Page 317 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

THE NOR THEAST  315

several wading birds. Hiking
trails vary from boardwalks
and short loop trails to the
66-mile (106-km) stretch of
the National Scenic Trail.
Bass-fishing is popular, and
there are swimming holes and
campgrounds at the recreation
areas of Salt Springs and
Alexander Springs.
Canoe rental is widely
available; the 7-mile (11-km)
canoe run down Juniper Creek
from the Juniper Springs
Recreation Area is one of the
finest in Florida. The Salt Springs
Fernandina’s Beech Street Grill with Chinese Chippendale motifs trail is especially good for bird-
watching. There are guides at
o Fernandina south, the Amelia Island Museum the main visitor center on the
Beach of History occupies the former jail forest’s western fringe or at
and offers twice daily, 90-minute the centers at Salt Springs and
* 12,000. £ Jacksonville. guided history tours recounting Lake Dorr, on Route 19.
@ Jacksonville. n 961687 Gateway the island’s turbulent past – from
Blvd Ste 101 G, (904) 261-3248. the time of its first Native American Environs
inhabitants to the early 1900s. Silver Springs State Park, on
The town of Fernandina Beach Fort Clinch State Park, at the the western border of Ocala
on Amelia Island, just across the island’s northern tip, has trails, National Forest, 29 miles (46 km)
St. Mary’s River from Georgia, was beaches, and campsites, as well west of the Juniper Springs
famous as a pirates’ den until the as a fort that dates from 1847. Recreation Area, is the world’s
early 1800s. Its harbor attracted a Park rangers dress in Civil War largest artesian spring and
motley crew of foreign adven- uniforms and perform 19th- Florida’s oldest tourist attraction.
turers, whose various allegiances century war re-enactments one Its famous glass-bottomed boat
earned the island its soubriquet, weekend a month. tours have been running since
the “Isle of Eight Flags.” Today, 1878. In 2013, the Florida Park
Fernandina is better known as E Amelia Island Museum Service took over the former
a charming Victorian resort. of History tourist attraction, where the
Considered to be the birthplace 233 S 3rd St. Tel (904) 261-7378. early Tarzan movies starring
of Florida’s shrimp industry, Open daily. Closed public hols. Johnny Weissmuller were
it no longer leads the fleet in & 7 lim ited. 8 daily. filmed. The park offers a wide
shrimp exports. However, the ∑ ameliamuseum.org range of recreational facilities,
picturesque boats can still be including walking trails, a
seen and shrimp can be eaten p Ocala National campground, cabins, picnic
at at the annual Isle of Eight Forest area with a play ground,
Flags Shrimp Festival in April. a swimming hole in a bend
Occupying a large section of Open daily. & campgrounds & of the crystal-clear river, and
the town’s Historic District, the swimming areas. 7  Visitor glass-bottom boats.
Silk Stocking District was named Center: 45621 State Rd, 19 Altoona.
after the affluence of its original Tel (352) 669-7495. Juniper Springs } Silver Springs State Park
residents. Sea captains and timber Canoe Rental: Tel (352) 625-2808. 1425 NE 58th Ave, Ocala. Tel (352)
barons built homes here in a ∑ fs.usda.gov/ocala 236-7148. Open daily. & 7
variety of styles. Queen Anne
houses with turrets jostle with Between Ocala and the
graceful Italianate residences St. John’s River, the world’s
and fine Chinese Chippendale largest sand pine forest
structures, such as the Beech covers 366,000 acres
Street Grill. The weathered (148,000 ha) and is
buildings on Centre Street once crisscrossed by rivers and
housed chandleries and naval hiking trails. One of the last
stores. Antique shops and gift refuges of the Florida black
shops have now replaced them; bear, it is also home to
the 1878 Palace Saloon, however, animals such as deer and
still serves a wicked Pirate’s Punch otter, and a variety of birds
at the mahogany bar adorned with such as bald eagles, barred Visitors enjoying a glass-bottom boat ride at
hand-carved caryatids. Farther owls, wild turkey, and Silver Springs State Park

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