Garden Sanctuary Thrives Year Round

Cedar House Inn Garden
Our St Augustine Garden Sanctuary Thrives Year Round

Unlike much of the country, we don’t need to put our gardens “to bed for the winter.” In st. Augustine, it’s a great time to tend to our flowers and we take full advantage of shorter days, less intense sunlight and fewer insects and diseases around to attack plants. This allows cool weather seedlings and transplants the luxury of growing slow and strong to maturity. Our beautiful city offers a unique year-round climate that provides most flora (plant life) with what they need, warm sunshine and life giving rainfall.

When you arrive at Cedar House Inn, our plants offer a welcoming respite, a resting place… reminding you of the complexity and continuity of life. They bring comfort with childhood memories of time spent with nature. Our herb garden provides life giving edibles we share as a part of your hand crafted breakfast.

The wonderful colors and patterns that transform with the seasons provide an ever changing masterpiece to be enjoyed from the front porch of The Inn. However, as with the uninvited visitor Hurricane Matthew, the seasons can also provide challenges for plant life to which some may succumb.  Fear not; they are often replaced by an even stronger survivor, Keeping Calm and Carrying On!

We invite you to join us in 2017. You might spend your days and/or nights exploring this amazing ancient city and all its wonders & history and, at the end of your travels, commandeer a rocking chair on our front porch with a cup of coffee or a sip of port and commune with nature’s glory. You might also decide that the focus of your day should be devoted to the relaxing respite of that very same rocking chair skip the tourism part. You’re always welcome to enjoy the Cedar House Inn at the pace that suits you.

Cedar House Inn Garden
Cedar House Inn Garden

A New Wedding Tradition at Cedar House

Cedar House Wedlock
Cedar House Wedlock on our garden bench

Richard and Tonya, joined by their family and friends, recently celebrated a joyous wedding day at the inn. To fortify their commitment, they locked their life together forever, placing a commemorative padlock on the sweetheart bench in our garden.

To acknowledge Richard and Tonya’s love (along with the other 500+ weddings that have taken place at the inn) each returning Cedar House couple and new Bride and Grooms To Be will receive a beautiful brass “WedLock” to seal the deal with our compliments when celebrating at Cedar House!

Come be a part of our new tradition and enjoy the Romance and History of St Augustine!

With love,

Cyndi

Keeping fit in St. Augustine

Anastasia Fitness St Augustine
Anastasia Fitness St Augustine

Just in case exploring the Ancient City doesn’t help you achieve your target heart-rate, we have neighbors that will welcome you to work up a sweat. Anastasia Fitness is an outstanding member of the St. Augustine business community and they’re just great people.  They don’t call their facility a gym, rather a health club that uses fitness, relationships and camaraderie to connect you to our community and inspire you to succeed in every aspect of your life.

 

Heart Broken But Spirit Strong!

St Augustine
Castillo de San Marcos Sunset St Augustine

I am currently without power, internet, and cable, but I wanted to offer a post-Matthew update because I received so many notes of concern & support the last few days.
Cedar House Inn is a tough old broad! She lost one A/C unit, a shutter, and needs some debris clean-up but survived the storm surge and wind without a scratch. Something to be said for the contractors of 1893!

What was reported on the news was accurate and pretty scary, with water our worst enemy. Residents and visitors did, by in large, heed the mandatory evacuation. As a result, loss of life was not a factor. And while there was damage, what doesn’t seem to be as thoroughly reported is the astounding bounce back that is occurring in St Augustine, almost overnight. There is work to be done sure, but our beloved city, that has stood the test of time for over 450 years, will continue to do so despite our unwelcomed guest Matthew and any others that dare darken our door!

My friends and colleagues in town are reporting that many restaurants are planning to open mid-week, attractions have similar plans, with others businesses right behind. Today the sun is shining, the sky perfectly blue, and the locals very grateful that St Augustine will be open for business very, very soon.

On a personal note, I can’t begin to describe how overwhelmed I am with the outpouring of prayers and support from my precious guests, friends, and Cedar House family. I wish that I could respond to each of you but until then please know that I love you all and I promise that it is because of you I will muscle through…Hurry Back, I could use a hug!

Cedar House is honored to be named the Best of St. Augustine

The St. Augustine Record has released their list of winners in the Best Of St. Augustine poll and Cedar House was again voted #1! We are truly honored and offer our heartfelt thanks to our treasured guests, neighbors and friends who once again have recognized our business!

View all the best of St. Augustine winners at staugustine.com/best-of-2016

best of st augustine 2016
Cedar House Inn staff (l-r: Ethelyn, Ann Marie, Taylor, Tiffany) celebrates Best of St. Augustine award

Introducing Florida’s A1A Cocktail Trail

St Augustine A1A Cocktail Trail
St Augustine A1A Cocktail Trail

Are you a fan of a good Old Fashioned? Maybe a Moscow Mule? Perhaps something more adventurous? You should investigate the the A1A Cocktail Trail program created by St. Augustine Distillery, the Florida Department of Citrus and Ponte Vedra & The Beaches Visitors and Convention Bureau.

“A1A Cocktail Trail passports, available at Florida Welcome Centers and participating bars and restaurants, guide participants along State Road A1A to eight participating restaurants from Atlantic Beach to St. Augustine. Guests will enjoy cocktails made with St. Augustine Distillery spirits and fresh Florida orange and/or grapefruit juice. Once a participant has their passport stamped at all eight locations, they can redeem it for a free collectible A1A Cocktail Trail t-shirt and branded, wooden coaster set.”

There are 8 initial participating locations between Atlantic Beach and St. Augustine, but we anticipate this program growing pretty quickly. Find out more here.

 

Cedar House Inn Hosted Its 500th Wedding

weddingUnder the love and care of previous owners Russ &  Nina Thomas and Jack & Mia Martin, as well as the current owner (yours truly), Cedar House Inn Bed & Breakfast has enjoyed a fantastical range of recognition as a venue where Romance and History truly does come alive!  So it is with pride that the Cedar House team announces that we have a new milestone.  We have just hosted our 500th wedding ceremony at the inn!  It seems impossible to believe, but indeed another happy couple tied the knot on Sunday the 20th of March ushering in the 500thcelebration since June of 2009.

Through the years as a Bed and Breakfast, Cedar House Inn has been featured in Southern Living Magazine, acknowledged with White Glove Awards through Superior Small Lodging, voted by local businesses and residents of St Augustine as the #1 Best Bed and Breakfast in St Augustine for the past 7 years, and recently presented with the 2016 TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice Award for 5th Best Bed and Breakfast in the US!  This newest romantic milestone of wedding bliss is the proverbial “icing on the cake” for this historic venue.

The Cedar House Team and I congratulate each and every one of those one thousand people and wish all of our treasured guests a lifetime of love and happiness!

Warmest regards,

CyndiCyndi_inn_keeper