St. Augustine, Florida

Bright and early, we were the first ones at the fort when it opened the next morning.  We had to wait a little while for the Rangers to get there and open everything up (yeh, we were really early), but in my opinion it was totally the way to go.  So peaceful and no crowds at all.

Also, there were dolphins jumping and playing just off to the side around the boats...not a bad show while we waited :).

Once the gates were opened, the kids quickly found the Ranger inside with the books.  All set to do their Jr. Rangers, we started exploring each different part of the fort...

carved into the wall of that dark, dark room...

Up on the top, the views were great :).  The kids enjoyed investigating each nook and cranny while I enjoyed watching their delight...

...then they were approached by this guy:

He was super nice and freely offered some great facts about the cannons and the fort itself.  But the kids, hahaha!, they just weren't sure what to make of this guy in the strange outfit ;).  BTW...it was SO HOT that day!!!  Which made it even more strange to them because he was wearing the long suit...but he did say he had some iced tea in that mug, that helps :).

Back down stairs...

how we do school <3

Some of the original paint was still visible on the walls of the interior rooms.  Very cool...

a picture of what the room above originally looked like

When we had seen everything and the kids had completed their books, we made another stop at the Ranger desk for badges, etc, then we set out to see some more of the city.

We left our car in the pay lot at the fort and walked over into the heavily touristed area.  Everyone was hungry and we had heard about a tiny little place called the Spanish Bakery that serves up delicious empanadas and cinnamon cookies.  Had we not known it was there and been looking for it, we would have never found it.  It is hidden behind a wall with a small sign hanging over the edge.  Once you find the entrance, you enter a courtyard with a little house type structure at the back.  That is the bakery.  We each got a basket of food and took it to some tables in the courtyard.  So good :)...

After lunch, we decided to walk over to Flagler College and take the guided tour.  We didn't know what to expect, only that the building is really old and beautiful.  That was enough for us :)...

It wasn't really clear as to where to go, but you just follow the sidewalk to the gates, cross the courtyard, and enter through the big doors.  Inside and to the left is a little shop where you can purchase your ticket.  Then you wait in the foyer for the tour to start...

It was such a fancy place :).  An old luxury hotel from the 1800's turned into a college.  Stained glass, murals, crystal, carvings, paintings...just every inch of it draped in beautiful old goodness...

all the history was a little much for Tris ;)...

Our tour guide was a female student and she kept nudging Trevor to apply at Flagler.  I don't think she realized that he will only be a high school freshman this year ;).

After our tour, we headed back down St. George Street for a little shopping.  The kids had spotted a candy store earlier that they wanted to check out, so we did.

Then we decided to grab some take out for dinner from the Columbia and call it a day.  Their 1905 Salad is delicious (and now I want one...).

We made it back to our room just as the sky opened up and it started raining HARD.  Good thing we left when we did :).