Gallagher's Travels: Destination: Florida

AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION, FLORIDA

"By Kathie Farnell
Photos by Jack Purser

Amelia Island Plantation, the elegant resort located on a barrier island just outside Jacksonville, has been called "Florida's Greenest Resort." The visitor to the 1350 acre resort has a choice of activities, including looking for shells along the wide Atlantic beach; playing the three golf courses or tennis at Racquet Park; lolling by a pool; or exploring the nearby town of Fernandina Beach. Amelia's reputation as an eco-friendly resort dates back to its founding in 1971. Today the resort and its residential community adhere to a strict set of building and maintenance guidelines designed to achieve environmental harmony. It is not uncommon to see a tree serenely growing through an opening scalloped out of a front porch or garage. The tree-friendly policy has paid off; from the top story of the resort's Sandcastles condominium building, the visitor sees an unbroken canopy of trees which give no hint of the 500 residences below.

With the opening in 2001 of the resort's new state-of-the-art spa, visitors can choose from a wide variety of exotic, pampering treatments. Some of these, such as the Detoxifying Seaweed Body Mask, sound faintly risky; however, I learned from a participant that the Seaweed experience involved nothing more alarming than being slathered with a sort of low-tide-smelling goo and covered with saran wrap. Jack and I opted for the relatively low-impact Couples Massage, in which you are both in the same room for the therapeutic treatment; this is a popular choice among the island's honeymooners. The spa's signature treatment, however, is watsu therapy. Watsu is a form of Eastern shiatsu massage carried out in water-in this case, within its own private little building across a bridge from the rest of the spa. The client is immersed in a pool heated to 94-98 degrees Fahrenheit and floats over the arms of the therapist, who administers a form of massage intended to promote flexibility while soothing aching joints. The spa also offers a line of facial treatments, hair care and manicure/pedicure.

Having spent the morning being languid, we decided to spend the afternoon horseback riding. The Plantation arranges rides through Kelly Ranch Stables, located near the resort. A string of fairly mellow-looking horses were tied out front. They had relatively sedentary names: Walker, Freckles. Then one rider was assigned to Screamer, an ordinary-looking horse, who, I felt, was probably sort of a time bomb. Glancing nervously from time to time at Screamer, just in case he or his rider should decide to scream, Freckles and I ambled down to the beach. A brisk breeze was blowing off the Atlantic; the broad beach was deserted except for our line of riders and a few surprised fisherfolk. The sand was covered with seashells, some of which got crunched beneath Freckles' mighty hooves. On the way back, he suddenly took it into his head to trot, necessitating my yelling "WHOA I SAY!" As I clambered down, back at the ranch, I reflected that I probably should have scheduled my massage for after the ride.

Many visitors come to Amelia for the golf. The resort offers seven holes playing along the Atlantic Ocean-more than any other resort in the U.S. The resort boasts a total of 54 holes; the 70-par Ocean Links, designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, provides spectacular views of the Atlantic. The 18-hole Long Point court, ranked by Golfweek magazine as one of America's 75 best resort courses, winds between 50-foot-tall dunes.

For the visitor who prefers the indoor sport of eating, the Dining Room of the Amelia Inn provides breakfast, dinner and Sunday brunch in an elegant setting looking out over the Atlantic. The Vidalia Onion Soup Gratinee is a crowd-pleaser, and desserts are spectacular. The Verandah, a family-oriented restaurant, is open for dinner daily and features excellent local seafood. The Plantation's corporate chef, Jacky Burette, who hails from France, emphasizes fresh ingredients and has a network of local suppliers.

The Shops at Amelia Island Plantation, conveniently located near the Spa, include the Marche Burette, named for the chef, an old-fashioned gourmet food market which also offers soups and sandwiches to be eaten inside or on the deck overlooking the little lake.

The Plantation's recreation department caters to family groups, with activities aimed at kids of all ages. "Kids' Camp Amelia," offers Monday through Saturday programs including nature walks, story time and sea shell scavenger hunts. For ages three through ten, the resort offers a supervised youth program of hiking, crabbing, golf, tennis, swimming and volleyball.

Amelia Island Plantation offers a wide range of accommodations including the Amelia Inn and condominiums with full kitchen and living room facilities. Daily rates for a hotel room start at $135 double; a one-bedroom villa in one of the resort's condominium buildings starts at $185. The Plantation offers a wide variety of packages aimed at everyone from honeymooners to golfers. Amelia Island Plantation is located 29 miles from the Jacksonville, Florida, International Airport. U.S Airways serves the area with daily flights. For more information on Amelia Island Plantation, call 1-800-674-6878 or check the website: www.aipfl.com

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