by Peyton Palmer, Senior Student, Nease High School
2024 Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship Winner
The Ancient City, St. Augustine, hosts two million visitors annually, and is home to many local hotspots. This national landmark encompasses a multitude of hidden gardens, restaurants, and roads perfect for Instagram posts or a formal photo session! Also, knowing where the top restaurants are is key to a memorable trip.
Ben's Pretzels, St. Augustine, Florida
St. George Street is the main pedestrian only street in St. Augustine, consisting of clothing, souvenir stores, and restaurants. Off this street is Ben’s Pretzels, known for their delicious, soft pretzels. One incomparable thing this shop exhibits is their secret garden in the back. As you walk down the cobblestone path, vines hang from a small pergola with iron bistro tables. This quaint setting is perfect for people who desire greenery in their photos or even a romantic date.
As you walk down St. George Street, one of my favorite restaurants resides here: Columbia Restaurant. If you are craving Colombian style food, as well as brightly, colorful photo opportunities, this is the perfect place! The restaurant has an open two story dining room with beautiful balconies and colorful, intricate tile placed throughout the space. Located on the walls is historical artwork proclaiming Colombian culture. Furthermore, a three tier red fountain is located outside Columbia Restaurant, perfect for a classic photo shoot.
Next on my list is King Street. It runs through the heart of St. Augustine, has a park square with the Plaza Gazebo and many beautiful oak trees. Right off King Street lies a road many are unaware of: Aviles Street. This quiet cobblestone alley is perfect for street photography including casual or formal photos. I used this location for my afternoon senior photo session and it provided the perfect amount of shade. Also, a few restaurants and art galleries reside on Aviles Street. One place I have tried personally is Peace Pie. This shop specializes in homemade ice cream sandwiches with many different flavors to customize a creamy dessert.
In addition, If you are looking for seafood dining and a nice spot to enjoy the Florida outdoors, then the patio at Harry’s Seafood is the place for your next meal. This seafood restaurant has a Louisiana kick to their dishes and a beautiful courtyard providing a draped greenery backdrop for casual photos. If you run into inclement weather l recommend dining inside the repurposed St. Augustine house with a hint of Louisiana charm.
As you exit St. Augustine make sure to visit Magnolia Street. The giant oak trees create a canopy all down this road, making it a wonderful spot for formal and casual photos. This is also another spot where I took formal photos, and the lighting magnificently shines through the trees on a sunny afternoon. This road is where the famous Fountain of Youth lies, which also provides numerous photo opportunities. Uniquely this location has peacocks roaming around the area!
I love the diversity of cuisines in such a small city, while the Spanish architecture brings a bold atmosphere to the area. The amount of opportunities to explore the streets of St. Augustine is endless. Now, go take a trip to the Nation's Oldest City and enjoy it for yourself!
Peyton Palmer is a graduating senior, Class of 2024, Nease High School and the 2024 Ponte Vedra Focus Blog Scholarship winner. Peyton will be attending University of North Florida in the fall where she will be studying Pre-Radiologic Sciences.
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