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Why You Should Visit Saint Augustine, Florida

Saint Augustine is located in Northeast Florida and was founded in 1565 by Ponce De Leon Menedez, a Spanish explorer. It is the oldest city in the U.S continuously occupied by European settlers. This was 42 years before the English colonized Jamestown and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The city has undergone numerous transforms since it's founding. It was briefly ruled by the British. In the 1800's the Sunshine State was given over to the United States by the Spanish. In the 1880's, Saint Augustine became a winter resort town for the northern elite, following the expansion of the railroad by Henry Flagler. In the 1960's, the town was a pivotal point in the civil rights movement. Martin Luther King was arrested at Bayfront Hotel, after protesting segregation laws.

Fast forward to today, Saint Augustine is often ranked as one of the best towns to visit in the US. It has become a hot spot for the arts, music, historical sites, and themed attractions.

1. Historical Sightseeing

There is much to do and see in the oldest city. You can walk the narrow streets of downtown while visiting sights like The Oldest Schoolhouse, Castillo De San Marcos, Oldest Jail, Fountain of Youth, Colonial Quarter, Government House, and historical churches.  

2. Live Music

Walk into almost any bar in Saint Augustine and you will be entertained by live artists. The Colonial Oak Music Park at Colonial Quarter features musical performances Thursdays through Sundays. Many shows are often free or low cost. The Saint Augustine Amphitheatre features well-known artists. A few of the recent performances have included Yanni, Styx, Beach Boys and Steve Miller Band.  

3. Great Places to eat

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KitMuSabZ98

Whether you want to eat on the beach, downtown or in town, there are plenty of great dining options to choose from.  If you choose to eat on the beach, Salt Life Food Shack and Gas Full Service are a big hit. Some of the best dining options are located downtown and include Preserved, Uptown Scratch Kitchen, The Floridan and Blue Hen Cafe.

If eating in town is more your speed, Present Moment, Ned's and Schooner's are popular among the locals.

4. Shopping

Saint Augustine is home to two outlet malls located right off of State Rd 16 and I-95, making it a quick stopping point if you are traveling.  Downtown has lots of creative and unique stores such as Amistad, The Shell Shop, Spice and Tea Exchange and Market to Market. The first Friday of every month, the art galleries in town participate in First Friday Artwalk. Galleries often serve wine and. High Tide Gallery features all local artists, James Coleman, Tripp Harrison, Butterfield Art Garage, Simple Gestures, are also great places to visit. 

5. Florida Nature

Wildlife is abundant in Saint Augustine. Take a trip to Washington Oak Garden State Park, Anastasia State Park, and Faver-Dykes State Park are all located nearby. The ancient city is the perfect place to enjoy Florida’s waterways, nature trails, and wildlife.

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Lover trees of St. Augustine.

Surprisingly this pair is not the only couple of intertwining flora in St. Augustine.

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The old city gates of St. Augustine. Apparently, they are also haunted like everything else in St. Augustine.

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#throwbackthursday

Costa Rica was an entire month ago.

And I still can’t stop thinking of the people, the wildlife, and this beanbag chair in the shape of an actual beanbag.

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Beer always tastes better when it’s artfully photographed.

At Dog Rose Brewery, St. Augustine.

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The Narrowest Street In The U.S.

Little known fact, Treasury Street in St. Augustine is considered the narrowest street in the US.

Believe it or not, the street was originally designed to fend off pirates.

At 7 feet, it was made only wide enough for two men to walk 2 abreast carrying boxes of treasure, but not wide enough for a horse-drawn carriage to come and carry off the treasure. 1

1. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/treasury-street

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15 Essential Items To Pack For Costa Rica

Packing for your trip to Costa Rica largely depends on where you plan on traveling in the country.

If you plan to travel to different areas, we highly recommend you bring a travel backpack. Suitcases usually need to be wheeled across rough terrain. And a travel bag will make your life easier. It also forces you to pack minimally since you will be carrying everything on your person. Packing cubes are also helpful for keeping everything neat in your bag.

Casual dress is best. Leave the fancy dresses and slacks at home. You will be most comfortable in breathable, light fabrics. Cotton, linen, airy athletic fabric or anything that is quick dry are best.

We also recommend you bring...

1. A Spanish Phrasebook

While it is easy to get around if you only speak English, a basic knowledge of Spanish will be very helpful for your trip. There were plenty of times we wished we were more fluent in Spanish.

If you have a smartphone, and you don’t have enough money to buy a book, 1) You poor schmuck, 2) Download the Google translate app while you’re still in the states. If you can upload Spanish before you leave, you won’t need wifi to use the app.

2. Flashlight/Headlamp

Costa Rica is close to the equator which means the sun sets around 5:30-6:00pm every day of the year. Luckily it was morning when the power went out in our very nice hostel. It is always a good idea to travel with a light source, whether it be a flashlight or a smartphone with a flashlight app. Or a laptop with a bright background you don’t mind lugging with you everywhere you go.

3. Sunscreen

Reef safe sunscreen that is at least 30 SPF.

Trust us, just wear it.

You are close to the equator which means the sunbeams are much stronger. Plus, if you find yourself in the mountains, you put yourself more at risk to sunburn.

4. Hat

If you plan to spend any time on the beach, you will want a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes. We spent most of the time touring national parks and made sure to bring a hat every time we left the hostel.

5.Sunglasses

Avoid squinting in all of your pictures. Don’t forget your sunglasses.

6. Long pants

Travel pants and yoga pants are best but jeans will work if that’s all you have. Something that is lightweight and comfortable.

Yes, it is hot but if you plan to do any trekking, pants will be a good idea to bring along. There is underbrush and sometimes, believe it or not, it does get cold!

7.Bug spray

Something with Deet is preferred.

The threat of Zika is still present in Costa Rica, especially on the Carribean coast.

8. Hiking boots/ Sturdy shoes &/or water shoes

Do not try and be minimalist by only packing flip-flops. Costa Rica is very mountainous and a pair of good sturdy shoes are a wise addition to your gear.

You don’t need a new pair of hiking boots. But a pair of tennis shoes or trainers will feel fantastic on hikes.

9. Daypack

This can be a collapsible backpack, sturdy backpack or dry bag. We always travel with our dry bags because we are paranoid about getting stuck in a rainstorm. You will want a small bag to carry around on your adventures; one you don’t mind getting muddy, sandy, or wet.

10. A mesh bag

A mesh bag is great for transporting wet clothing/swimsuits. Plastic bags are great, but they will trap moisture, which is a great way to cultivate Costa Rican mold.

11. Reusable water bottle

You can drink the water in Costa Rica. Even if you choose to buy water, Reusable water bottles, like Camelbaks, are often easier to carry.

If you’re like us and want to buy water anyway, a water bottle with a handle makes it easier to carry your fluids.

12. Activated Charcoal

We never leave home without activated charcoal.

Traveling can leave you plagued with an upset stomach with unfamiliar foods, drinks, and travel stress. Activated charcoal absorbs toxins and harmful substances in the digestive tract so you can get back to feeling your best.

13. First Aid Kit

First aid kits are always a good idea when traveling. Luckily we did not need it for this trip but were asked by other travelers for items from our kit.

14. Travel Towel

We bring our microfiber fast dry towels everywhere. They are ultralight and pack well. You never know when you will need a towel. We bought ours on Amazon.

15. Rain jacket

This is a must, especially if you are traveling during the rainy season. Columbia makes great rain jackets which pack well. If you’re looking for something cheap, Frogg Toggs are great.

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A Note On Toilets In Costa Rica

Americans are lucky.  

We have the luxury of plumbing systems capable to withstand toilet paper flushed down our pipes.

American toilets may be able to withstand toilet paper, but don’t flush anything you want down the loo in Costa Rica. Here is a PSA from the city of Spokane, Washington about flushing other common bathroom products down the toilet.

If you’ve spent time in countries where the plumbing is not great, you are probably used to placing used toilet paper in a wastebasket. In most Latin American countries you can not throw wastepaper in the toilet.

Costa Rica is no exception. There are a few resorts in Costa Rica which have the plumbing systems to support toilet paper, however,  most of the country does not have adequate pipes and pressure to prevent a blockage. If you see a wastebasket next to the toilet, it is best to throw all paper away.

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Cahuita National Park: Is it Worth it?

In short: Yes, yes, absolutely yes.

To enter the park you need only pay a suggested donation.

The lands feature the best of the three distinct environments of the area: beaches, tropical forests, and swamps

The land is maintained to high standards. And you will frequently encounter the parks employees along the trail.

The entrance may be swamped with tourists. But after two beach-side water crossings, we found ourselves walking along a remote trail. Bring footwear you can easily remove (or water shoes) unless you’re okay walking only a short distance then turning back.

Beware of the white-headed Capuchins here. They are accustomed to treats from guests (which is strictly prohibited) and will jump on you if they think you have food. Also, do not bring food.

The hiking is easy, and there are frequent places to stop along the trail.

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Cabinas Palmer Makanda

Cabinas Palmer Makanda is an adorable hotel in Cahuita walking distance from Cahuita National Park.

Each room features a garden view and includes a small terrace with table and chairs and a hammock. It is certainly not a 5-star place but by Central American standards, the place is clean.

The rooms have television, wardrobe, and private bathroom. There is shared kitchen which can get busy in the mornings but is well stocked with cookware.

The shared garden space features multiple tables where guests can eat, play board games, socialize, or spend time on their laptops while drinking the unlimited coffee throughout the day. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The only downside is there is no hot water. Aside from that, it was one of our favorite places to stay in Costa Rica. For the price, you really can’t beat it. Probably one of the best places to stay in Cahuita.

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#monteverdecloudforest #costarica #travel #monteverde #monteverdecloudforest #continentaldivide

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Costa Rican Currency Breakdown

As of writing this article, the exchange rate in Costa Rica is 1 US dollar to about 566 colónes (Ka-Lone-Ness).

Depending on where you go in the country, the exact exchange will differ from city to city. For example, in Monteverde, the exchange is about 565 colónes to 1 dollar, but in San Gerardo by Mount Chirripó, the rate is about 560 to 1. Even though most places will accept American currency, it’s best to carry around some colónes on your person. Some places can arbitrarily set the rate to whatever they choose, like a bus station in San Isidro who decided the exchange rate was 500.

The money is beautiful and each bill is a different color.

Don’t get tripped up with “Mil.” You’re not giving someone a bill for 50 million colónes. “Mil” is simply Spanish for a “thousand.”

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Cahuita At A Glance

You may notice Cahuita and surrounding towns are almost like stepping into another country. The land is flat, and there is a culture shift in the people who live there from the people who live inland.

The Afro-Caribbean culture resembled more closely an island town in Jamaica or Grand Cayman than the mountainous villages of central Costa Rica. The menus are full of delicious rum drinks and the music is reggae.

The locals here speak some form of English, Spanish, French, and Italian.

Everything opens around 10 or 11. Yes, even breakfast places.

It’s a very relaxed environment where you won’t be hassled by local shop owners or people posing as cab drivers.

If you haven’t seen a Sloth yet, this is the place you will see it. We saw one in a tree next to a restaurant. We saw about 4 more in Cauhuita National Park.

Please, please,  don’t miss the national park. You could literally crawl to it from almost anywhere in town. Just walk south and you’ll realize you arrived.

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Nothing says, “I love you” like eating eggs.

#huevos #eggs #puravida #costarica #travel #travelersfootnote #love

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#monteverdecloudforest #costarica #travel #monteverde #monteverdecloudforest #continentaldivide

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A quick stop in Puerto Viejo

Caribeans in and of itself would make a trip to Puerto Viejo worth it.1

They have a full tour of their chocolate farms and facilities starting around 11. It’s also a full cafe.

Tripadvisor

We chose to stay in Cahuita, Puerto Viejo’s quiet little sister. Both towns have a reggae easygoing vibe to them. If you want more options for food (bakeries and all you eat sushi) shopping (tourist shops galore) and want to visit a spa, Puerto Viejo is probably the place for you.

We would definitely recommend visiting Puerto Viejo for an afternoon, but we were both glad to be staying in quiet Cahuita.

1. If only to stand in the air-conditioning and eat free samples.

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Puerto Viejo Beach

Great for surfing, if that nug is your sick-vibe, bra.