I love the areas in and around Crescent City, Florida and frequently camp here throughout the year…read more This small municipality seems to always have something to celebrate which is a testament to the people that call it home and although my interactions with the people have been somewhat limited I can say they are very welcoming people and there are no strangers here. The city has access to an abundance of water and forests and when I first started coming here I felt it was a little isolated and very remote but I've come to learn that's not always the case and find it's the perfect place to find your own personal space yet enjoy plenty of convenience when it comes to the local businesses. I love that Crescent City still cherishes it's history and the people that came before them, there are many hidden treasures here that haven't been exploited, it still small town American that embraces it's culture and welcomes everyone with open arms and definitely earns it's definition of "Old Florida Charm" which is so attractive to me. Located on the shores of Crescent Lake this city offers plenty of access to some of the best freshwater fishing in the state and is still referred to as "The Bass Capital of the World" and offers a lot of opportunities to view the beautiful sunrises across the lake with its's tranquil setting, it's the perfect place to enjoy a fresh cup of morning coffee while relaxing somewhere along the shoreline, you don't need to have a pre-planned agenda to come here once you arrive the day will unfold before you. As an example one of my favorite restaurants El Amigo Restaurant breakfast service starts at 9:00 AM now that's laid back n' low key...

I'd like you to discuss the newer updated VA clinic. These two reviews are referring to the…read moretemporary trailer that was replaced by the current fixed facility. The new clinic; although much improved could use other specialties that would avoid having veterans travel to Jacksonville or Gainesville. The front desk personnel are professional and seem to take pride in handling their administrative duties to service the veterans. The nurses, physicians, and lab technicians are definitely well versed in their craft. As stated previously, I wish they would expand the specialist services to include radiology , cardiology, ophthalmology, etc.

I have been using this facility for over 2 years and I have yet to have a issue. The facility is…read moreclean and I am able to receive almost all of my services in one location. I would definitely recommend this facility to anyone who is in need of veterans services.

Memorial Bridge in Palatka is the city's third river crossing, a continuous prestressed concrete…read morebox‑girder span completed in 1976 to replace the older 1927 drawbridge that had carried two lanes across the Saint Johns River. The current bridge stretches 4020 feet from Palatka to East Palatka, rising to a 65‑foot clearance that lets river traffic pass without interruption. It carries four lanes of US 17 and SR 100 along with sidewalks on both sides, a typical mid‑1970s Florida highway profile. Architecturally, it's a straightforward piece of state infrastructure with its concrete box girders resting on evenly spaced piers that echo the calm, broad character of the Saint Johns. The bridge's name and identity come from the earlier 1927 structure, which was built to honor Putnam County's military service members. That bridge featured four bronze military statues, two on each end, standing as guardians over the crossing. Those figures, often called the Doughboy statues, were preserved and today still stand at the foot of the modern bridge, continuing the memorial purpose that shaped the original span. There is no toll to cross the bridge. If you're walking, use caution as there is only the curb and a narrow breakdown lane between the pedestrian area and the roadway. [Review 1637 of 2025 - 2214 in Florida - 25185 overall]

This bridge carries Florida route 19 over the Cross Florida Barge Canal. The bridge itself is a…read morestraightforward modern highway structure, built with long concrete spans set on sturdy piers designed to clear the canal's federally planned barge dimensions, which required a broad, unobstructed waterway even though the canal was never finished. From the deck, the view east and west along the canal's straight, overbuilt corridor hints at the scale of the project and the ambitions that once ran through this part of Putnam County. The Cross Florida Barge Canal was part of a long‑imagined plan to cut a shipping route across the peninsula, and Palatka became one of its most visible stages when construction revived in the mid‑20th century. The idea dated back centuries, but it gained real momentum during the New Deal, when federal funding cleared thousands of acres and carved early cuts through central Florida. Work stalled, then restarted in the 1960s, and Palatka hosted the high‑profile groundbreaking ceremony attended by President Lyndon Johnson, who framed the canal as both an economic engine and a national defense asset during the Cold War era. In the Palatka region, crews excavated sections of the planned waterway and built the broad canal cut visible today from this bridge south of town, one of the few completed stretches before the project was halted over environmental concerns, including threats to the aquifer and the Ocklawaha River system. When President Richard Nixon stopped construction, the canal was only partially finished, and the abandoned corridor eventually became the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, preserving the Palatka segment as a reminder of a massive project that never reached completion. There is no "stopping" on the bridge but if you time it right with the traffic, you might be able to stop at the peak for a photo. There is absolutely not room to pull over and there is no room for pedestrians. Bicycling would be a crazy idea on this narrow roadway. [Review 1628 of 2025 - 2205 in Florida - 25176 overall]

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.]

Old schools books and…read moreElsie The Hastings Public Library is a in a building that used to be an elementary school. That's not uncommon, some of the coolest libraries I have been in have been schools in a previous life. The library has a very spacious feel to it and you can flow from room to room without running into other people or stuff. Has a definitely school type feel to it. The kids room is especially nice and was obviously design for play as much as reading. All kinds of things to keep the hyperactive delinquents occupied. A nice community room and some very friendly and helpful librarians as well as computers and wifi make this a library that is both very practical but still has that small town charm. To make it even better, the library has a resident kitty named Elsie. She of course goes where ever she wants but learned never to be intrusive and bother people that don't want her around. Of course when she found out we were more than willing to give her attention we couldn't get rid of her. Hastings is a cool library in a small town. You can get books, magazines, attend the numerous programs, use the computers and even hug a wonderful kitty. You can't ask for anymore than that from a library.

My first visit to get a library card and attend a program. Turns out the speaker cancelled 2 days…read moreprior. The librarian was helpful and efficient.

This useful marker is along a somewhat busy roadway but if you see it coming as you're driving,…read morethere's enough time to pull over. The marker points out the history of the park. It is at an intersection so there is opportunity to stop. "Situated on the site of Camp Blanding, between Sandhill and Brooklyn lakes, are the remnants of Magnolia Lake State Park. A relic from the time of segregation, Magnolia Lake was built to provide separate facilities to serve African American visitors. Proposed in 1955 and constructed in 1957, the 191-acre park featured 3,000 feet of lake frontage, a boat ramp, a dock, a swimming area, a bath house, and picnic pavilions. Magnolia Lake operated alongside the neighboring Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park, which was reserved for whites only. As a result, the park had its own entrance, gatehouse, and ranger residence. By the 1960s, Magnolia Lake State Park was one of four segregated state parks for African Americans in Florida. It was a popular recreation spot for much of Clay County's African American population. In 1964, following several lawsuits, protests, and pressure from the Federal Government, Florida State parks became fully integrated. Magnolia Lake State Park eventually closed in the 1970s, and management of the property was returned to Camp Blanding." The marker was erected in 2018 by The Clay County Historic Preservation Board, the Clay County Board of County Commissioners (BCC), and the Florida Department of State. It is Marker Number F-1033. [Review 19120 overall - 1592 in Florida - 90 of 2023.]

This marker is located in a small plaza that has a restaurant (that might be closed?) along Florida…read more19. It is adjacent to Little Lake Kerr. It points out the spot the where famous explorer passed through, reading "In 1774, William Bartram visited Salt Springs, his six-mile springs, and proclaimed it a "Paradise of Fish"" on both sides. William Bartram was an American naturalist who explored the Southern colonies, including deep stretches of Florida, documenting plants, animals, and the lives of Indigenous communities he met along the way. He traveled up the St. Johns River and into the Alachua Savanna, describing the region as a kind of natural paradise filled with wildflowers, spring‑fed streams, and abundant wildlife. His encounters with Creek leaders, including the Creek leader Cowkeeper near present‑day Micanopy, added cultural depth to his observations and shaped the narrative that later appeared in his book "Travels." That work introduced readers on both sides of the Atlantic to Florida's tropical landscapes, its fauna, and its frontier settlements, and it became a foundational text in early American natural history. Bartram's vivid descriptions and illustrations influenced scientific understanding, inspired later explorers, and helped shape how Americans imagined Florida's interior. There is plenty of room to stop here and since much of the road in both directions is just two lanes separated by only paint, it's probably a good idea to stop and stretch. [Review 1627 of 2025 - 2204 in Florida - 25175 overall]