photo by jn1234

America’s first city, St Augustine is 39 miles south of Jacksonville. It is an important port, and a commercial and distribution center for the surrounding agricultural region, as well as a popular year-round resort.

This city of 14,100 is the oldest permanent European settlement in the nation. In 1565 Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Aviles established St Augustine and destroyed the French Huguenot community.

Later, railroad magnate Henry Flagler established the headquarters for his Florida East Coast Railroad.

Attractions include the Cathedral of St Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Fort Matanzas National Monument, and the National Cemetery. The Fountain of Youth is a 21-acre tropical park and tribute to the Spanish explorer Ponce de Le\363n. Anastasia State Recreation Area offers 1,722 acres of sand dunes and coastal scrub, with swimming, fishing, and camping.

St Augustine is serviced by Daytona International and Jacksonville International Airports.