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AMELIA ISLAND VACATION RENTALS, FLORIDA |
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Outdoor Recreation in Amelia Island |
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Amelia Island offers a plenty of
water activities and active pursuits, from swimming, fishing,
and canoeing to hiking, camping and
picnicking. |
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• Beachcombing
• Birdwatching
• Fishing
• Fort Clinch State Park
• Water Sports
• Walking and Hiking
• Tennis and Racquet Ball
• Horseback Riding
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| Beachcombing |
Of course, you could lie in the sun to get a
tan or play a game of beach volleyball, but if you want to
try something different, try visiting the beach at night to
see loggerhead and green turtles. Each year, from May
through October, the sea turtles leave the surf at night to
lay their eggs on the shores of Amelia Island. Left
undisturbed, the hatchlings incubate for 55 - 60 days.
If you do visit the beach in the daytime, seashells
are not the only thing you can find on Amelia Island’s
beaches---prehistoric shark teeth are also a great find
here. The fossilized remains of sharks that lived from 10 to
50 million years ago, the teeth tend to be black or gray in
color. |
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| Birdwatching |
| Amelia Island's rich
waters create a great environment that draws many types of
birds, like great blue heron, great horned owl, bald eagle,
snowy egret, osprey, king fisher and rare jaeger marsh
pelicans. The best times to see the largest number are
during the winter months. Early morning and late afternoon
are the best times to view the birds. The ebb and flow of
the tides regulate the activity of waders, gulls and
shorebirds. Most birds rest at high tide, gathering at North
Beach, South Beach, along the marsh at Egans Creek, on Tiger
Island west of Old Town Plaza and on the marshland west of
the downtown marina. When the tide is low, the shorebirds
tend to become more active. |
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| Fishing |
Fishing, both
freshwater and saltwater, is a big attraction on Amelia
Island. The salt marshes and the backwaters of the
Intracoastal Waterway are rich in redfish, trout and other
species. Charter boats are available at the City Marina and
the Tiger Point Marina for deep-sea fishing. Fish Amelia
Island’s inlets on a 4 or 6 passenger charter and test your
luck against tarpon, shark, redfish, kingfish, cobia,
barracuda, amberjack and bonito. Drift fishing local reefs
also produces black sea bass, snapper and grouper. You can
also fish on the beach for whiting, redfish and
trout.
For those looking to stay closer to home,
Amelia Island Plantation’s Red Maple Lake and many brackish
water lagoons are stocked with a variety of bream, bass,
catfish and sunshine bass. Some of the saltier lagoons can
also produce snook, tarpon and redfish.
The Amelia
Angler can arrange fishing and sailing charters for 2 to 49
people and has all of the fishing essentials as well as logo
T-shirts, nautical gifts, fishing apparel, sunglasses and
much more.
Temporary 12 month, 7day and 3 day fishing
licenses are available for nonresidents. Children under the
age of 16 do not need a license to fish in
Florida. |
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| Fort Clinch State Park |
Fort Clinch is one of the most well
preserved 19th century forts in the country. Although no
battles were fought here, it was occupied during both the
Civil and Spanish-American Wars. During the 1930s, the
Civilian Conservation Corps began conserving the abandoned
fort. Tours are available daily, with reenactors depicting
life at the fort for visitors. On 1 weekend each month, park
rangers dress in Confederate or Union uniforms and reenact
the daily life of Civil War-era soldiers.
The park
has pristine beaches and dunes, nature trails, ponds and
salt marshes, with a fishing pier that extends 1,500 feet
into Cumberland Sound. Sunbathing, swimming, and
beachcombing are popular activities at the park’s beach.
Anglers can fish from the pier or fish in the surf.
Bicyclists can enjoy a 6-mile trail. Hikers will enjoy the
self-guided nature trails. The trail system includes a 6.5
mile unpaved “loop” trail for hikers and off road
bicyclists, the park’s paved road, and several miles of
beaches along Cumberland Sound with hard packed sand for
riding and hiking during low tides.
The boardwalks that
lead to the Atlantic Ocean access and the pier are equipped
with showers as well as restroom/changing rooms. Swimming is
permitted in the ocean, but no lifeguards are available. The
park is open from 8 AM to sundown, year-round. Admission is
$5 per vehicle, with a limit of 8 people per
vehicle. |
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| Water Sports |
| Explore Amelia
Island by boat on the Atlantic Ocean, on Cumberland Sound,
on the Amelia River or on the Intra-coastal Waterway. Paddle
among the tidal creeks and saltwater marshes for some
extraordinary views of the wildlife and birdlife of this
region. Sailing, windsurfing, kayaking, parasailing,
water-skiing and jet skiing are popular. |
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| Walking and Hiking |
| Walk
on the beach or take a hike on any one of the several
picturesque hiking trails running through the island. Egans,
Creek Greenway, Fort Clinch, Talbot Island, Little Talbot
Island, Fort George Island and Cumberland Island are some of
the popular areas to walk and hike. |
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| Tennis and Racquet Ball |
| Over 40 tennis courts, traditional or clay,
await players of all ages and skill levels. Some courts are
lighted for night play. Lessons, racquet rentals and ball
machines are available at various resorts. In particular,
the Amelia Island Plantation tennis program has been
recognized as one of the finest in the world. |
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| Horseback Riding |
| Experience
miles of deserted and picturesque beach on horseback. Sunset
views are especially popular. Several stables surround
Amelia Island from where you can enroll in any of the guided
horseback tours. |
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