Florida Hotel Reservation, Vacation Travel, Resorts, Golf, Real Estate, Rentals & Attractions

Amelia Island is a Florida island vacation destination comprised of 12 miles of white sandy beaches along the Atlantic Ocean and two state parks. Amelia Island State Park on the south end of the island offers horseback riding on the beach and incredible fishing.  Kayaking in the salt marshes on the Intracoastal, sailing and charter fishing trips are popular vacation ideas to build on for those who enjoy an active lifestyle.  Amelia Island is well-know for its special events, such as the Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.  Fernandina Beach, the principle town on the island, was the birthplace of the modern commercial Shrimping industry. Downtown Fernandina has over 50 blocks on the National Register of Historical Places.  Many of these historic homes, both downtown and seaside, are now bed and breakfast inns.

The Ritz Carlton, pictured above, offers AAA 5 star dining at one of Florida's primer east coast oceanfront resorts with their own beach front fairways on one of Amelia's championship golf courses.  Let them pamper you at The Ritz with body treatments and massage therapies in their state-of-the-art Day Spa.

Amelia Island, Florida offers vacation rentals and extended stays, such as the Amelia Island Plantation a full service oceanfront Resort and residential community covering some 1,350 acre and featuring three-and-one-half miles of un-crowded beaches, world renowned golf and tennis, fine dining, entertainment and shopping.

You can also find excellent hotel and motel lodging, some pet friendly, on the island without resort prices.

At Giraffe Overlook, you get an opportunity to see eye to eye with the giraffe. Giraffes are nature's tallest animal and one of the largest, strongest and most peaceful creatures on earth. The plains of East Africa and its vast geological fracture at the Great Rift Valley are inspiration for two of the Jacksonville Zoo's most fascinating exhibits. Here you can see nearly two dozen native species of birds and spot the elephant, lion, zebra, rhinoceros, gazelle and earth's fastest four legged animal, the cheetah, along the quarter mile boardwalk.

The beloved koala can be found at Outback Steakhouse's Australian Adventure along side other South Pacific inhabitants like the wallabies and kangaroos. Wild Florida is home to native plants and animals in a natural wetland environment. Some of the local residents at this exhibit are Florida panthers, bobcats, bald eagles, alligators and an assortment of reptiles. The jaguar, the largest cat in the Western Hemisphere, is featured in the Jacksonville Zoo's award winning exhibit Range of the Jaguar.

Read more about the Jacksonville Zoo.