Read more about the article St. Augustine Alligator Farm – St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine Alligator Farm – St. Augustine, FL

When asked about favorite tourist spots in St. Augustine, many Flagler College parents recommended the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and Zoological Park. Since we’d already explored the Castillo and Ximenez-Fatio House, Thing 1 and I visited this landmark on a hot September day.

Located across the Bridge of Lions on Anastasia Island, the alligator farm began in 1893 reportedly by George Reddington and Felix Fire. George Reddington drove the first automobile in St. Augustine and also owned the Gonzales-Alvarez House (aka the Oldest House Museum) before selling it to the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1918.

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Read more about the article Oldest House Museum – St. Augustine, FL

Oldest House Museum – St. Augustine, FL

We were back in St. Augustine getting Thing 1 moved into her dorm for her second year at Flagler College. Since move-in was a much simpler process this year, we had the entire afternoon to do whatever we wanted. We decided to tour The Oldest House Museum and St. Augustine Distillery. 

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Read more about the article Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, FL

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument – St. Augustine, FL

In a previous post, I described touring Fort Matanzas, which protected St. Augustine’s back door. However, no visit to St. Augustine is complete without touring Castillo de San Marcos. Built over 450 years ago by the Spaniards, the Castillo is the oldest stone fortification in the US.

The Spanish Period

The 20-acre fort, with 30-foot high coquina walls, fronts Matanzas Bay just north of St. Augustine’s city center. Although Pedro Menendez de Aviles founded the city in 1565, construction didn’t begin until over a century later in 1672. Fortunately, construction finished just in time to protect the city from future attacks.

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Read more about the article Fort Matanzas National Monument – St. Augustine, FL

Fort Matanzas National Monument – St. Augustine, FL

Castillo de San Marcos in the historic part of St. Augustine remains a top tourist spot. However, many don’t know about St. Augustine’s other fort, sometimes called the “back door of St. Augustine,” Fort Matanzas.

For starters, Fort Matanzas is harder to reach. Located about fifteen miles south of St. Augustine on Anastasia Island, visitors must take a five-minute ferry ride to see the coquina watchtower. Purchasing tickets online isn’t an option either as the National Park Service distributes them on a first-come, first-serve basis. However, with fewer tourists, a visit to Fort Matanzas provides an enjoyable experience.

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