By Don Lindsey

Looking up from Walter, the egret padding through the mud 50 feet away, the huge, glass-enclosed bridge of a distant tug boat seemingly disconnected from its hull appears to levitate eerily above the grassy marsh. This little scene at the AAA Four-Diamond rated Amelia Island Plantation resort shows one of its many delightfully quiet personalities.

They’re not all so quiet.

Walter, an egret named by Amelia Island Plantation staff, hangs out on the inland side of the 1,350-acre luxury resort near Jacksonville, FL. The tugboat is cruising up the Intracoastal Waterway. Over on the Atlantic Ocean side, picture-postcard-perfect white sand beaches gleam out to north and south horizons, strewn with abundant sea shells. In between, Amelia Island Plantation allows guests to shop, be pampered, dine, dance, explore, learn and relax.

Sports enthusiasts can golf on 54 world-renowned holes, play tennis on courts used by the likes of Lindsay Davenport and the Williams sisters at the Bausch & Lomb Tennis Championships, work out on top fitness equipment and more.

Eighteen shops offer unique and elegant choices in everything from shoes to upscale art, home accessories and homemade ice cream. Jewelry, Christmas items and a wide variety of clothing also tempt your credit card.

And with shopping such a workout, you’ll need to relax at the Spa at Amelia Island Plantation. This soothing facility offers a wide variety of facial treatments, hair care, massage, hydrotherapy and more, in-
cluding its signature treatment, Watsu—shiatsu massage while floating in a warm pool. For those who relax by being surrounded by nature, Amelia Island Plantation is a treasure. Plantation developers insisted that its facilities fit into, not over, the existing environment. The commitment earned Amelia Island Plantation its designation as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System and two environmental awards from the Florida Hotel & Motel Association.

Visitors have lots of ways to immerse themselves in Amelia Island’s environment. Walking trails and rental bicycles can take you anywhere on the resort. Kayak tours take you through wide water lanes rich with heron, egret and even jellyfish, out to the edge of the Intracoastal. You can even drive a Segway, the self-balancing gizmo controlled by body movements, on guided nature tours.

To plan your stay at on Amelia Island, contact your AAA Travel Counselor today.

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