Our campground is on Vilano Beach's beach. These pictures are of Vilano Beach, proper. It is a small 50's beach town trying hard to engineer its rebirth while preserving what it has. Along its somewhat kitschy main street old buildings stand proudly next to empty lots left by would-be developers, long gone.
Before this beautiful bridge was built, an old lift bridge connected "down town" Vilano Beach with the main land, north of St. Augustine. Business' grew and flourished as people came to spend time on its beautiful ocean beach. The new span arrives on the barrier island just north of the business district, and most people just keep on going to the beaches, never seeing the town itself. Recently, however, it has been named a "main street america" (whatever that means, other than it now has money available to rejuvinate itself) and things are beginning to happen here again. A big new Publix (don't say it Robin...Jesse) has been built. Its wonderful for us, just a few minutes from Beluga!
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| bridge over the Tolomato River to Vilano Beach |
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| view from the top showing the river and the ocean (in the background) |
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| close up of the tile work restoration at the Magic Beach Motel |
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| We're so glad someone is bringing this old gem back to life |
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| Old motel in background - new sidewalk in foreground |
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| close up of the new sidewalks - they sparkle in the sun! |
I must apologize for the somewhat odd placement of the pictures in this blog. They seem to have a life of their own, when I try to move them they fly around and land wherever they want to! Part of the adventure I guess!
And here I thought you were being creative with the placements ....well, except for that one of the HUGE tree early in the trip. I chalked that up to inexperience! Enjoy the day ...looks like a fun area to explore.
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