As much as I love long road trips, it’s also fun visiting attractions “in my own backyard”.  We recently enjoyed a day trip to Fort Clinch on Florida’s Amelia Island.  This quiet state park is located just north of Jacksonville, and we had a blast discovering all this park had to offer.

There are plenty of scenic turnouts and miles of trails to explore.  We stopped and walked down a short path that looked out over a marsh and provided a great view of the lighthouse.

 

After a short walk down a boardwalk, we enjoyed a relaxing time at the beach; there is nothing more calming than sea breeze and crashing waves.  The beach is great for swimming, surfing, shelling and shark-tooth collecting.

 

 

Of course, the crown jewel of Fort Clinch State Park is the Fort itself, which can be accessed through the visitor center.

 

 

There are numerous buildings to explore, and someone is on site every day to answer any questions you may have. If you are ever in northeast Florida, be sure and check out the fort.  You won’t regret it.

All photos are mine except the one of the fort, which is courtesy of http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch