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Florida was the earliest real Spanish possession in North America. As a matter of fact, the oldest continually inhabited city in North America is in Florida: St Augustine. Spain established the city in 1565 and it’s been occupied ever since. By Spain, by England briefly, by the Confederacy briefly, and more permanently by the United States. St Augustin is near Jacksonville on the Atlantic Coast of Florida and the easiest way to reach the town is to turn east off of I-95 onto Hwy 16 if you’re coming in from the North or Hwy 207 if you’re headed up from the South.
St Augustine has all the usual activities available that you would expect from an eastern seaboard Florida town, but what makes St Augustine unique is the historical flavor. Where else in America can you play on the beach, and then tour a Spanish fort that was used continuously for over 200 years? Castillo de San Marcos National Monument is an amazing place. First constructed in 1672, the fort was in service all the way until 1900 when it was taken off the active duty register. Almost 500 of Geronimo’s Chiricahua Apaches were imprisoned there in the 1890’s, and it was turned into a National Monument in 1924.
If you’re on the Panhandle side of Florida, swing by Mission San Luis in Tallahassee, FL. Only a couple miles from the current capitol building in Tallahassee, Mission San Luis has a reconstructed Spanish mission, fort, homestead, and an Appalachee Council House. Mission San Luis was first started in 1633 and remained in use until 1704 when it was destroyed by Creek Indians and South Carolinians. Added to the Register of Historic Places in 1966, it is now home to historical reenactments and living history displays where you can watch a representation of the first interactions between Native Americans and Spanish priests, soldiers, and settlers to the New World.
We hope you’ll enjoy these destinations, and remember to swing by PPL Motorhomes for all your parts and accessories.