Juan Ponce de Léon never did find the fabled "fountain of youth" which it was alleged he sought in 1513. In fact, some historians suspect that he actually sought Spanish loot. Nevertheless, the contingent of his compatriot, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés did land on this spot which has been converted into an archaeological park. Subsequent excavations have confirmed Avilés' expedition and even though he landed here, the park plays upon de Leon's name instead. Housing a cornucopia of colonial America circa 1565, this park is replete with ancient village replicas, canons and myriad archaeological figurines which lend insights into the life and times of the earliest Spanish settlers in America. The park has exhibits of both the Spanish arrival as well as those on indigenous peoples, most notably the Timucuan. The settlement as well as the replica burial grounds make the park a great place of learning and historical exploration, especially when the actors fire off the canons and archaic arquebuses.
When you come to Florida, stop by the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park to get a look at some of state's most deadly reptiles. This gator farm has been around for nearly a century and since then it has featured that quintessential Florida reptile. Be prepared to take out the phone camera to catch educational shows when you can care and feed them along with other reptiles throughout the day. One of the main highlights here is the zip-line, where visitors can zoom over the "Crocodile Crossing" with 50 different obstacles. Definitely an informative and fun way to spend an afternoon under the St. Augustine sky.
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The Lighthouse Park was built in the year 1874 and was restructured in the year 1980. The lighthouse, within the park, had an unique antique lens with 19 prisms, that was destroyed in the year 1986 during a rifle fire. Visit this place and learn more about the stories related to this historic structure.
Davenport Park is a local park situated in the city of St. Augustine. It is a public park having a large play area and a carousel that offers unique fun- filled rides for the kids. You can also find numerous picnic areas lined with with trees.
