Fountain of Youth

A trip to St. Augustine wouldn't be complete without a stop to the Fountain of Youth.  On the grounds of the complex is the very spot where Ponce de Leon believed he had discovered the fabled Fountain of Youth back in 1513.  The area is now an archeological park with exhibits on the Timucua Indians and 16th Century Spanish settlement.

Pictured above is what is believed to be the Fountain of Youth with a recreation of Ponce de Leon meeting with the Timucua chief.  In reality, the chief at 6'6" was much taller than the 4'11" Ponce.  They let you drink water from the fountain.  Just as a word of warning, it has a very strong sulfur taste to it.  Ponce de Leon had marked the spot by leaving a stone cross in the ground, which is still there today.  

The area has been home to several archeological digs.  Many of the artifacts discovered there are on display.  The grounds include the Spring House (home of the Fountain of Youth), the Timucua Indian Exhibit, Indian Burial Ground and a Planetarium and Discovery Globe.  The planetarium show was pretty good and gives you a glimpse as to what it was like to navigate by the stars.  The Discovery Globe is a movie theater with a brief movie about the age of Spanish exploration in the New World.   For more information on the Fountain of Youth park, visit their web site at: www.fountainofyouthflorida.com

Thoughts and Recommendations

• This was a fun place to go and it is one of the earliest historically significant sites in North American history involving European explorers. 
• It only took us a couple of hours at the most and the prices were reasonable at $5.00 a person.