Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, Florida - Fernandina Beach FL Off the Beaten Path

Preview: Amelia Island, with its 13 miles of uncrowded sandy beaches, has already been discovered. In fact, it is the only United States location to have been under eight different flags: French, Spanish, British, American Patriots (1812), Green Cross of Florida (1817), Mexican, Confederate, and American. The Timucuan Indians’ simple life was disrupted first by the French in the sixteenth century and then by the Spanish. The Union Jack was raised in 1763, but the Tories who converged on the island during the Revolutionary War left when Florida was ceded to Spain. A military adventurer, General Sir Gregor MacGregor, captured the island and claimed it as his own for a brief time but was ousted by a pirate who took over ostensibly for Mexico. After the United States government took formal possession, the claim was disputed by the Confederacy, which raised its flag here during the Civil War. The above description is an excerpt from "Florida: Off the Beaten Path." Whether you're a visitor or a local looking for something different, this chapter from the Off the Beaten Path series will help you take the "road less traveled" and discover hidden attractions, unique finds, and unusual locales that most tourists miss.
© Copyright Diana and Bill Gleasner published by Insiders' Guide all rights reserved.


This travel guide comes from:
Florida Off the Beaten Path Guide Book