This particular flexi has been on many excursions to explore the parks and preserves around the area. We've discovered the joys of Smyrna Dunes National Park, the nearest dog friendly beach. We've learned how absolutely wonderful St Augustine is - from the beaches to the hotels to the shops, restaurants and bars in the historic district. The flexi even kept Vixen safely nearby on the walking ghost tour. Unfortunately, Vixen and the flexi will not accompany us when we return for the ghostly pub crawl.
Smyrna Dunes has been a terrific find! It's $3.50 to park or you can buy an annual pass, which I will do next year. They have a pavilion with picnic tables, bathrooms, dog wash area and a nice display of the wildlife and fauna in the area at the parking lot.
There's a boardwalk as well as wide trails through palmetto brush to get to the beach. Dogs are not allowed on the boardwalk after 10:30am, so I just go prepared to walk a ways. Once we get to the beach, even on a crowded day, there's plenty of room to spread out and have a little piece of beach to yourself.
St Augustine was amazingly sparse as far as crowds go, especially over Labor Day week-end when we were there. We had a whole patch of beach to ourselves. The only drawback, which may be why there's not more people, is that the beach is lined by condos and houses - very few hotels actually on the beach and there were no restaurants, bars or even mobile vendors on the beach. Once you're on the beach, you're there with whatever you brought and that's it.
That being said, it was a beautiful beach and it was great not having many folks around so that we did not have to worry about kids or others bothering the dogs and vice versa. My friend allowed her dog to run off leash but Vixen is much more unpredictable and, therefore, stayed on the flexi the whole time. That did not, however, prevent her from swimming and playing fetch in the waves till she was completely tuckered out.
I believe the sand, daily walks and many treks through brush, wilderness, lakes and rivers has taken its toll on this dear flexi. This week we shall enjoy a trip to the pet store to choose yet another flexi for our next set of adventures.
