 Amelia
Island Plantation is Florida's greenest resort. Nestled between
verdant marshlands of the intra-coastal waterway and the Atlantic
Ocean, this 1,350-acre, environmentally conscious development
boasts a coastal wilderness filled with rustling palms, moss-draped
oaks, native flora, and countless species of wildlife--jogging
trails and bicycle paths cut through miles of these green
woodland preserves.
 Then
there are the rolling greens of golf fairways: The three 18-hole
courses here contain more holes directly on the ocean than
any other Florida resort. Amelia Island Plantation also contains
a world-class, 23-court tennis complex which hosts the Bausch
& Lomb Championships; a health and fitness center with
lap pool, sauna, and racquetball courts; and, worth the trip
by itself, a sprawling spa that is absolutely gorgeous in
a Zen-like way, with 25 treatment rooms and a peaceful meditation
garden.
 Salad
greens? You'll find these, along with thick deli sandwiches
and
crisp, brick oven pizzas at Marché Burette, an old-fashioned
gourmet food market and popular Plantation lunch spot. Ocean
vistas and contemporary cuisine (with a Southern twist) make
The Dining Room a favorite for dinner, along with The Verandah,
a family style restaurant whose focus is firmly on fresh fish.
Resort secret revealed: Best breakfast is at the Golf Shop
Restaurant & Bar.
 For
those to whom green conjures the color of money, Amelia Inn
features more than 50,000 square feet of function spaces,
including large conference centers and smaller boardroom type
facilities, all equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual
and teleconferencing capabilities.
 Admittedly
there are other colors at work here; most notably the azure
blue ocean waters that splash upon miles of wide, shell-strewn,
white sand beaches. Amelia also offers a two-tiered beachside
pool and deck, horseback riding, kayaking, fishing, and sailing.
Lodging includes more than 670 guest accommodations, 249 of
which are housed in the Amelia Inn & Beach Club and feature
balconies with ocean views. More secluded one, two, and three
bedroom villa units allow you to kick back with full kitchen,
dining/living area, balcony and patio. Throughout the property,
a friendly, hard-working staff (it's not easy being green)
offers good old-fashioned Southern hospitality.
* * *
(Updated
06/23/08 HC) |
