It’s been a while since we visited the beach. The last time Mira was so small she couldn’t really go in the water. This time she knew exactly what she was going to get and could not wait.

Mira’s hit the age where she’s learned to ask “Are we there yet?” though I believe her Mom had significant influence on that line of questioning. Pretty much from Macon on down we were peppered with questions about her desire to go to beach and play in the water.

We finally got to St. Augustine Beach in the early afternoon and after a quick unloading of the car and change into swim suites, we were off to the nearby beach.

I have never seen Mira so excited. Just pure enthusiasm and joy over the waves crashing into her and pushing her around. Unfortunately this moment will only live in our memories since Mira occupied the both of our hands.

We finished that night off with some amazing Mexican food from a local establishment, Playa Choc-Mool.

Me in the watch tower of Castillo de San Marcos

The weather was just a little too cool for the beach in the morning so we drove to main town of St. Augustine. St. Augustine is the oldest continually settled city in the United States. One of the oldest monuments is the Castillo de San Marcos. This fort has been used by the Spanish and British Kingdoms, as well as the United States and the Confederacy.

Sonali and Mira in front of a cannon overlooking Matanzas River

Like many before us are certain to have done, we spotted something very interesting from the viewing areas of the fort: a Spanish galleon.

El Galeon

El Galeon is authentic replica of a wooden galleon that would have featured in Spain’s West Indies fleet that happened to be making a call at St. Augustine’s port. Mira’s favorite movie is Tinkerbell: The Pirate Fairy and I’ve been playing a lot of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, so we could not pass up the chance to go aboard the decks of a real ship from that era.

After the afternoon nap, we once again visited the beach. This time we ventured to a location further to the south of the island, where the waves were not as large. We splashed around in the ocean and built sandcastles. Mira was far more interested in playing with sand than getting in the water this day.

View of St. Augustine from the St. Augustine Lighthouse

The following morning we visited the St. Augustine Lighthouse. Like many of America’s Historic lighthouses, this one had fallen into disrepair but has been restored by a private foundation. There was a very steep staircase to the top so little munchkins were not allowed up above. They instead got to play on the pirate ship playground.

Mira has spied Daddy!

Sonali at the top of the lighthouse

Not just a lighthouse, the museum featured many exhibits about maritime life.

Beautiful paper ships

The best views of the lighthouse were from the dock at the other end of the park. Of course we had to pose for the tourist shots.

The three of us on the dock

Mira and Sonali posing in front of the lighthouse

On the final day we soaked in some of the history packed into the 13 square miles of the town. The town featured in the Spanish colonial period, the golden age of pirates, and the American Civil Rights movement.

The Hispanic Garden in the middle of St. Augustine.

One of the only remaining Spanish Constitution Monuments (Spain's democracy was short lived)

Mira posing on a cannon in the town plaza

One of the last things we did was stroll down the town plaza and enjoy the city at dusk. We partially crossed the Bridge of Lions to watch the boats in the inlet. I thought Mira would be more fascinated by the fake pirate ship battle, but the tourist replicas didn’t measure up to the real thing.

Us on the Bridge of Lions with St. Augustine in the background

Mira treating us to a dance