Black Skimmer
AMERICA’S OLDEST CITY: THE CHARMS OF HISTORIC ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA
Stu and I attended the 2019 Florida Birding and Photo Fest in St. Augustine, Florida and were totally captivated by the birds, the city, the food and the residents of America’s oldest city! The charms of historic St. Augustine, Florida will keep you enthralled, no matter what your interests! St. Augustine is America’s oldest city and has 400 years of history and culture to enjoy! This city dates from 1563! Of course, we had heard of Juan Ponce de Leon, Sir Francis Drake, Henry Flagler and the Timucua Indians. What we didn’t know is that all are a part of the history of the coastline between…
BEAUTY AND THE BEASTLY: INDUSTRIAL SLAVERY AT ARCADIA MILL in MILTON, FLORIDA
We felt as if we were just walking through a nature park at Arcadia Mill in Milton, Florida. We were actually visiting Florida’s first and largest antebellum industrial complex! There is beauty in the Arcadia Mill woods but also the beastly in the Mill’s history. A large part of Arcadia Mill’s history is industrial slavery. The Arcadia Mill site was a huge complex with various mills, a grist mill, a blackmithshop, a mule-drawn railroad and a sixteen-mile long log flume! The vast complex was built and operated with industrial slavery. The industrial site began with a sawmill. It grew to have a second sawmill. Later, a textile mill was run…
6 PLACES TO SEE IN ONE OF FLORIDA’S OLDEST TOWNS: MILTON, FLORIDA
Tiny towns are not for everyone. Stu and I love them. Many times, they are a window into the lifestyles of yesteryear both architecturally and culturally. They just FEEL different! The vibe is laid-back and personal. Such towns have survived much longer than we, as visitors have and seem to boast a happy contentment that they will survive long after we are gone. Milton, Florida is nothing special and yet, it is! Milton is “old-time” Florida and has blocks of historic homes and storefronts that lead to the Blackwater River waterfront. This is a sleepy town on the water where life is secure and peaceful. Milton can trace its history back to…
FORT PICKENS: Santa Rosa ISLAND, FLORIDA
Fort Pickens National Park is at one end of the Florida National Scenic Trail on Santa Rosa Island in The Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Fort is an historic and scenic treasure! This part of Florida has the largest collection of 1800s forts and batteries open to the public of any national park. It doesn’t matter if you are looking for history, nature, hikes, sugar white sand beaches, fishing, biking or birdwatching-Fort Pickens has it all. Don’t forget to take your grandchildren! This is a great stop for seniors with their extended families! HISTORY A Military Strategy After the War of 1812, the United States decided…