Homeschool Day at the Spanish Quarter Museum

Yesterday we loaded up the car and headed to St. Augustine for Homeschool Day at the Spanish Quarter Museum. I'd heard rave reviews about this event, but this was our first time attending. For some time now, I've been wanting to take the kids to St. Augustine - and we spotted so many fun places in our short time there that we're bound to head back that way soon.

Here's how the event is billed:

"Step back in time and join us at the Colonial Spanish Quarter Museum for a unique homeschool experience. During your visit, students will learn about the daily life and crafts of 1740s Spanish St. Augustine through hands-on activities and demonstrations presented by our costumed historical interpreters."

When we arrived (which was a feat in itself since MapQuest recognizes roads open only to pedestrian traffic as regular roads!), we paid our admission and entered the "living museum". Stations were set up at different locations throughout the area showing what life was like in the 1740's. The kids had stamped necklaces made for them, wrote with quill pens, ground corn, tasted fresh tortillas, dressed up in colonial clothing and saw blacksmith and carpentry demonstrations.

While at first glance, I would not have expected it to take that long, we ended up being there for the full length of the event (three hours) - due in great part to a really long wait for the necklaces, which were set up as the first stop upon arrival. Next year, we'll try doing it backwards or arriving after the crowds have dissipated.

The museum hosts this event twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall. In the past, the spring date has coordinated with FCAT dates in the public school system. We will definitely be back for another visit, especially since we'll be learning about colonial America through the end of the year.

Equally as fun as the homeschool event was a trip to the Present Moment Cafe, a raw vegan restaurant just a mile from the Spanish Quarter. I'd been eyeing their menu online, and the food turned out to be as good as it looked! It's definitely worth a visit if you're in the St. Augustine area.