The Bayfront Marin House, St. Augustine, FL

Originally published April 21, 2009

When you step into St. Augustine Florida, you are about as close to the history of the modern era of the United States that you're going to get; history before the US was even United! St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied European city in the United States dating back to the 1500's! St. Augustine is the oldest port in the continental United States and they continue to honor and pay homage to their heritage in St. Augustine more than many other places. The Bayfront Marin House Inn continues that tradition by tracing its roots back to the late 1700's; moreover, the meticulous details they have gone over in turning this place into a luxury bed and breakfast are well appreciated.

The Bayfront Marin House Inn is an amalgamation of 15 or so rooms which, from the exterior looks like a very well maintained halfway house. There are no hobo's here though; the lazy balcony of the inn is punctuated by first class accommodations inside the suites, the wonderful sitting areas around the property, and the beautiful interior dining area where breakfast is dutifully served in the mornings and beer, wine, and small pastries are divulged in the afternoons. The Bayfront Marin House is actually three houses which have been combined through the years to make what you see today; this could be a reason for the rambling ramshackle appearance of the exterior at Bayfront.

On the evening that my wife and I stayed at the Bayfront Marin House, we were fortunate enough to luxuriate in The King George room. The King George room finds its perch on the first floor with a wonderful swinging seat on the outside and breathtaking views of the bay across the street. These wonderful views were further accentuated by the floor to ceiling windows in the suite which literally ran the gamut of wall space in the room. The King George room comes appointed with a Victorian Queen bed as well as a luxurious double Jacuzzi next to the bed itself and a separate bathroom with a wonderful standing shower. Rounding out the experience of the King George room are the decorative fireplace and the digital flat screen TV with enough channels to keep you busy. The whole grounds of the Bayfront Marin House are situated with WiFi; just make sure to get the password from the front desk when you check in; there are a number of open networks in the area but none work quite as well as the Bayfront Marin House's (the network was called "West" the day we visited).

It was neither television nor wireless internet that caught our attention at the Bayfront Marin House the day we were there though. It was the beautiful landscapes, the timeless architecture, and the wonderful people we met that truly made our St. Augustine experience one worth remembering. Breakfast at The Bayfront Marin House Inn was delicious; we had coffee, juice, fruit, and quiche; all of which were very good! If you're in St. Augustine you need to be sure and cross the bridge to the old neighborhood; you'll know it when you've arrived. Stroll the neighborhoods, view the shops, dine at the fine restaurants (like Mike Hyatt's Collage) and stay at the Bayfront Marin House Inn. You'll be stepped in history and relishing your time spent there. After your experience at the Bayfront Marin House Inn; you will most definitely want to come back.