Amelia Island Plantation

The Amelia Island Plantation covers 1350 acres of land, with beach on one side, and peaceful marshlands on the other.

Only part of this is guest accommodation: scattered among the huge oaks hung with Spanish moss are private condos and villas. Guests stay either in hotel rooms at the Amelia Inn & Beach Club or in villas for rent.

Amelia Island Plantation: fun for land-lubbers

Visitors find seven miles of nature trails, including boardwalks that extend right into the marsh. Fortunately, the property has has many native trees that make the grounds shady and lush. "Amelia's Wheels" bike rentals are a good way to explore the miles of trails.

Amelia Island Plantation also has an on-site nature center, with nature tours.

Guests can also enjoy several golf courses, tennis, six restaurants, and an health and fitness center with indoor pool.

As for outdoor pools: the Inn has two; a play area for small kids adjoins one pool.

Amelia Island Plantation: Kids Camps

Right by the main pool is the entrance to the kids' camp that offers half and full-day programs for ages 3 to 10. (Sample rate: $45/ full day. Check web site for updates.)

Also, "Just For Kids" offers evening theme parties so that parents can have a night out (or in).

For those 11-19, Teen Explorers has activities such as mini-golf, bowling, BBQ's, movie nights, bonfires. Weekly events vary seasonally; price ranges from free to $50. (Check this months kids and teen's program schedules.)

Also for families: daily activities such as poolside games; Game Room.

Fun at the beach

Finally, don't neglect the beach: at low tide, gentle lagoons form; at other times, waves are exciting fun. The beach at Amelia Island Plantation is life-guarded.

Another activity at the beach is shellingand looking for shark teeth fossils: incredible though it sounds, the beach is littered with black fossilized teeth from creatures that lived millions of years ago.

The guest rooms at Amelia Island Plantation have private balconies overlooking the beach; a wooden boardwalk leads to the sand.

• Find out more at the Amelia Island Plantation website
• explore more of Amelia Island:

^{Photos © Teresa Plowright}