Amelia Island, Florida

On Monday we arrived in Florida and made camp at Fort Clinch State Park. The park is on Amelia Island which is the northeastern corner of Florida. We are across the St. Mary's river from Georgia. There are two campgrounds in the park. One is on the Atlantic beach the other is on the river side. We drove around yesterday to explore the island which is about ten miles long. The city of Fernandina is an old historic port town that has a nice central area with shops and restaurants. We walked the town and took pictures of some of the old homes and buildings. The island also has lots of exclusive resorts and beautiful neighborhood developments with very nice homes. Plenty of golfing too in the interior of the island.

At the northern tip of the island Westrock Corporation operates a huge paper and packaging plant. This looks like it must be the biggest employer on the island. Lots of trucks hauling logs in to be processed and ships waiting to be loaded.

One of the cargo ships at the plant.

This building is the customs and port authority. Looks like it's been here awhile.

Well shiver me timbers. An old pirate in Fernandina.

A bit of history from the area. Amelia Island has been under many flags over the centuries. French and Spanish from the 1500's to British in the early 1700's. Then  during the revolutionary war ownership ceded to Mexico and finally back to the U.S. since the early 1800's.

Low tide in the harbor. Floating docks compensate for the six foot tides in the area.

Waiting for the water to come back.

A view down main street in historic Fernandina.

Lots of historic buildings and homes from the mid 1800's.

Live oaks at the park. Amelia Island has thousands of these old trees. 

Looking across the marsh at the Amelia Island Lighthouse. (center above the treetops). 

A closer look.