Castillo De San Marcos
Castillo de San Marcos
DESTINATIONS
Saint Augustine, Florida
If you’re looking for the oldest city in the USA, forget the northern Atlantic coast of the Pilgrims, and head to the southern Atlantic coast of the Spanish explorers.
Saint Augustine, about 40 miles south of Jacksonville and about 75 miles north of Daytona Beach, was established by Juan Menendez de Aviles in 1565 and remained under the rule of Imperial Spain until 1821, when it finally became
American territory. This is the city where Western civilization took root in the Americas.
The Castillo de San Marcos is a fortress built by the Spaniards to protect Saint Augustine from attacks by British forces. These days, it is open to all comers as a national monument, and contains exhibits detailing life during its heyday as a military installation.
The recommended time for a motorcycle visit to Saint Augustine is during late fall or early winter. Spend the cool nights at one of the cozy bed-and-breakfast establishments that dot the area, and during the day, tour the city’s impeccably kept old quarter, transporting yourself back to early colonial days. Or simply take a long ride down Florida’s scenic Highway Al A along the Atlantic Ocean, under a brisk blue sky and a fresh sea breeze.
Luis Etchenique
Information
Saint Augustine Chamber of Commerce 1 Riberia St. Saint Augustine, FL 32084 904/829-5681
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