It’s been some time since I’ve sat down to write a blog post and while it was a nice break, I have missed being here. Let’s catch up, shall we? We returned from Florida the first week in December. After we left Joie Inn on Anna Maria Island we drove to our son’s home in Jacksonville, FL for a little over a week to spend Thanksgiving with him.
Our Nate is a fabulous host and loves to show people around the area. Since he lives in Jacksonville and commutes to St. Augustine to teach 3rd grade, he has plenty of great places to share with visitors. If you or someone you know is heading to Jacksonville or St. Augustine this list will give you a few ideas of things to do and see beyond the obvious ones in either city. In addition to the ideas below, you can read a previous post with information HERE.
On each visit to the area we like to spend a day in our Nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine. We enjoy walking through the old city area and down St. George Street and stopping for a UFO (think amazing taco-like sandwich) at Burrito Works. This year we enjoyed the Nights of Lights in St. Augustine. I love the origins of this tradition…..
“Nights of Lights in St. Augustine traces its origins back to the traditional Spanish practice of displaying a white candle in windows during the Christmas holidays. Candles in the window allude to the fact that Mary and Joseph could find no inn that would give them shelter. When the Spanish put candles in their windows, they were symbolically making room in their homes and hearts for Jesus.It also reflects the welcoming attitude of the holiday season, showing that guests are welcome to the home. The stunning lights reflect the city’s over 450 years of history.” — (Credit: www.visitstaugustine.com)
Grabbing a delicious coffee is a typical priority for us, especially when we can grab a cup at Kookaburra Coffee. Their signature, Honey Badger Latte with honey, cinnamon, and vanilla is amazing! We got it hot, but you can also get it iced.
In Jacksonville, we toured the Cummer Art Museum which had a fabulous new exhibit. Imagine a literal curtain of dried flowers wired together.
The Chamblin book mine is always on our list of places to visit in Jax. It is a used bookstore that you just have to experience to believe! You can read a previous post HERE about our last visit.
I was very excited to attend the Renninger’s Antique Market in Mount Dora, Florida. It was a fun day trip in a pretty setting. I managed to bring home a few treasures that I’ll share in a future post. I’ll also share my tips on getting treasures home!
What’s a Florida visit without a beach day or two? One of my favorite Jacksonville area beaches is Mickler’s Landing at Ponte Vedra Beach. Mickler’s (proun. Mike-lers) is a guarantee to find sea glass, shark teeth and a never ending supply of shells. You all probably know by now that I am a collector of sea glass and shells, and the occassional piece driftwood or dried plant – this beach is a collector paradise. On this beach trip convinced myself that I didn’t need any more shells. Then I saw the pretty blue shells. I had never seen so many blue shells on Ponte Vedra beach, so of course I had to pick up a few. handfuls.
After we returned from our Florida adventures we found ourselves a bit behind in the Christmas preparations. All our kids and their families joined us this year so there was baking to do, preparing beds and bedrooms for everyone, meal planning, gift buying and decorating on my list. Having everyone together is my favorite and I like to spoil them all as much as I can.
The holiday decorations are all tucked in the attic until next year. I’ve signed up for a few art classes and have been gathering supplies hoping to have everything by next week. I’m excited to try something new. Thanks for hanging out with me and following along!
