St. Augustine Florida, The Oldest City in the U.S.

St. Augustine Florida – The City Interesting

St. Augustine is one of the most interesting cities in the U.S. and offers something for everyone.  Whether you’re a history buff, a fashionista, a foodie, or a beach-a-holic, St. Augustine is a great place to visit for a day, a week, or forever!

Having spent a number of years in the central Florida area, St. Augustine made for a frequent and fabulous day trip.  We like history, so our trips usually focused on old St. Augustine.  St. Augustine was founded in 1565 by the Spanish, and is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in the continental U.S.

Old St. Augustine has some hidden gems:

• The Spanish Bakery offers fresh baked bread, a choice of sandwiches, and our favorite, picadillo. It’s a great spot to catch a very reasonably priced quick lunch with young children.  Picnic tables under a historic cedar tree provide a relaxed atmosphere.  It’s easy to miss in the hustle and bustle of old St. Augustine, so look closely and find it at 42 ½ St. George Street!

Picadillo at Spanish Bakery in St. Augustine

• Savannah Sweets – What can you say about Savannah Sweets? The enticing smell of freshly made pralines wafts throughout St. Augustine.  Free samples of their delightful confections are available.  Don’t forget to bring some home for friends ?  Or if you’re feeling charitable, mail me a pound!
• The Columbia Restaurant – “The best soup in the world” is how my daughter described the Spanish Bean Soup when she was 10 years old.  The Columbia Restaurant is in the heart of the St. Augustine historic district.  The Spanish/Cuban cuisine never disappoints, whether for lunch or dinner.  The ambiance is glorious, with dining rooms with hand-painted tiles and the sound of water spilling from Spanish-style fountains.  Whether fresh seafood, roast pork, or the “best soup in the world,” if your experience is like the many we have had at the Columbia, you will want to return! Best tip?  Call ahead for reservations.  See my Spanish Bean Soup in a Crockpot recipe at the bottom of this post.
• Don’t forget to check out the gift shop at the Columbia, which is fun to browse or to pick up an unusual souvenir or gift. I use these teapot measuring spoons almost every day.  They are a useful and special memento of a wonderful day in St. Augustine.

Measuring Spoons from the Columbia Gift Shop

Teapot Measuring Spoons from the Columbia Gift Shop

• The Fountains of St. Augustine. Kids and adults alike love the fountains of St. Augustine.  Frogs and Turtles adorn this fountain.
  

  Detail Frog Fountain St. Augustine

  

  Frog Fountain St. Augustine

  

  Turtle in Fountain St. Augustine

• Enjoy the grounds and buildings of Flagler College. Strolling through the grounds and buildings of Flagler College is a lovely way to spend a morning or afternoon.

Flagler College St Augustine

St Augustine Arches

St Augustine Rotunda

• The Castillo de San Marcos is a National Monument. The Castillo is unique in North American architecture. It is the oldest masonry fortress in the United States and is an example of the “bastion” fortification system. The Castillo is one of only two fortifications in the world built out of coquina, which is a type of limestone.  If forts interest you, also check out the only other Coquina fortification at Fort Matanzas National Monument just 15 miles south of St. Augustine.
• Interested in trying out the “best soup in the world?” If you can’t make it to St. Augustine and the Columbia Restaurant right away, try my recipe:

St. Augustine Inspired Spanish Bean Soup Recipe in a Crock Pot

• 1 Beef Bone
• 1 Ham Bone
• 3 Fifteen Ounce Cans of Garbanzo Beans
• 1 can of Water
• 1 teaspoon of Onion Powder
• 8 ounces of Chorizo Sausage – cooked and drained
• 1 Cup Finely Cubed Ham
• 2 Cups Finely Cubed Red Potatoes
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Add the 3 cans of garbanzo beans, ham bone, beef bone, 1 can of water, and the onion powder to the crock pot and cook on high for two hours (or until a garbanzo bean is soft and easily crushed with a fork).

While the beans are cooking, cook the chorizo sausage in a frying pan, using a spatula to ensure that the sausage is finely separated and not in large chunks.  Drain the chorizo of most of the oil.

Add the finely cubed potatoes, ham, and chorizo to the crock pot.  Cook for an additional 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper to taste.

St. Augustine Florida – All of this and so much more!

This post just provides an overview of what is so wonderful about St. Augustine.  Stay tuned for more posts on the oldest city in the United States.