Amelia Island-Not Just Another Florida Island

One summer while staying on Jacksonville Beach, we decided to take a drive up the coastline along Florida A1A. At one point of our journey, we had to board a ferry called Saint Johns River Ferry to continue our trek. The scenery was beautiful and the beaches great. There was a stretch of beach in Little Talbot Island State Park onto which we drove our four wheel drive vehicle. Driving along the surf was an exilerating experience. From there, we continued northward on Florida A1A and crossed a bridge that took us to Amelia Island. Up till then, I didn't know Amelia Island existed.

Amelia Island is the southernmost of the barrier islands stretching along the coast from South Carolina to Florida called the Sea Islands. It is south of Cumberland Island, Georgia. It is considered the only community in the United States to have experienced life under eight different flags. The island has a long and illustrious history that goes back 4,000 years. Amelia Island has a natural deep harbor on the north end of the island, which provided easy access for smugglers, pirates, and assorted sea captains.

Today, Amelia Island attracts a wide variety of recreational and commercial activity. For the vacationer, it features activities from golf and tennis at world-class resorts to kayaking, sunset sails and horseback riding on the beach. It has river cruises and charters, fishing, a museum, a community theatre, and walking tours of Historic Fernandina Beach. Or maybe you just want to take a quiet walk to enjoy the unique variety of birds and wildlife. To top it off, there are the 13 miles of beautiful, sandy beaches for taking in the warm Florida sun either to lay out on, walk on, or collect seashells.

Amelia Island offers a 1350 acre beach resort called Amelia Island Plantation. The resort offers four Audubon International certified sanctuary golf courses, 23 Har-Tru tennis courts, holistic spa, shopping village, year around youth programs, Nature Center, and Segway tours. Plenty of other resorts and hotels to choose from.

Marco Island Florida-Perfect Vacation Spot

The Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort offers amenities and accommodations in a pristine setting. Close to many of the areas golf courses, the resort is three miles from a river marina and 52 miles from Southwest Florida International Airport. The Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa is a AAA 4 Diamond deluxe 11 story resort only minutes from World class golfing, The Florida Everglades National Park and some of Southwest Florida's best shopping, dining and recreational activities. The lobby features marble floors, crystal chandeliers and brass accents and offers the largest guest rooms on the island-297 guest rooms including 22 Gulf view one bedroom suites, and 4 luxuriously appointed two bedroom penthouses. Choose from sailing, parasailing, waverunners, kayaking or even experience unique Eco-tour and shelling excursions - directly off our beach! Enjoy tennis, volleyball, and championship golf is only a short drive away. More information on Florida vacations at Vacation Rick Travel.

Space Mountain in the Magic Kingdom Getting Upgraded

Space Mountain is a 34-year-old attraction located in the Tomorrowland section of Disney's Magic Kingdom Florida. The attraction is completely enclosed with a ride dome that is hollow and 300ft in diameter. Space Mountain is the only version that has two roller coaster tracks within the iconic mountain structure. They are mirror images of each other, with only minor variations to allow the tracks to cross one another as needed. The left side track is called Alpha while the right side track is called Omega. Both tracks offer the same experience for guests, with effects equally shared and duplicated, the Alpha track is slightly longer than Omega by about 10 feet. The rockets reach a speed of 28 mph. This is all going to change. Space Mountain is one month into a seven month renovation that will include new track--though the layout will remain the same--and a new ceiling. There is speculation that Space Mountain could be in line for an electronic-game-filled queue similar to the one Disney installed at Epcot's Soarin' in 2007. Stay tuned and see what is in store for Space Mountain as it takes on a new experience for its riders. Visit Vacation Rick Travel for your travel needs.

Win a Trip to Universal Orlando or Park Tickets Instantly

Universal Orlando in Florida is home to the new ride opening in 2009 Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Featured rides in Universal Studios Florida include the new The Simpson's Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, Shrek 4D, and Men in Black Alien Attack. Featured rides in Islands of Adventure include The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman, The Cat in the Hat, Dueling Dragons roller coaster, and Jurassic Park River Adventures. Also shows like Blue Man Group. Enter the Universal Orlando Vacation & Instant Win promotion for your chance to win 1 of 8 spectacular family vacations to Universal Orlando Resort. Grand prize trips include air, hotel, theme park tickets and more! Then, play the Spin to Win game and see if you'll win a pair of 1-Day/2-Park theme park tickets instantly!
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