…on St Augustine Beach Florida.

White sand dunes and sea oats, sea turtle nest and gentle surf, afternoon clouds swelling across the Atlantic horizon. All are standard on NE Florida’s coast. The uncrowded beaches are just a bit quieter, especially in summer.

I stayed in one of St Francis Inn’s secret beach houses. Located on a beach trail head, in a small oceanfront neighborhood, I lived like a local. The beach life.

St Francis Inn is St Augustine’s oldest inn, established in 1791. In the heart of old town St Augustine, St Francis is two blocks from the waterfront and two blocks from A1A.

But if you’d rather stay at the beach, St Francis has secret beach house rentals on St Augustine Beach. Beach houses include an inviting kitchen for cooking like a local (walk to the farmer’s market for local fruit, veg, and fish), beach chairs, towels and toys; plus heavenly linens for dozing to the sound of surf. Beach house stays include all the amenities at St Francis Inn, a sumptuous breakfast, afternoon nibbles, and happy hour. You’ll get the best of old town and the best of the beach. — MaryGo