A Walking Vacation: Saint Augustine, Florida

Driving can ruin a vacation. You get lost, you're unfamiliar with the layout of the roads. You have to pay for parking. How can you enjoy your vacation if you're in your car?? Saint Augustine, Florida, takes the stress out of your vacation. Just park your car and forget it until it's time to go.

Saint Augustine, the oldest permanent European settlement in North America, is a walker's paradise. (And even if you're not a big walker, everything is so close, it's easy to get to, even for the biggest couch potato) Its historic district is chock full of bed and breakfasts, shops, restaurants, and historic sites. And you don't need to drive from one place to another!

If you're staying in Saint Augustine, it's pretty much required that you stay in a bed and breakfast to get the whole old-world experience. I recommend the Agustin Inn (well-decorated rooms, Jacuzzi tubs, tasty breakfast, free umbrella-loan for those sudden Florida storms), but there are oodles to choose from. After unloading your luggage, park your car (parking lots are hard to come by in this teeny town, so you may have to park several blocks away) and forget about it!

Walking from one end of the historic district to the other takes only 15 to 20 minutes, depending on how many stops you make. On the west side of the district, you'll find the beautiful Flagler College (once a hotel opened by railroad magnate Henry Flagler-his influence is everywhere in Saint Augustine), other upscale hotels, and the Old Saint Augustine Village, my pick for just enough history on a short trip. This restored one-block village represents historic artifacts and buildings, which you can peruse on a self-guided tour.

For lunch, make your way east, to the Atlantic Ocean, and take your pick of restaurants, most of which serve freshly caught seafood. We ate fresh grouper sandwiches and crab cakes at A1A Aleworks, enjoying one of their local brews while taking in the view of the port.

Along St. George Street, you'll find a variety of shops carrying antiques, home décor, clothing, and my favorite, fudge! Savannah Sweets, a store that originated in (obviously) Savannah, Georgia, will draw you in with its mouthwatering aroma of chocolate confections. Sample as much as you can, then buy the rest!

Drop your shopping bags off at your B&B, take a rest, then head to the Castillo de San Marcos, built in 1672. This impressive edifice served as an outpost for the Spanish Empire, and saw its share of battles. History buffs will enjoy walking through and viewing the many exhibits.

For dinner, treat yourself! You deserve it after a long day's walk. Try something exotic at Columbia Restaurant, on St. George Street. This is truly a beautiful restaurant, with Spanish tiles and open architecture, but it is the food that will keep your attention. Try their famous Columbia's Original "1905" Salad and Paella a la Valenciana, a plentiful rice dish filled with a variety of seafood. They have a gift shop that sells some of the tasty treats you sampled at dinner. Make sure and buy the bag of after dinner chocolate mints.

Just across from Columbia is Sangria's (upstairs from Café Hidalgo). If you've never had sangria (wine, fruit and assorted liquors), this is a great place to have your first. Their menu deviates from the traditional red sangria, and includes green apple, raspberry, and spiced sangrias. Try them all, accompanied by tapas and live music.

Whew! After a day like this, you've probably forgotten your car. And that's just fine.

There are dozens of other historic sites, museums, and restaurants in Saint Augustine other than the ones I mentioned. You'll just have to visit again and again to see it all!