Our Travels

Our daughter Tracee and and her boyfriend Royce picked us up from the marina Sunday for an afternoon of exploring.

First up, Fort Matanzas National Monument. Located near the Matanzas Inlet, the park preserves the fortified coquina watchtower, completed in 1742, which defended the southern approach to the Spanish military settlement of St. Augustine.

The only “challenge” to enjoying the rooftop? The access was a bit tricky, and now it had to be done backwards. Tracee & Royce descended the ladder first. With them on the lower level to direct the placement of her feet (and Todd with camera in hand to capture the event), Susie wiggled her way through and down.

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After the short ferry ride back, the grounds are a treat in themselves. The park encompasses almost 300 acres of Florida coastal environment containing dunes, marsh, maritime forest, and associated flora and fauna.

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The skies were a bit threatening for a trail walk, so we left Fort Matanzas and Royce treated us to a tour of the nearby Princess Place Preserve, maintained by Flagler County.

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Now a preserve, this beautiful 1,500-acre chunk just outside of Palm Coast was first a “land grant” from the King of Spain to Francisco Pellicer, and was known as Cherokee Grove. In 1886, New Yorker Henry Cutting purchased the property and then in 1887 built the “lodge” that stands today as the oldest intact structure in Flager County. Upon his death, it passed to his widow Angela Mills Cutting Worden. Angela eventually married Boris Scherbatoff, an exiled Russian prince. Hence, Angela assumed the title of “princess,” and the lodge became known as “Princess Place.”

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The architectural details were interesting. The best part, however, was the view from the princess’ bedroom!

In addition to that view, the princess also had the first in-ground swimming pool in Florida!

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And with that, our family time in Palm Coast came to a close. SaltyMare has to head north before hurricane season. As the kind and efficient Crescent Beach Bridge operator replied when we thanked her for the opening, “Giddyup and Happy Trails”!