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Whether young lovers or
just young at heart, romance can undoubtedly be found at
the dreamy Casa de Suenos in Florida’s historic city of
St. Augustine. The first impression of this cozy
bed and breakfast is one of a sheltered haven from the
hustle and bustle of larger towns, lodgings, and the
interstate left far behind. From wherever you may
have come, the pastel yellow stucco welcomes you in the
warmth that is echoed within by its soft colonial decor. As you enter side entrance
to the house, the stylish sunroom to the left is just
the first invitation to relax. The six guest rooms
upstairs and one on the main floor welcome the weary
traveler whether staying for a weekend or weeks at a
time. Like many Bed & Breakfast
of period build and design, access to the rooms follows
a narrow wooden staircase with an equally petite
hallway. Instantly, on seeing the big puffy
pillows and quilts, my tired bones smiled as I dropped
my suitcase and plunked down on the heavenly bed.
A late-night snack and port wine were left in the room
to ease us into sleep.
After a good night’s rest
we were ready to explore St. Augustine, but not before a
delicious, hearty breakfast buffet. We sat among
the other inn guests where the conversation was friendly
and inviting. Some, we found, returned year after
year. The inn’s host, Linda, graciously met every
need. The generous portion of
gently scrambled eggs melted in my mouth. I added some
velvety yogurt with fresh fruits, and I was ready for my
day. St Augustine offers many
and varied experiences. Located just blocks from The
Colonial Quarter, Casa De Suenos lies within effortless
access to the city. Walk to Cuna St, then to St.
George Street which is the main route through the
quarter. Our stroll took us past a
pirate shop, a purveyor of Panama hats, and a
candy store 
We shopped at some of the quaint stores like Go
Fish, a company that purchases most of the items they
sell from the indigenous people of developing nations.
We were unable to leave The Spice & Tea Exchange where
the pungent aromas of freshly ground spices played in
our noses, without buying little bags of the peppers,
chilis, and paprikas. The wooden wind chimes at
Earthbound Trading Company called to us like Sirens, and
we eagerly added them to our bounty. The Colonial Quarter
offers an immersion into the colonist life in early St.
Augustine history. The sights and sounds of blacksmiths,
gunsmiths, and rustic living greeted us as we stepped
through the gates back in time. 
No trip to St. Augustine is complete without a
stop at the Castillo de San Marcos or “The Fort.”.
Despite chilly winds, the view from the parapets was
incredible and well worth the extra jacket that day.
The bright blue sky and endless horizon belied the fact
of nippy weather. What was once the stately
Hotel Ponce de Leon, is now Flagler College,
A liberal college that has recently added a new program
for the first master’s degree program in Deaf Education, as well as a museum with
an outstanding collection from its original period.
The museum tour starts in the enormous, stately
courtyard with red clay tiled roof, gargoyles and a
frog-festooned fountain that doubles as a sundial.
Once inside, the grand
lobby reveals detailed architectural carvings and a
rotunda with decorated with intricate murals depicting
scenes of eight female figures representing the four
elements - Fire, Earth, Air and Water - and the four
stages of Spanish exploration. 
The dining room is one of the most beautiful
collections of Tiffany Glass to be found. Each
window in this round gathering place is an exquisite
piece of art. Even as we sat among the students
scattered about, it was hard to imagine this as a
college cafeteria. The young people we encountered
here, some guiding the tours, demonstrate a deep pride
and appreciation for their environs. We visited the St.
Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum and if you are
fit or adventurous enough you can brave the climb) to
the top, 219 steps (I counted each one as I went) for a
panoramic and awe-inspiring view. 
The less adventurous, and more earthbound, enjoyed
the stories and historical aspects of the family who
tended the lighthouse in its early years. A lovely gift
shop sends you off with maritime memorabilia. 
While it may not start out on everyone’s top list
of things to do, we could not miss St. Augustine
Alligator Farm Zoological Park. So, with a bit of
a giggle, we crossed the highway from the museum. The
farm entertained us as a delight for both young and old.
Daring children (or adults) have the option of
navigating the park on zip lines and rope courses above. Despite its name, and
though the star attractions are the alligators lounging
atop one another in scattered heaps, the grounds are
teeming with a variety of species. We saw macaws,
parrots, pythons, lemurs, exotic birds, and reptiles. 
Ours was much too brief of a visit, but that gives
us even better reason to return soon. Thank you,
St. Augustine, for your warm hospitality. Links to attractions
mentioned in this article:
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Public Disclosure--
Please Read I recently learned of a FTC law requiring web sites to let their readers know if any of the stories are "sponsored" or compensated. American Roads and Global Highways' feature writers are professional travel writers. As such we are frequently invited on press trips, also called fam trips. Most of the articles here are results of these trips. On these trips most of our lodging, dining, admissions fees and often plane fare are covered by the city or firm hosting the trip. It is an opportunity to visit places we might not otherwise be able to visit and bring you a great story. However, no one tells us what to write about those places. All opinions are 100% those of the author of that feature column. |
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