predates other major settlements like Jamestown (1607) and Plymouth (1620) by decades! It’s a charming walkable city full of history, great architecture, scenic views, art, and souvenirs.
Hotel: For a reasonably priced accommodations within walking distance to the city center with parking, stay at the Marion Motor Lodge.
Lunch: We went to the French Pantry and Little Miss Ha. Yes, we could order from both menus when seated at the bar area that adjoins both the French and Vietnamese restaurants.
Dinner: Philip Louis, the owner of The Bart on Aviles art gallery, recommended several places. We chose Forgotten Tonic with an eclectic American menu and an extensive cocktail list. The Half Italian cocktail was very interesting…if you like to drink your ranch salad dressing. Don’t worry, it grew on us.
