To day it’s on to St. Augustine: Continue on north on A1A past
PAINTERS HILL
Painters Hill is an unincorporated community in Flagler County, Florida, United States. It is located just north of Beverly Beach and southeast of Palm Coast on State Road A1A. The community is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area Wikipedia.
between the Intercoastal Waterway
But did you know:
The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a 3,000-mile (4,800 km) inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Boston, Massachusetts, southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, then following the Gulf Coast to Brownsville, Texas. Some sections of the waterway consist of natural inlets, saltwater rivers, bays, and sounds, while others are artificial canals. It provides a navigable route along its length without many of the hazards of travel on the open sea. Wikipedia again.
Where you’ll find
Washington Oaks Gardens S.P. and MY Favorite Beach in Florida | ChadGallivanter
It spans the peninsula between the Atlantic and the Matanzas River which here forms part of the Inter-coastal we just mentioned. It covers 340 acres, with 2,200 ft of ocean frontage of coquina rock out cropping and marked on A1A. on the East side of the road and is named “The Rocks.
The Park has Easy access, there is an entrance fee, parking is available as are restrooms, showers, picnicking, fishing., shelters and handicapped facilities. The beach is picturesque and is said to attract many birds.
The Beach at Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
EXPLORING FLORIDA BEACHES WITH KIDS
Archaeological evidence show that native Americans lived on the Washington Oaks State Gardens for thousands of years. The hill at the top of the rose garden was found to be made up of these people’s tossing their oyster shell (among other things) onto the pile.
In 1818 Mariano Hernandez, a St. Augustine occupant of Minorcan descent, bought this land and christened it Bella VIsta. Later when Florida became part of Florida he changed his name to Joseph Marian Hernandez and became a general in the milita during the Second Seminole War.
George Lawence Washington (yes he was related to the prez) built a 2-story beach house which he used to occupy when fishing and hunting in the area—he also cultivated citrus. Developers purchased it in 1923 but before they got started on the project Florida suffered a recession from a collapse in their land boom—infact Florida went thru this several years before the Depression went full country.
In 1936 a New York designer Louse Power Clark bought the property in 1936 and was responsible for developing the formal gardens. She kept it till 1964 when she donate the land to the state of Florida. Her house “Young House” now serves as a visitor center.
Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
We continue north on AIA past Marineland Acres
This community the unincorporated community of Marineland Acres, which lies outside the boundaries of Palm Coast near Washington Oaks Gardens State Park.
We continue past
Pellicer Creek Aquatic Reserve
which is across the water way from A1A.
Anastasia Island ~ Driving on Hwy. A1A From Cresent Beach to St. Augustine Florida
Continue on over Matanzas Inlet
Onto Anastasia Island
the island is 12 miles long and less than 1 mile wide–touching the Atlantic Ocean on the east, where the fishing and swimming are excellent. On the west is Salt Run Lagoon which also contains an impressive amount of Game fish.
Fort Matanzas Offers Nature, History, Unparalleled Views
Matanza’s Beach
3 mile in length, it lies within the boundary of the National Monument (we check that next) so no alcohol allowed. Easy access, parking, swimming, fishing all on a sandy beach.
You can reach Ft. Matanzas off of A19–just watch or the signs.
The visitor’s center is on the Anastasia island side of the river. A launch goes out regularly taking visitors across to explore the small fort (the original Spanish building)
Fort Matanzas National Monument
This national site is 14 miles south of St. Augustine on Rattlesnake Island. In 1869, a wooden watchtower ad thatched hut were built here to house 6 soldiers who took turns scanning the horizon. If a ship were sighted, a runner or a man in a canoe set out to warn St. Augustine. Watching and warning was the tower’s task as it lacked armament.
Later a little island named Rattlesnake was chosen by Gov Montiano as a place to place a stone tower due to it’s defensive position just a short canon shot from the inlet channel.
Ferries cross the Matanzas Inlet to the island daily in the summer and on the weekends the rest of the year.
Historic Fort Matanzas National Monument in 4k UHD Video
French Huguenots (Protestants) had already settled at Fort Caroline on the mouth of the St. Johns River (they called it Le Mai). This was doubly bad to the Spanish who had already claimed and explored this area and who were to a man Catholic and bitter enemies to these heretic to their faith.
The French under Ribault and the Spanish under Menendez met in a preliminary skirmish at the St. Johns River on September 5, 1565..
The Spanish withdrew and sailed south to establish abase of operations that would eventually grow into St. Augustine. In the two week that followed, each side jockeyed for position. Since Ribault had numerical superiority he decided to strike before the Spanish could be reinforced. His plan was good, but his a hurricane hit which scattered his ships and threw his timing off.
Mendez struck first marching thru the storms heavy rains to capture Ft. Caroline.
Meantime the French reassembled and started after Mendez, but were stopped by the conditions of the water on the south end of Anastasia and halted further progress. While all this was going on Menendez was able to make it back to confront the French.
The French famished and weary as well as believing that the Spanish force to be much larger than that it really was, when informed that they had no fort to return with when this was over the French surrendered. On September 29, they ferried ten of the french across the inlet, where they were fed and then led behind the dunes where their hands were bound . About 200 feet down the beach Mendez drew a line in the sand indicating that the prisoners would be assembled there for a march to St. Augustine. Then they herded the prisoners down the beach and as they reached the line the Spanish fell upon the unarmed prisoners killing them. it is estimated that 111 died all of which were Protestants. The 15 who were spared all proved to be Catholic.
12 days later Ribault and his remaining men met the Spanish–while parlaying terms, half of his men fled north while he and the remainder (134 killed, 16 spared—I presume with the same classifications as before) were were killed
And that dear is how the River Matanzas, which means slaughter received it’s name
Crescent Beach, Anastasia Island – St. Augustine, Florida
Next is Cresent Beach
5 miles of shoreline from Frank B Butler Park to Ft. Matanzas National Monument Beach. Easy access, parking, restrooms, shower, picnicking, swimming lifeguards, fishing, concessions, Atlantic sandy beach, urban
.A country maintained park fronting the
water access on west side of A1A. Entrance fee, parking, restrooms and showers, picnicking, swimming, swimming, shelters, concessions
Unnamed Beach
Lies between St Augustine Beach and Butler Beach. 2 miles of undeveloped frontage accessible via street end off A1A. Fishing, Atlantic sandy beach.
Extends from Pope Rd, south to St. Augustine-by-the-Sea. Public Access at 32 locations. From St. Augustine Beach south to Matanzas Inlet, the beach has been designated a county road open to traffic and parking. There is a fishing pier. Showers, picnicking, swimming, Lifeguards, fishing, handicapped facilities, group facilities. Atlantic sandy beach. Young Crowd
Florida Travel: Time-lapse of St. Augustine Beach
Here A1A moves further from the sea as
it moves north on Anastasia Island:
Anastasia Island ~ Driving on Hwy. A1A From Cresent Beach to St. Augustine Florida
As we progress northward we’ll come to
we’ll pass the
that was once the home to the Cross and Stone–the official state play that dramatically re=created the founding of St. Augustine. It was preformed Tue-Sat at 8:30 pm June 15 – Aug 30th every summer.
In 1997, after a 32-year run, “Cross and Sword” had its final curtain call. The Amp was in poor shape with a leaky roof, holes in floors, damaged seats, peeling paint and more. In June of 1999, facing $3 million of necessary repairs to the space, the Board of Directors of Cross and Sword asked St. Johns County to assume control of the site.
After multiple government deals and contracts and major remodeling it reopened in 2006 and since then musical icons including Bob Dylan, Stevie Nicks, John Legend, Robert Plant, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Bonnie Raitt and hundreds more have graced its stage.
Anastacia – One Day in your Life (Live) @ Amphitheater Hanau 08.08.17
Then there’s the Alligator Farm
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
Here you’ll find all manner of crocodilian spies—they use to have Gomek, a giant crocodile from New Guinea. There is an elevated walk way that winds hru the rookery and over an alligator swamp.
St Augustine ~ Alligator Farm & More
and our final stop for the day
The Saint Augustine Lighthouse and Museum
Site of Florida’s first lighthouse
The shallow inlet was so treacherous the Spanish called it
Crazy Banks”. When the Spanish first came here in 1565, they built a wooden watch tower at the shallow harbor to guide ships in and to allow for a site that sentries could be stationed to warn of enemy vessels.
But it wasn’t until 1824 that the tower officially became Florida’s first lighthouse and by 1875 due to erosion weakening the structure the look out was replaced at the current site to the present one further from the eroding waves and the brick keeper’s house was added. By 1936it had been electrified. Prior to this the flame was fed by kerosene. and a system of weights were used to turn the lights. All this fuel had to be carried up 219 steps nightly.
The keeper’s house is reportedly haunted—workmen on the house saw a man hanging in the house (evidently a previous visitor in the 1930’s did die that way there). There’s also been foot steps on those 200 plus stairs and supposedly a man leaning over the tower, thought to be a keeper who fell from the tower in 1850’s.
There’s a museum in the lighthouse with maritime artifacts and some Victorian highlights. There’s also a gallery with local artist’s work. and it’s said a great view from up there—no thanks 214 stairs are not my idea of fun. Oh and don’t forget the lovely gift shop.
St. Augustine Lighthouse and Maritime Museum, St. Augustine, Florida
OK so that’s it for today—come back on Tuesday
When we continue our journey—and finally arrive in
St Augustine: St. Augustine the nation’s oldest city. where the central plaza and street plan remains almost as they were laid out in 1598 with 31 houses built in colonial times still stand.
Oh and if you stop by Friday we’ll have my bits and pieces—wandering about the possibilities with places to go now—when you gotta play it safe and can just explore virtually—-till when the mess is all over and you can plan for that with stuff that look good and gets you exploring into possibilities or to decide that’s not for you….and I try to include bits of knowledge—health stuff, and lots of other things to just cut the boredom a bit.
