The tour begins at in Palm Coast where we will wind our way up to the Historic Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island. The history of the island spans more than 1000 years beginning with the Timucuan Indians. In 1814 Zephaniah Kingsley brought his family to Florida. His ambition and enthusiasm for land acquirement led him to establish this historic plantation. He operated the property until 1839, after which a turbulent shift in laws caused him and his family to abandon the rich land. See and explore the legacy of historic ruins and structures that remain long after the thriving plantation of Sea Island cotton, citrus, sugar cane and corn have since ceased.
A canopy of trees will greet you at our nest stop, Fort Clinch. A fortress made of almost five million bricks that guards the entrance to Cumberland Sound. Go back in time as you take in the unique brick buildings and parade grounds which cover the park. Civil war reenactments can be viewed the first weekend every month. Ladies wear hoop skirts and men don Union uniforms. Excellent shark tooth hunting along the 2 mile beach for the nature lover. The Willow Pond Nature Trail winds through a variety of flora and fauna.
From there we set our sights on Amelia Island. The combination of natural beauty and the charm of another era make this a very enchanting place. The 13 miles of pristine beaches bordered with 40-foot high sand dunes capped by sea oats have been rated as some of the best in America. The mazes of salt marshes and moss-covered trees lend shade and shelter for more than 250 different types of birds. It is also a home for bobcats, red foxes, alligators and manatees. See the oldest structure on the island, an 1839 functioning lighthouse perched at 107 feet above sea level. Museums and historic hotels abound through this unspoiled land.
End the day at Fernandina Beach, home of the modern shrimping industry. It is both historic and romantic. Walk along the shore where whales calve in the fall and sea turtles nest in the summer. Then stroll through the 50 blocks of classic Victorian architecture. Visit the oldest saloon in Florida, where the Carnegies and Rockefellers used to imbibe. Browse through the quaint antique and gift shops offering many unique ideas for shoppers. Then dine in one of the many distinguished restaurants in town. You will come away from this tour enchanted by one of the oldest cities in Florida.