When travelling, there are always locations that I look forward to more than others. These are the places that I meticulously plan and prepare for because I want to be able to get as much out of them as possible. Places I’ve dreamt of visiting for a long time such as Austin or New Orleans. The kind of places that top my bucket list for years before I finally make a point to get there.
Then there are the places and their moments that are discovered in a completely organic way. The bits and pieces that leave a smile on your face and create stories to tell your friends and family when you arrive home. The joy of driving across the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time. Having your first kolache in Houston and craving a dozen more. Meeting the caretaker of Lafayette Cemetery and having him take the time out of his day to give you a personal tour.
St. Augustine, Florida was such a surprise to us. We first heard about it when discussing the last leg of our trip with my Aunt; we were leaving Orlando, stopping in the Everglades and then heading up to Jacksonville for a final night in Florida. She mentioned that we should stop in this little town just south of Jacksonville and at least walk around the downtown area, if nothing else. It was really pretty and full of history, two of the most important things we look for when we are planning a trip. And Ryan and I had just agreed to always take the advice of locals when it’s given, and my Aunt definitely qualifies as a local.
After a disastrous night in the Everglades, we needed pretty. We needed something that would rejuvenate us, because we were certainly feeling down. We had a million bug bites and about two hours of sleep between us, and it would have been sad to end our road trip on a low note. We were only stopping in Jacksonville to sleep before driving 13 hours to Pennsylvania. We needed a high note, and St. Augustine provided just that.
The McVagabonds 