Amelia Island

Amelia Island can be a uncommon mixture of cautiously preserved natural beauty, man-made luxury and modest town charm having a history that spans over 4 centuries. As soon as a haven for pirates and rumrunners, Fernandina Beach is now among the most productive shrimping and fishing harbors within the South.

Fifty blocks of downtown Fernandina Beach is listed on the National Register of Historic areas and nonetheless retains evidence in the town’s greatest period of prosperity — the late 1800s when steamers filled with Northern tourists flocked for the region to remain in it is sophisticated hotels.

Natural Beauty

Portion of Amelia Island’s charm is its reside oak trees draped with Spanish moss that languidly drifts with all the breeze. Reside oaks and water oaks are significant, twisted trees amongst 200 and 400 years old and, despite the fact that old, they in no way go bare. Scrub oaks are reside oaks normally located in sandy soil on or about the dunes. Seeking from the beach, sand reside oaks sweep away from the prevailing onshore winds. The huge size with the oaks and their attendant root systems dominate their atmosphere. Saw palmettos with their fan-shaped fronds can survive with all the oaks since they have quite shallow root systems.

The tallest trees on the island are slash pines that develop to 80 to 100 feet in height, remaining slender having a trunk diameter of only 1 to two feet. Their needles are lengthy, ranging from 5 to eight inches and are generally employed as mulch. Other trees consist of cypress and cedar and also the most revered tree in southern plantation life, the magnolia tree.

Whilst you happen to be busy taking a look at the trees, you might spot one of many numerous resident or migratory birds. A number of the birds frequently noticed consist of red shouldered hawk, eastern screech owl, excellent horned owl, barred owl, red-bellied woodpecker, cormorant, clapper rail, laughing gull, killdeet, wood duck and a lot of other individuals. On the list of best ten spots in all of Florida for birding, Fort Clinch State Park is open every day from 8 a.m. to sunset. Painted buntings are one of many most lovely birds inside the United States and are abundant within the spring and summer. Within the marsh, you will discover wood storks, fantastic egrets and wonderful blue herons. The salt marshes are a gorgeous sight, turning to gold with all the setting sun.

Guided eco tours supply even beginners the chance to discover the tranquil salt marshes. You will find a number of tours obtainable which includes sunset and full moon trips, nature walks and unique concentrate tours. Kayak tours supply the top chance to obtain extremely close to egrets, herons and possibly even a dolphin or manatee.

Activities

Golf

On Amelia Island, golf can be a refreshing blend of environmentally sensitive terrain dominated by oaks, palmettos, huge sand dunes, crashing surf and huge lagoons.

Ø Ocean Hyperlinks, in mixture with Lengthy Point, offers seven seaside holes — a lot more holes directly on the ocean than any other Florida resort. The innovative style by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed takes full benefit of testy sea breezes, rolling sand dunes and undulating greens to form Florida’s most thrilling golf holes. In accordance with Bobby Weed, “with diminishing land resources, it really is extremely hard to locate such enviable oceanfront settings for golf holes. But do not let the beauty deceive you. In between the water along with the wind, golf at Amelia Island Plantation might be quite treacherous.”

Ø Oak Marsh has tight fairways and smallish greens requiring accuracy and approach. Pete Dye displays his mastery all through the course, which has 14 holes with water hazards and many bulkhead greens. Many different bunkers are strategically placed all through the course to add towards the challenge.

Ø Lengthy Point is meticulously carved from the dunes and marshlands. This Tom Fazio creation takes golfers on an remarkable trek by way of a preserved wilderness location. They’re necessary to hit a wide range of shots, ranging from more than water and marshlands to ones aimed at narrow, tree-lined fairways.

Ø If you’d like to boost your game or are just acquiring began, Ron Philo’s School of Golf delivers personalized instruction to golfers of every single skill level. The three- and four- day programs offer you video evaluation, one-on-one instruction, group and classroom teaching environments, a studying manual, notebook and individual video lesson to take residence.

“We think that golf is an person game that should be created by the person. We recognize that improvement just isn’t going to happen within the brief span of 3 or for days, nevertheless, we are able to support individuals find out the approaches for future improvement in the course of that time,” Philo mentioned. “Our objective is usually to aid participants increase their understanding and to give them the capability to start enhancing their golf games.”

Ø The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach opened inside the fall of 1987. Its natural beauty, combined with all the designing talents of Gene Littler and Mark McCumber, produce an extremely playable, but difficult golf course. In 1988, it was nominated as finest new course in the year.

Ø Fernandina Beach Golf Course has 3 nine-hole municipal courses which might be played in 18-hole combinations. The West Course is lengthy with fairways which might be wide open. The South Course is shorter and needs accuracy as opposed to distance and has an abundance of wildlife and water hazards. The North Course will be the shortest with undulating greens.

Shopping

In case you travel to shop, Amelia Island will satisfy. Shops range from the eclectic towards the stylish, homey towards the sublime. You will find antique malls, fashionable women’s boutiques and several specialty shops, some feature designer-quality articles. Numerous shops sell distinctive pieces that reflect Amelia’s history as well as the influence in the sea. Very several artists reside on Amelia Island and some of their studios are open to guests. Nearby artwork may also be discovered in shops along Centre Street.

Ø The Village Shops at Amelia Island Plantation is really a beautiful “Old Florida” style shopping village. This quaint shopping village provides high quality merchandise inside a definitely beautiful setting. Shops contain Chicos, Resort to House, a homemade ice cream shop and numerous other boutiques. Charming chairs invite weary shoppers to sit and get pleasure from the view or whenever you get hungry cease by the Marché Burette for outstanding wraps on its covered outdoor porch. There is a weekly Friday night “Boardwalk Bash” via the summer, with reside music and discounted drinks.

Ø Palmetto Walk Shopping Village?

Fishing

Amelia Island Plantation can be a renowned destination for each offshore and backcountry fishing. The Amelia Angler has rod rentals, tackle bait and crabbing gear. They are able to arrange for neighborhood fishing and charters, along with sailing trips for full or half-day excursions. For freshwater enthusiasts, lagoons are stocked with bream, bass, catfish and striped bass.

Ø Surf fishing is exceptional off Amelia’s pristine beaches. Significant schools of redfish, sea trout, whiting, pompano, blues and flounder are plentiful.

Ø Deep Sea fishing charters offer you various huge game fishing for wahoo, sailfish, dolphin fish, kingfish and marlin, to name just a couple of. Giant tarpon weighing in at over 100 pounds are available in close towards the beaches and inlets in the course of the summer. Redfish topping 40 pounds are caught all through the year.

Ø Six-passenger trolling boats are obtainable for a half-day for $375 to $590, or all day for $650 to $750. You’ll find also two-, three- and four-passenger charters accessible.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding on the beach is readily available every day, catering to each the seasoned and novice rider. Kelly Ranch Stables offers guided rides that final about a single hour.

Sightseeing

The only city on Amelia Island, Fernandina Beach, is really a beautiful Victorian town which you may possibly not anticipate to locate in Florida. This 1880s fishing village features a 50-block historic district of 19th century Victorian buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Areas. The focal point of downtown is Centre Street, exactly where you are able to browse by way of specialty boutiques and art galleries, watch fudge becoming created by hand or get pleasure from lunch at outdoor cafes and waterfront restaurants.

Ø The Amelia Island Museum of History is housed within the old Nassau County Jail just a number of blocks from Center Street. It’s Florida’s only oral history museum. Docents narrate as guests observe museum artifacts that tell the story with the island’s incredible history beneath eight flags. The museum also delivers tours with the historic district.

Ø Fort Clinch was began in 1847 and was occupied throughout the Civil War by Confederate forces and also served as a coaching internet site for U.S. troops in the course of the Spanish-American war. A re-enactment in the 1864 occupation occurs the initial weekend of each and every month.

Ø The Afro-American Life Insurance coverage Business established American Beach in 1935 as a spot exactly where African Americans could holiday. Abraham Lincoln Lewis was president and chairman in the board and was Florida’s very first black millionaire who owned the very first residence on American Beach. At this time, all beaches in Florida had been off limits to African Americans. The beach’s heyday was within the 1930s by means of the 1950s, when African Americans would come from all more than the nation to holiday there. Hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and also other companies popped as much as serve the tourists. The streets and beaches had been jammed with men and women, automobiles and buses. Hurricane Dora, in 1964. destroyed a lot of with the properties and corporations. Shortly following the hurricane, America saw an finish towards the segregation, which created it unnecessary for African Americans to travel to Amelia Island. American Beach is experiencing a renewal as individuals are realizing the significance of preserving this historic community.

Ø Kingsley Plantation may be the oldest standing plantation in Florida. Built in 1804, the plantation will be the former residence of Zebediah Kingsley, a southern slave advocate and his African wife. It really is on the list of couple of remaining examples in the plantation program of Territorial Florida. Guided tours are readily available from the residence, kitchen residence and slave quarters.

Ø Jacksonville landing is actually a waterfront festival marketplace situated in Jacksonville on the St John’s River. There is certainly an wonderful selection of dining, shopping and entertainment. Also in Jacksonville are the Jacksonville Zoo, Cummer Gallery of Art, Museum of Science and History and also the Jacksonville Art Museum.

Ø Cumberland Island Georgia is just north of Amelia Island and is among the final fantastic wild locations on Earth. The protected national seashore is residence to herds of wild horses and was at 1 time the private retreat in the Carnegies — house to Plum Orchard, an 1898 Greek revival mansion and Dungeness, the ruins in the Carnegie house. The ferry to Cumberland Island embarks from St. Mary’s, Ga. Sailing charters will also take you for the island for the day. Every day guests are restricted to 300, so guests can expertise the tranquility and solitude that is certainly the hallmark of a Cumberland go to. The limit also ensures peace for the island’s population of wild horses, deer, bobcat, sea turtles, boar, armadillos and birds. Devote your days birding (over 300 species seem for the duration of the course of a year), swimming, biking, hiking, and fishing, or just stroll the pristine, white sand beach and savor unparalleled privacy.

Ø About an hour along with a half by vehicle will be the historic city of St. Augustine — the oldest European settlement inside the United States. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1565. Attractions consist of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth, Castillo San Marcos and also the restored Spanish Quarter.

Luxury

Indulgence encouraged says it all. Amelia Island Plantation’s Spa is just footsteps from the sea and, like all buildings on the plantation, was created to “embrace its internet site and grow to be a single with it.” Step inside and really feel the anxiety melt away with professional pampering and programs developed to unwind your physique, quiet your thoughts and soothe your soul. Additionally to classic spa remedies, Amelia Island Plantation provides Ionotherapy and Watsu Massage. Ionotherapy utilizes water charged in negative ions for therapeutic effects. Ionotherapy is believed to relieve fatigue and lethargy and maybe to slow down the aging approach.

Watsu is actually a distinctive massage therapy performed inside a perfectly synchronized atmosphere — a water temperature of 94 to 98 degrees. You will float freely more than the arms of one’s Watsu therapist and get a stretching, soothing and rehabilitative massage. Your physique will gracefully float and move with out discomfort or limitation. Flexibility, relaxation and freedom are reinstated as you enter into a state of emotional, psychological and physical inner and outer peace

Lodging

Moreover to luxury hotels and resorts, holiday properties and beach homes are accessible; several are beach front or with ocean views.