OFTIG 2013 - (Page 14)
Beaches
Lodging varies in Panama City Beach, from condo and
AMELIA ISLAND
home rentals to beachside hotels and motels. Ideal for families
Amelia Island is a barrier island on Florida’s northeast coast
is the Holiday Inn Resort (hipcbeach.com) and Seahaven
with 13 miles of unspoiled beaches for visitors to explore,
Beach Resorts (seahavenbeach.com), both located steps from
discover and rediscover again and again. Voted one of the
the sparkling Gulf waters.
“Top 10 North American Islands” by Conde Nast Traveler's
Readers’ Choice Awards, your clients can visit any one of
FRANKLIN COUNTY
the island’s five state parks where they can walk along the
For clients who love to travel with their pets, Franklin County is
immaculate beaches ideal for kayaking, fishing, sunbathing
well known for its miles and miles of award-winning, pet-friendly
and other outdoor activities. “Amelia Island is unlike any
beaches that make up the coastal communities of Alligator Point,
other Florida beach with wide open spaces, pristine quartz-
Apalachicola, Carrabelle, Eastpoint and St. George Island.
sand beaches and some sand dunes towering up to 40 ft.
Franklin County is located along the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s
high in places,” says Gil Langley, president of the Amelia
northwest panhandle and is situated 80 miles southwest of the
Island Convention & Visitors Bureau.
state’s capital and 85 miles southeast of Panama City.
St. George Island State Park features nine miles of
Recommend a day trip to Amelia Island State Park, the
only state park on the island offering horseback riding excursions
beaches and high dunes and is surrounded by the Gulf of
right on the beach. Also, Little Talbot Island State Park,
Mexico to the south and Apalachicola Bay—one of the world’s
located on the southern tip of Amelia Island, boasts five miles
last pristine estuarine systems—to the north. Visitor amenities
of beautiful beaches where visitors can canoe, kayak and fish.
are plentiful, and include two boat ramps that provide bay
During the summer months, visitors will find the shoreline dotted
access to boats, kayaks and canoes, which can be rented at the
with protected sea turtle nests.
ranger stations. Dog Island Beach requires a boat to access
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia
the area followed by a hike to the seashore, but the efforts are
Island (ritzcarlton.com) provides
worth it when visitors arrive to a spot with more natural beauty
comfort, luxury and Southern charm
than the eye can behold. There are no public facilities or stores
on Dog Island so visitors must bring all their supplies.
Most hotels in Franklin County are located along the
Apalachicola River, yet if your clients are interested in staying
for an extended period of time, recommend renting a home
or condo in the area; historic inns, and bed and breakfast
accommodations, located in the historic community of
Apalachicola, are also very popular.
Funfact: Franklin County harvests more than 90
percent of Florida’s oysters and 10 percent of all oysters
VIVA FLORIDA
In 1513 on Easter Sunday,
Ponce de Leon first set foot
in Florida
consumed in the U.S.
14 Official Florida Travel Industry Guide | 2013
10-23_2013_Beaches.indd 14
VISITFLORIDA.COM
1/18/13 12:10 PM
http://www.hipcbeach.com
http://www.seahavenbeach.com
http://www.ritzcarlton.com
http://www.VISITFLORIDA.COM
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