Discover Gay Florida: St. Augustine

It's okay to use words like "old" and "ancient" when it comes to St. Augustine (although I hear the city prefers the word "experienced") as it is the nation's oldest city. In this case those words are a good thing as this city has a long, rich history.

St. Augustine was founded 42 years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and 55 years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent. The exact date was Sept. 8. 1565, when Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles came ashore and named this land in honor of Augustine, a saint of the Roman Catholic Church.

The area holds a lot of excitement for history buffs and lovers of architecture and culture. Here are a few attractions you don't want to miss:

Castillo de San Marcos
1 South Castillo Drive, St. Augustine

Thousands of people descend upon Castillo de San Marcos to view the fortress and to learn about the years that it served the city. The impressive fortress is made of coquina stone and is the oldest remaining fort in the U.S.

Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum
29 St. George Street, St. Augustine

This living history museum allows you to step back in time to the late 1700s and learn about the lives of a carpenter, blacksmith and a soldier's wife. The costumed actors make you feel like you are a part of this time period.

Fort Matanzas National Monument
8635 A1A S, St. Augustine, FL

Located 14 miles south of St. Augustine on Anastasia Island, Matanzas Inlet was the scene of important events in Spanish colonial history. The massacre of French soldiers at that location in 1565 pushed Spain into forming a colony in Florida. The monument was built in the 1700's as a way for Spain to discourage British encroachments on Saint Augustine.

Authentic Old Jail
167 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine

This is one of the few surviving 19th century jails and it was built by Henry Flagler. It housed prisoners for over 60 years. Visitors can tour male and female cells, a maximum security area and also view a large collection of weapons.

After you've toured beautiful historic buildings, you will have worked up quite an appetite. Don't worry, Hotspots has you covered. Here are a couple of places you'll want to check out.

Collage Restaurant
60 Hypolita Street, St. Augustine

Collage is known for Global Artful Dining and was recently named one of Trip Advisor's Top Romantic Restaurants in the United States. High-end and elegant, it's a great place to splurge on a vacation!

The Raintree Restaurant Seafood & Steakhouse
102 San Marco Avenue, St. Augustine

Situated in a century old Victorian home, The Raintree offers an Intercontinental menu in a gorgeous setting. The blend of Meditteranean, Asian and American cuisine and their dessert bar makes this a great stop on your tour of St. Augustine.

The Tasting Room
25 Cuna Street, St. Augustine

Known for offering dishes with pure Barcelona flavor, The Tasting Room is the place to go for wine and tapas. Known for an award-winning wine list and live Latin music, it's a great place to let your hair down after a day of playing tourist.

St. Augustine also has gay-friendly and gay-owned bed and breakfasts for you to lay your weary head after checking out the city. Alexander Homestead Bed & Breakfast (14 Sevilla Street, St. Augustine) and At Journey's End B&B (89 Cedar Street St. Augustine) are just two that you may want to check out. In addition, there are several gay bars in neighboring Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach if you are looking to meet some new friends.

If you are looking to get away to a quaint town and see sights like you've never seen before, then you will definitely want to take a drive to St. Augustine!