TRAVELS WITH
THE WNP
Florida's First Coast
by Merrillee Whren
January is usually Super Bowl month. However,
this year the Super Bowl falls in February. So in anticipation
of the big event, I'm going to take a trip through Florida's
First Coast, the location of the host city for Super Bowl XXXIX,
Jacksonville, Florida. The area's climate is temperate. Unlike
South Florida, the northeast coast has a touch of the four
seasons with mild winters marked by very short cold spells.
However, one can usually participate in outdoor events year
round. We hope that holds true for Feb. 6, 2005, the date for
Super Bowl XXXIX.
Jacksonville, situated on both sides the banks of the St. Johns
River, is minutes from the Atlantic Ocean and miles of wide,
beautiful beaches. Sitting at the crossroads of two interstate
highways, Jacksonville is a major port, financial and insurance
center and site of U.S. Navy bases.
The region is a golfer's paradise with nearly 1,300 holes of
golf for players of all skill levels. Sawgrass, located in Ponte
Vedra Beach, is host to the world-renowned Tournament Players
Championship (TPC). Recreation of all types can be found in
Jacksonville, which has the largest urban park system in the
United States. The Jacksonville Zoo provides a walking safari
and the opportunity to experience more than 1,000 rare and
exotic creatures.
Jacksonville skyline
In Jacksonville, you can enjoy many cultural venues such as the
Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, Museum of Science and
History, Eartha M. M. White Museum at the Clara White Mission,
or the Cummer Museum and Gardens. The Cummer Museum contains
many Old Master and American paintings, beautiful formal gardens
and a renowned collection of Meissen porcelain. Jacksonville
Landing on the St. John's River is the spot for great dining,
excellent shopping, fun entertainment and a fabulous river view
in the heart of downtown Jacksonville.
Why is this area called The First Coast? The region teems with
history and contains many historical sites. It boasts the oldest
continuously occupied settlement of European origin in the
United States, St. Augustine, Florida. Ponce de Leon discovered
Florida in 1513 when he landed on the Florida coast about 25
miles south of the present site of Jacksonville. He claimed the
land for Spain but made no attempt to establish a colony at that
time as he continued his search for the Fountain of Youth. In
1564, French Huguenots settled along the St. Johns River near
present-day downtown Jacksonville and established a colony, Fort
Caroline, but they were driven out by Spanish forces in 1565.
Fort Caroline no longer exists, but a national memorial
maintained by the United States Park Service occupies the site.
Thus, St. Augustine, not Jacksonville, is now known as the
nation's oldest city.
St. Augustine is a thirty-minute drive south of Jacksonville. If
you visit, you can ride trolleys to get a narrated overview of
the area. The Castillo de San Marcos, an old fort, is an
excellent stop for history buffs. Take a walk through the
restored Spanish Quarter on Historic St. George Street
containing numerous shops and restaurants. Also nearby, you will
find outlet malls and the World Golf Village Hall of Fame
Interactive Museum and IMAX Theater.
Castillo de San Marcos
Going north from St. Augustine, you can drive along the Atlantic
Ocean on route A1A through Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville
Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Mayport, one of the
oldest fishing villages in the nation and home of the Mayport
Naval Station. At Mayport, catch the St. John's River Ferry to
continue your trip up A1A where you will encounter The Kingsley
Plantation, located on Fort George Island. Visiting here, you
will find the old plantation house, kitchen house, barn and the
ruins of 25 of the original slave cabins. The history of the
island goes back to the time of the Timucuan Indians.
As you continue the drive north, you will pass B.E.AK.S. (Bird
Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary). Nature lovers will enjoy this
wildlife rehabilitation facility that cares for sick and injured
birds. Traveling northward, you will come to the Talbot Islands
State Parks, a chain of barrier islands. The parks have miles of
beautiful beaches. Activities such as hiking nature trails,
kayaking, horseback riding, fishing and camping abound in the
parks.
Talbot Island State Park
Continuing on your northward journey, you will arrive on Amelia
Island, a charming place - 13 miles long and two miles wide.
Amelia Island is the only location in the United States to have
been under eight different flags, including the French, Spanish
and English. On the island, you can stroll along Centre Street
in historic downtown Fernandina Beach where you can shop for
souvenirs, antiques, candy, clothing or Christmas ornaments. You
can spend a night in any number of historic Victorian homes now
serving as bed and breakfasts. If you want to take in more
history, visit Fort Clinch State Park at the north end of the
island. Standing on the wall of the fort, you can see Georgia
across Cumberland Sound. The fort, used during the Civil War and
for a short time during the Spanish-American War, remains
remarkably well preserved.
Sunset on Amelia Island
Victorian bed and breakfast
After your trip up Florida's First Coast, you can return to
downtown Jacksonville and Alltel Stadium, where the Super Bowl
will be held. Stretched along the riverfront, you will find an
outdoor festival set up for the Super Bowl. Cruise ships docked
along the St. Johns River will serve as hotels for many visitors
during the big event. The excitement builds as we head toward
Super Bowl XXXIX.
If you can't visit Jacksonville during the Super Bowl, come at
another time. No matter when you come, the weather and
activities are wonderful. Take in all the sites along the First
Coast or just find a spot on one of our beautiful beaches and
relax on a beach chair with a great book by an author from the
Wet Noodle Posse.
To
read last month's Travel article, click
here
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