The tour begins at New Smyrna Beach 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.
