Tag Archives: St Augustine

St. Augustine’s Inn on Charlotte

February 6, 2011Hotel Reviews, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/Blogbed and breakfast, clean, elegant inn, Florida, Inn on Charlotte, location, lodging, romantic, St AugustineDebi Lander

untitled-4 — Inn on Charlotte, St. Augustine, Florida

Hotel Review: Inn on Charlotte, a Bed and Breakfast in St. Augustine, Florida

No smoking, no pets, no kids: may sound a little harsh off the tongue, but when you connect those words with lodging, you quickly envision a quiet, clean retreat– perfect for a romantic getaway. And that’s what you get at the elegant Inn on Charlotte in St. Augustine, Florida.

But, why stay at this Bed and Breakfast? Location, location, my dear. The property rests off narrow brick-lined Charlotte Street which runs with one-way traffic and limited entrance. Plus the Inn offers free reserved parking spaces, a real plus in this part of the city. Stash the car as you won’t need to drive until it’s time to leave. All of St. Augustine’s best sites, shops and restaurants are within walking distance.

Rodney Holeman took over the 1918 Inn in September, 2010 and he is meticulous, something you can appreciate when you are the guest. Spotless bathrooms- with new tile and fixtures, crisp linens and not a speck of dust anywhere.

The main floor boasts a warm, welcoming sitting area which leads into the dining room set with eight tables for two. No community table, so you don’t have to chat to others, unless you want to. (A lot of folks have told me they prefer separate seating.) The hall refrigerator stays stocked and complimentary wine is served from 5 to 6:00 PM, usually enjoyed on the front porch.

Find five bedrooms upstairs, plus one on the main floor, each tastefully different and two open to the front balcony. The rooms are freshly painted and charmingly decorated with style and pizazz. No cast off antiques, they are adorned with high-end sturdy furniture featuring classic lines and comfort. Lovely.

fader04 — Guest Room at the Inn on Charlotte

Two additional guest rooms are tucked away in the rear, separate from the main house, making them true escapes. The bungalow on the ground floor includes a private patio and both upstairs and downstairs rooms boast a small fireplace and wall-mounted flat-screen TV.

But, visitors don’t go to St. Augustine to watch television. America’s oldest city bursts with Spanish architecture and history. Here, streets names speak the influence: Avienda Menendez , Cordova Street and Castillo Drive. The city’s treasured fort, Castillo de San Marco, reigns as a National Park landmark and must see.

Cathedral Place bordering the city park lies just two short blocks from the Inn and overflows with numerous ethnic restaurants. Athena, with great Greek cuisine and Bistro de Leon with fabulous French fare are two of my favorites. Cross the green and visit A-1A AleWorks or O.C. Whites, two popular pub type restaurants.

untitled-2-2 — Guests in the parlor, Inn on Charlotte

Turn in the opposite direction and you’re a stone’s throw from Cuna Street, which leads to the pedestrian only shopping area. Meander just beyond Cuna Street and you’re standing at the corner of Castillo Drive- perfect for a drop-in at the new Pirate and Treasure Museum and, of course, the1672 historic Fort abutting the Matanzas Bay.

Consider a romantic retreat for Valentine’s Day or longer stay taking in Anastasia Beach or nearby Ponte Vedra Beach. The Inn on Charlotte puts you right in the heart of your desires.

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Inn On Charlotte Bed and Breakfast

52 Charlotte Street

St. Augustine, Florida 32084

Phone: 904-829-3819

Email: innkeeper@innoncharlotte.com

untitled-7 — Front Porch, Inn on Charlotte

The Mysterious Death of a French Chef

August 13, 2010Food TalesBistro de Leon, Chef Jean Poinard, Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, death, Florida, France, freezer, Lyon, murder, St Augustine, tragicDebi Lander

I write of a true and tragic tale; one that sounds like a script for a movie. The people are real and the local family suffers a terrible loss.

Recently, I entered a contest to win a day in the kitchen with Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard, owner of Bistro de Leon in St. Augustine, Florida. I always thought the restaurant name came from Ponce de Leon, the Spaniard who claimed he discovered the Fountain of Youth in that city. Little did I realize the name also worked for Lyon, the city regarded as the culinary capital of France and former Poinard home.

I hope to win the contest to naturally improve my cooking skills, impress my guests, and also to meet Chef Jean-Stephane as he seems so likeable in this video. He is a fifth generation chef and a true bon vivant.

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Park Service Junior Rangers Defend the Fort in St. Augustine

July 26, 2010Family Life, Land Adventures, Travel Journal/BlogCastillo de San Marcos, Family Life, Florida, history, holidays to Florida, Junior Rangers, National Park, National Park Service, Park Service Junior Rangers, pledge, St Augustine, St. Augustine Fort, tourist attractionDebi Lander

Touring Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Entering Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

Got house guests? Bet you have a favorite place to share with out of town visitors. During my childhood days in Arlington, Virginia, we took friends and family to Mount Vernon. When I moved near Philadelphia, the choice became the Liberty Bell or the Franklin Institute. Now that I reside in Jacksonville, Florida, I venture to nearby St. Augustine and tour a National Park site-Castillo de San Marcos.

St. Augustine, founded in 1565, holds the honor of being America’s oldest city and the fort (Castillo de San Marcos) remains the oldest fortification. Walls of coquina blocks (compressed shells) surround the bastion which has withstood numerous bombardments, sieges and hurricanes during its 335 year-old history. Each time I return, I learn something new.

Recently I invited my two oldest grandchildren, RJ, age seven and Kyra who is five, and their Mom, while they were here for Camp Lander (their holidays to Florida). RJ wanted to become a Park Service Junior Ranger, which he would report to his Boy Scout troop, and Kyra wasn’t about to be ignored.

RJ and Kyra with the Park Service Ranger

We entered the fortress via a drawbridge through the Sally Port, the only way in and out and passed below the portcullis. We stopped at the Ranger station and the kids were given an activity book to complete and return.

The booklet included a guided tour which pointed out the important artifacts in each area. To be completely honest, I wish they gave these brochures to everyone because the information proves very helpful.

RJ and Kyra had to fill in the blanks, answer true-false questions, match pictures of objects with corresponding parts and organize steps in the proper timeline. They also had to find and ask a volunteer and a Ranger questions about their job. Lastly, they wrote their own opinion about the place.

We watched a video, inspected supply rooms used for food storage, gunpowder, cannonballs, troop quarters, and the all important “necessary”. We climbed up to the gun deck and saw canons and watchtowers, as well as enjoyed the view of the harbor.

When our self-guided tour was complete, we listened to an animated talk given by a Park Ranger in authentic Spanish dress. Then, the children submitted the completed booklets, their answers were checked and they were asked to take the Junior Ranger Pledge.

“I, (fill in name), am proud to be a National Park Service Junior Ranger. I promise to appreciate, respect, and protect all national parks. I also promise to continue learning about the landscape, plants, animals and history of these special places. I will share what I learn with my friends and family.”

The process was pretty impressive and elicited big smiles as they received their badges. I’ll take that pledge,too, if I can become a Junior Ranger.

Then, we headed off for ice cream cones! What a joy for me, as a grandparent, to share my love of history and one of my favorite destinations.