Princess Place Preserve

Hello everyone!

I just got back from my Florida vacation yesterday.  Now, it's back to reality!  But, it's great to be home.  It was nice to sleep in our own bed and use my own kitchen and bath for a change.  I love going to new places, but always appreciate home when I get back!  

We had a great time.  We traveled to St. Augustine and stayed in a condo on the beach.  We did the usual playing in the ocean and sitting on the beach for hours (under a sun shelter) and swimming in the pool.

This time, we took our dog with us.  Loved doing that!  We'll definitely continue traveling with him.  He is the BEST little traveler!  We were able to let him off the leash around our sun shade and he stayed with us despite all the temptations to run off around us.  We were careful to keep him cool and shaded since  his breed is prone to heat stroke.  

He made himself right at home!

The highlight of our trip (for me) was going to the Princess Place Preserve.  It was breathtaking!  It is a 1500 acre preserve owned by Flagler County, that allows fishing, camping, canoeing, picnicking and even horse back riding.  You can learn more about it by clicking here.  

We took a picnic lunch and walked around to see the beautiful rustic unspoiled nature everywhere.

 

My husband took a kayak out to fish the waters there.  He saw a manatee and even an alligator.  I didn't get too close to the water after I heard that! 

 

Here is a directory in the park.  

After we toured some of the grounds.  We went for a tour of the old home place of Henry Cutting and Angela Mills that originally owned the property in the late 1800's before the county bought it from them many years later. They were aristocrats and even entertained royalty in their Adirondack style home.  They had servants working for them and owned the first in ground swimming pool in FL!  Angela Mills out lived her husband and went on to eventually marry a Russian prince (she met in Russia during her travels) and they moved back here.  That is how she became a princess, thus the name, Princess Place Preserve.

Here is the pool.  How would you like to swim in THAT?!    

Notice the old wood diving board.  This pool is being fed by Artesian springs.

You can see the picture of a young Angela Mills on the sign.

Look at the view from the porch!  There was a wonderful breeze coming off the ocean.

I loved the porch.  It wrapped around the entire house and provided lots of welcome shade and cool breezes.

  

A peek of the inside.  It was mostly unfurnished though.

Kitchen

Butlers Pantry

Dining Room

Since this post is getting long, I'll stop here.  I'll share some more pics of our trip in my next post.  I'm hoping to be able to upload a video I shot on the beach too.  

Hope you enjoyed the tour as much as I did!  

Thanks for stopping by.

~ Kelly ~