"Amelia Island" a Amelia Island Travel Page by Pamela_Peace

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Amelia Island, an enchanting island that lies right on the Georgia border in Florida. Surrounded by thousands of acres of barrier islands, this gem is rich in natural beauty and history. Year-round activities include: 5 splendid golf courses; fishing in waters teaming with deep-water, inlet, back-bay, and fresh-water game fish; horseback riding, tennis, some of the best in the world can be seen at the Bausch & Lomb Championship at Amelia Island Plantation; sailing, charter cruises from 4 to 49 foot boats; kayaking, guided tours to Big Talbot, Ft. George and Little Talbot by way of Amelia River and the creeks and marshes (overnight and weekend trips available); bicycling, explore nature trails around the hundreds of acres of pure barrier island; and yes, even antiquing, downtown Fernandina Beach is full of treasure havens. There's something here for everyone.

And now for a little background on Amelia Island and her sister islands. The history here can be divided into 4 Periods: 1)Native Indian 2)Mission 3)Plantation 4)Recreational Development. Europeans who landed here hundreds of years ago discovered Seminole Indians who lived among graceful moss-covered trees and lush backwaters filled with an abondance of sealife. The Spanish who arrived in the 1400's didn't stay long however, for there was no gold, no silver, and no gems to pillage. French Hughenots, on the other hand were in search of something entirely different. They wanted a place to practice their Protestant religion openly and freely. It is here that they established Ft. Caroline. Many years later after looting Central and South America, the Spanish returned to drive out the French and establish their own stronghold on the barrier islands. For some 200 years, the Native American Indians worked for little more than beads and trinkets under the oppressing hand of the Spanish. Worsening their plight was the fact that with the arrival of Europeans to the new land came the onset of diseases to which the Indians had no defense. Indian labor was eventually replaced with that of the African Slaves. Cotton and indigo were the money-making crops of the time and Kingsley Plantation was THE place to be. Today, it's not looting, hording and slavery that are the problems of Amelia Island, but development and erosion. Thanks to the Florida State Parks Association, one barrier island, Little Talbot, remains for the most part untouched by man and machine.

Special thanks here to Lauri deGaris, a certified eco-heritage tourism provider who was my most knowledgable tour guide during this wonderful exploration of Amelia Island - she is responsible for all my information regarding the history and culture of the islands. Lauri is associated with Discover This which provides natural and cultural tours of northeast Florida. Phone (904) 261-1053 Fax:(904) 491-5438 P.O.Box 15981 Amelia Island, Florida 32035 Thanks Lauri, it was great!