This green historical marker is located on the west side of Memorial Bridge where it crosses the…read moreSt. Johns River into Palatka. It points out some of the earliest history of the area. The marker reads, "Established in May, 1838, this fort was one of the major quartermaster depots in Florida during the Second Seminole War. It operated under Gen. William J. Worth until he assumed command of the armies in Florida. Military facilities included a hospital, barracks, blockhouses, and stables for more than 400 horses. During the fort's existence, Palatka was military in appearance and under military control." Online, there is more information. The Indian Removal Act provoked many Seminole Indians and their allies to revolt against being forcibly relocated from their lands and homes in the Florida Territory to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. After the Dade Massacre on December 28, 1835 the Second Seminole War was escalated with armed skirmishes and guerilla warfare. Early in the Second Seminole War, the strategically located town of Palatka, Florida Territory was attacked and burned by a group of Seminole Indians and their allies. Most surviving white settlers and black slaves fled to St. Augustine for safety, and the area was mostly abandoned except for free roaming groups of Seminole Indians and their allies. Realizing the importance of a militarily protected and efficient supply line along the St. Johns River General Walker Keith Armistead ordered the main depot moved from Garey's Ferry on Black Creek to Palatka where the U.S. Army built Fort Shannon. Fort Shannon was established in May of 1838 under the command of General William J. Worth. General Worth remained in command of Fort Shannon until 1842 when he was promoted and assumed command of all the armies of Florida. This fortification was part of a network of forts that protected the strategically important transportation routes along the St. Johns River. Fort Shannon grew in size to include eight blockhouses, a hospital, several large wood framed buildings, officer's barracks and a stables large enough to accommodate 400 horses. Fort Shannon was briefly utilized during the American Civil War by Union troops as they occupied Palatka and patrolled the St. Johns River with gunboats. The building materials of Fort Shannon were pilferaged and eroded away in the 1880s, except for its Officer's Quarters building. [Review 15769 overall - 1351 in Florida - 1273 of 2021.]

My friends loved the wine tasting cruise. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it! You get 3 whites and…read more3 reds, and they tell you a bit about each wine before pouring. The pours are just the right size, not too little and not too much. You have enough time to finish it before the next one is served, without feeling rushed. You also get a little charcuterie cone that is a nice compliment to the wine. There is also the option to pre-order a larger charcuterie box. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the scenery on the tour is great. We saw so many dolphins! The boat is spacious and not crowded, so it is easy to move about if you want to get up and walk around. This was the highlight of our St. Augustine trip.

We took a morning dolphin tour (9:00AM) and loved it! The boat wasn't crowded and we had plenty of…read moresitting room. Captain Mike, First Mate Katrina and Bartender Abby were all fantastic! They all answered any question we had (including Abby, who just graduated with a Marine Science degree) and were very knowledgeable of their craft. We were fortunate enough to go just a little way out into the ocean, away from the intracoastal waterway, and it was worth it- we saw a lot of dolphins. Overall, it was definitely worth the trip and I highly recommend!

This is an amazing evening. It's a great time. We take appetizers and beverages. The crew and band…read moreis always top notch. We saw the Cumberland island horses and several deer. The sunset was gorgeous. It couldn't have been a better night. I would highly recommend to anybody.

It was a great day on the water with the Amelia River Cruises & Charters company at the helm…read more It was my first time visiting Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach and wanted to get an overlay of the area and the river cruise seemed like the perfect thing to get an overview of the area. And I wasn't wrong! The tour lasted about 90 minutes (and it leaves promptly FYI) and takes you along the shoreline of Amelia Island - past the shrimping boats and past a Civil War era fort - before heading towards Cumberland Island National Seashore. This is where the true fun of the tour was for me. I had no idea really the history of the island and found it fascinating how the Carnegies and Rockefellers and more of the country's elite used this random Georgia seashore as their private escape. The history of both Cumberland and Amelia Islands is incredibly fascinating and the guides for both the Florida and Georgia sides respectively were well informed and personable. Plus - you'll very likely see a ton of great wildlife throughout including dolphins and wild horses and pigs. It's a great way to spend an afternoon in the area and a fabulous introduction to Cumberland Island National Seashore/Park.

We signed up for an airboat adventure, and Captain Becca was absolutely fantastic. She was…read moreextremely knowledgeable, engaging, and made the entire experience a lot of fun. This was my first time on an airboat, and it definitely did not disappoint. While I wish we had seen a bit more wildlife, we still got to spot an alligator, a few turtles, and some beautiful ospreys along the way. The music added a really fun energy to the ride and made the experience even more memorable. Overall, I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a unique and exciting adventure.

Loved this tour! Captain Becca did an amazing job. She was well versed and funny. This is a must do…read moretour.

My first Blue Crab and used boat show festival was in late '80's…read more Good home town family fun. Reasonable prices for families and great entertainment. Present time's--Pure out of town mentality, expensive vendors, so-so music, greed, money,money. No fun. The organizer wants eclectic people to attend. This is Palatka. Go to St Augustine if that is your desire. Ditch organizers who idolize the Bub Light advertising disaster. Why must transplants always bring their Yankee ways with them.

Living in a state with so many sunny days there are few reasons to stay indoors, saying that it…read moreisn't very difficult to find some kind of festival within a short drive of wherever you are in Florida. The Blue Crab Festival held each year on Memorial Day Weekend may be the perfect festival to kick off your summer festival season. Although you'll find all the typical arts and craft vendors out in force that's a minor distraction, the real attractions are the Crustaceans to be more specific the infamous blue crab, but by no means is this salute to one of natures most delectable creatures the only feature here, it shares the stage with a lot of its relatives. So if it's possible that the crab cakes, she-crab soup or the soft-shells don't tantalize your tastebuds there are plenty of other options available like the fresh shrimp, crawfish and or a bowl of Arroz a la Marinera (seafood paella) no matter there's plenty of food, cold beer and live music. The festival's backdrop of the beautiful St. John River is absolutely the perfect setting, and with decades of experience in hosting this annual event the City of Palatka has it down pat.