Northeast Florida

The riverfront city of Jacksonville is an exciting first stop for visitors to the north-eastern region of the Florida peninsula. Combining big city appeal with small town charm, Jacksonville lets you tour historic neighbourhoods, enjoy cultural events and fascinating museums, laze away the days on gorgeous white sand beaches, and dine and dance the night away on The Jacksonville Landing.

The Jacksonville Landing, laid out along St. Johns River in downtown, has been a local icon for almost two decades. Getting to this nine-acre centre chock full of shopping, dining, events and entertainment is easy: take a stroll along the Riverwalk; come in from above on the Skyway over downtown; or sail in on the river and take advantage of free docking. Of course, you can always drive in but with so many other interesting options why not make the journey as special as the visit itself? The Landing is the site of more than 300 events each year, so be sure to check out the events calendar for fun live music, food festivals and celebrations scheduled during your holiday.

The cultural scene of the city includes the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, the largest contemporary art museum in the Southeast, and the Museum of Science and History, where the centrepiece is a look back at the past 12,000 years of local history. Further exploration awaits you at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Observe more than 2,000 animals as you take a walking safari through Africa, Central America and Asia. Make sure you stop by the unique Giraffe Overlook exhibit, which allows you to go nose-to-nose with the long-necked giants.

Want to escape the crowds? Head to the alabaster sand of Jacksonville Beach, tucked away on a barrier island east of Jacksonville. Fishermen, water sports enthusiasts, families and golfers will all love the unspoiled scenery, breezy weather and varied recreational opportunities available.

Amelia Island Photo © Visit Florida

Nearby Amelia Island is a charming historic locale bordered by 13 miles of pristine Appalachian quartz beaches. The island is a quiet and romantic getaway where you can ride along the beach by horseback, take a sunset sail or play golf or tennis at world-class resorts. Downtown Fernandina Beach features 50 blocks of historic homes and businesses, many showcasing elegant Victorian architecture. A stop in at the Amelia Island Museum of History lets you view exhibits highlighting 4,000 years of island history.

Fort Clinch State Park centres around the 1847 fort built to protect Fernandina's deepwater port. It also offers a great vantage point for viewing the Amelia Island lighthouse, which has operated since 1839. Eco-tourists can hike or bike along six miles of off-road trails, spotting painted buntings and spoonbills on their trek.

St. Augustine.  Photo © Visit Florida

St. Augustine, found just south of Jacksonville, is the oldest city in the United States and offers a unique range of beaches along 43 miles of coastline. Some beaches permit vehicle access, appealing to the younger set. Others are prime shelling locales and a few are just quiet escapes blanketed in fine, warm sand.

After strolling through historic downtown, try an award-winning ghost tour for a thrill. The tours, which can be enjoyed by mini-bus, sailboat or on foot, are based on legends of ghosts "and other strange experiences" that have occurred in St. Augustine in recent centuries.

Daytona Beach is the beach of choice for people who like a fast-paced holiday. In fact, speed is the name of the game in this ocean-front racing Mecca. People began racing vehicles on the beach more than 100 years ago, and today Daytona Beach is world-famous for its car-accessible hard-packed sand beaches.

Start at the Halifax Historical Museum downtown for an area retrospective, including beach-racing memorabilia, and then head over to see the real thing. Daytona Beach is known as the "World Centre of Racing" and motor sports enthusiasts will want to make room in their schedules to visit Daytona International Speedway. The famous speedway is home to NASCAR, IROC, sports car and motorcycle racing throughout the year.

Daytona USA is an interactive motor sports attraction featuring motion simulator rides that let you share the thrill of being behind the wheel of an official NASCAR racing car. There are also plenty of go-kart parks around the city to help satisfy that need for speed.

There's plenty to do in Daytona that doesn't involve any hairpin turns, though. Available activities include sunrise hot-air balloon rides; water sport activities such as parasailing, kayaking, jet skiing and canoeing; championship golfing; fishing and a wide range of sightseeing and boat tours. Of course, you can always opt to let the fast-paced world pass you by as lie on the beach and soak up some of that beautiful Florida sunshine.

Northeast Florida offers so many choices it may be difficult to decide where to begin your holiday. Rest assured that whatever you choose, you're sure to be dazzled.