Fort Caroline was an attempted French colonial settlement in Florida, located on the banks of the St. Johns River. It was established under the leadership of René Goulaine de Laudonnière on June 22, 1564, as a new territorial claim in French Florida and a safe haven for Huguenots.

The French colony came into conflict with the Spanish, who established St. Augustine in September 1565, and Fort Caroline was sacked by Spanish troops under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés on September 20.

This park does not have any original structures, nor is the park service even sure that this is the location of the actual fort. Still, what is significant about this park is it is a memorial for the first French settlement in North America begun in the 1560's.

However, the French had many difficulties establishing themselves, including the Spanish soldiers who finally ended the French attempt to colonize Florida.

There are not much here for too many photos but this park is very enlightening about the colonizing attempts before Jamestown.

Established by French

Destroyed by Spanish

Awake before dayspring and turn the jammer on to warm up. Next, I drive into St Mary's harbor district to the Cumberland Island National Seashore visitors center and await for it to open. It is very quite here this morning even though this is one of the only two days this site is operating a ferry to the island, which I find out costs twenty dollars per adult for a round trip ticket. However, once on the island, there is also need to pay an additional twelve dollars for transportation while on the island. The fee to see this island is thirty-two dollars and this does not include any meals.

What a commercial rip off this park is. When the visitors center opens, I go inside to acquire a park brochure and the passport stamp but do not purchase a patch. Then I leave for more parks in Florida.

The first park in Florida is the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve, yes, that is a mouthful. Driving around the outskirts of Jacksonville, Florida, I arrive at the park, enter the gate and immediately realize that I have been at this park before.

About the year 1995, I had traveled from Washington to Texas, rented a car and driven from there to Florida. This trip was to be able to take my mother on a Florida vacation. After my walk through and photo taking, I leave, cross the St Johns River on a ferry and drive to the next park, Fort Carolina National Memorial.