Florida has the lowest state highest point in the United States. It is the top of 345 ft (105m) Britton Hill in northern Florida not far from Alabama. The drive there from the east had lots of turns and went into Alabama briefly. It is located in Walton County's Lakewood Park. It's surrounded by forests and farms with the closest town being Paxton, Florida.
It was on top of a hill that was flat. The official marker is by the parking lot. There are pavilions, picnic tables and restrooms there so you could bring food and have a comfortable lunch on a state high point.
The top of the hill is forested with a few miles of trails to take easy hikes. They are mapped on Hiking Project and All Trails. The Yellow loop is .4 mi and the larger Red Trail is .7 mi with 17 feet of vertical change.
Which state has the second lowest high point? Delaware at 449 ft (137 m). It beats Washington DC's high point which is 414 ft (126 m). Will I add a highpointing series of posts? Maybe, this is the fourth state high point I have been to.
https://mountainadventures.us/post/highest-point-in-florida
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Mission Concepcion is the furthest north mission in San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. Unlike the others that have the courtyards and walls, this one currently has only the church building. Mission Concepcion was originally founded in 1716 as Mission Nuestra Seora de la Pursima Concepcin de Acua in eastern Texas. It was to serve as a buffer against the French in Louisiana. In 1731, like other missions it moved to the San Antonio River area. The stone church took 15 years to build and was dedicated in 1755. This church is the only one in the park that has two bell towers.
This is the fourth part of our series on San Antonio Missions NHP which also includes: Mission San Juan, Mission Espada and Mission San Jose.
Before going into the main church, you pass through some side rooms showing frescos which covered most of front of the church and the convento rooms.
https://mountainadventures.us/post/san-antonio-missions-nhp-mission-concepcion
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Mission San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo, founded in 1720, is the largest of the four Spanish missions making up the San Antonio Missions National Historic Park. It has had the most reconstruction and is also the location of the main visitor center. The church is on the far side of the courtyard from the visitor center. It is the largest church of the four missions. This was also known as "Queen of the Missions" and is the best one to see how the missions were more than just the churches; they were also communities where Native Americans lived.
The church is made of limestone and has Spanish colonial Baroque architecture and statuary.
It has an arched ceiling, a dome and a choir loft.
https://mountainadventures.us/post/san-antonio-missions-nhp-mission-san-jose
#Texas #SanAntonio #NPS #History #NationalHistoricPark
The furthest south of the four Spanish missions in San Antonio Missions Natinal Historic Park is Mission Espada. It is not right on the San Antonio River, but is not far from it. This mission was founded in 1690 near present-day Weches, Texas as San Francisco de los Tejas. Like Mission San Juan it was moved to the San Antonio River area. The current mission was built in 1731 and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada. This one felt the most like an active parish with the parking right next to the church and the parish offices on the other side.
The church itself is small. I like how the bells were visible above the main entrance.
The inside takes you back to the 1700s when this area was controlled by Spain.
Right next to the church is the convento with the church offices in a section of the wall that is intact. I am not sure if this section was maintained or rebuilt.
The south east corner of the mission has the NPS visitor information center and a small museum. An overview of this National...
