When we first rolled into Florida, Jackson was coincidentally learning about Spanish conquistadors exploring the Americas and first landing in Florida. This included Ponce de Leon and the fabled Fountain of Youth and the “land of flowers” the Spanish saw when they arrived, inspiring Florida’s name. It was therefore really cool to be able to visit the Spanish settlement of St. Augustine that Jackson had just learned about. It’s the oldest continuously inhabited city settled by Europeans in the States. Experiences like this bring learning to life and make it hands-on! (And it turns out that Ponce de Leon’s most important contribution was actually discovering and writing home about the Gulf Stream.)

The Castillo de San Marcos is the Spanish fortress built to defend St. Augustine from pirates and British expansion. It is presently a national monument and a really fascinating place to visit. We all enjoyed it. The cannon was a fairly new weapon of the times, and the Castillo has many types and sizes. The fort was built in a star shape in order to provide cross-fire defense in all directions, and no invasion ever made it past the moat. (And it was put under siege more than once.) Jackson earned his Junior Ranger badge here!

GRILLED CHEESE

We ate at an eclectic grilled cheese place that is totally worth mentioning. As in a whole restaurant based on serving grilled cheese sandwiches. It’s called Sarbez and is located on Anastasia Blvd in St. Augustine. We had the Grilly Philly (cheesesteak grilled cheese sandwich) and the Hashton Kutcher (sausage and egg grilled cheese). The seating is all reused furniture – nothing matches – and there’s a stage for live music. There is also an arcade. The “smart” Pong table is so much fun and unlike anything we’d seen or played before, and there are seven pinball machines—Jackson’s first experience with pinball!

ANASTASIA STATE PARK

The place to go to experience pristine, undeveloped Floridian beaches. Entrance fee was $8 per vehicle. The park is located on a peninsula of Anastasia Island across the bay from St. Augustine. After visiting man-made historical sites in the area, walking along the shoreline here allows the mind to imagine a time over five hundred years ago when ships first sailed to the New World. Landing on a foreign shore – this very one – empty of cities, towns, buildings, and crowds.