Amelia Island |
Pop quiz: what's north of Orlando, still in Florida, and a great vacation spot for families?
If your mental map is blank, you're not alone: for most vacationers, the Florida landscape is dominated by Orlando. Wonderful fun, yes; yet many families seek a different kind of holiday, somewhere relaxing, at a beach-- a getaway.
 |
Amelia Island, a twenty minute drive from Jacksonville, has two excellent beach resorts, and interesting day-trips if you feel like moving from the beach or pool. Take a nature walk or boat tour; stroll through a beautifully restored Victorian town; visit a historic fort; ride horses on the beach. | |
 |
||
Amelia Island... Just who was Amelia?
The island carries the name of an English princess: the daughter of the British King George II. It's the only place in the US that's been under eight flags: French, Spanish, British, Patriots, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican, Confederate, and US-- this small island has been tossed by history, since the peaceful rhythms of Timucuan Indian life were broken centuries ago.
For history on-the-spot: The Museum of History is an oral history museum, specializing in walking tours and storytelling formats.
Amelia Island: climate and when to visit
Because of its location in northern Florida, the Island is cooler in summer than further south. (See average weather conditions.) The island also has cool sea breezes. Amelia is long and narrow-- only two miles wide. On one side is thirteen miles of beaches; the other side is marsh wetlands.
April, May and June are lovely months. Some visitors might prefer cooler winter months, for golf; with temperatures in the 60's, you probably won't swim in the ocean, though the hotels' heated pools would still be fun.
And something you don't have to think about: hurricanes. Brief thunderstorms, are common from late spring into autumn, but Amelia Island is lucky not to get hurricanes.
