Museum . The Oldest House Museum is a complex that offers guided tours every half hour . Expect to see an authentic colonial kitchen and ornamental garden and museum , while receiving an overview of the culture and history of St . Augustine .
For a truly unique “ Old Florida ” experience , visit Genung ’ s Fish Camp located in Crescent Beach . A destination for Floridians since 1948 , Genung ’ s offers a fully stocked bait and tackle shop for anglers . Owner-operators Adam and Janine Morley both St . Augustine natives , have updated the traditional experience adding a fleet of kayaks and paddle boards for rent and space to host public and private events on the lawn along the Matanzas River .
Fish camps are a coastal tradition dating back to the early 20th century when entrepreneurs noticed farmers and factory
Chris Bodor with students at Trinity Early Learning Center - Read a Child a Poem Day - at the Ancient City Poets
the last Sunday of each month at the Dondanville Road location of the Kookaburra Coffee Shop . “ Poets and poetry lovers have been
gathering monthly since August of 2009 ,” Bodor says .
If a leisurely drive is more to your liking , consider a trip along the A1A Scenic and Historic Coast Byway . The Byway runs from the northern border of St . Johns County , south through Flagler County and is one of only two “ All American Roads ” in Florida , designated as such by the U . S . Department of Transportation for its incredible oceanside views and stunning scenery .
Other notable St . Johns ’ attractions include the Fort Matanzas National Monument , the St . Augustine Lighthouse , Lightner Museum and The Oldest House workers , often with their families , fishing along the banks of waterways . It didn ’ t take long for shacks to appear where , for a small fee , you could clean and sometimes even cook your fish . From the Great Depression up until the development of bigger family attractions in the 1970s , fish camps grew to be a coastal tradition with coastal property owners and entrepreneurs offering fishing gear and boats for rent and simple cottages for inexpensive family stays .
Perfectly suited for family fun outdoors , local traffic and visits
Above : Fort Mantazas National Monument , a stronghold constructed to protect Matanzas inlet which leads the way to the south entrance of St . Augustine
Left : The spiral staircase inside the historic St . Augustine Lighthouse , which opened in 1874 on Lighthouse Avenue in St . Augustine , Florida
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