Jacksonville, Florida, is on the banks of the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida about 25 miles from the southern Georgia border. During the early 1800s, plantations became important economic centers in Jacksonville, exporting cotton, lumber, oranges and vegetables to the northern states. Whether touring by land or water, you'll enjoy the historic glimpse into Jacksonville and the surrounding area's plantation-era past.
Explore Fort George Island, home to the Kingsley Plantation, by kayak. Kayak Adventure's Kingsley Plantation Historical Tour departs from Timucuan Preserve's Ribault Center and takes you through the waterways where you'll see many species of birds and sea creatures such as manatees, eagle rays and dolphins. You'll stroll through the plantation to see the owner's home, kitchen house, barn and nearly two dozen slave cabins, still standing, in a half-circle at the edge of what used to be cotton fields. Kayak Adventures also offers a 3-day, 2-night kayaking adventure to Georgia's Cumberland Island Seashore. On this tour, you'll visit the historic town of St. Marys, Georgia, and the ruins of Dungeness as well as the Stafford Plantation ruins, known as “The Chimneys.”
Kayak Adventures
616, 12th Ave. N
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
904-251-0016
kayakjacksonville.com
e2Ride Bike Tours offers a selection of tours of the Jacksonville area. You can bike through historic Mandarin, home of the Walter Jones Historical Park. This park is on the 31.2 acres bought in 1873 by Mayor William Webb for his cotton and orange plantation. You can visit the restored homestead, barn and sawmill. You'll cover 12 miles by bike, stopping numerous times to view local attractions. This biking tour operator also offers a tour of the National Historic Neighborhoods of Avondale and Riverside, just south of downtown Jacksonville, where you can view antebellum homes and southern-style mansions. One local tour operator, EcoMotion Tours, offers you Segway tours of Fort George Island and the Kingsley Plantation.
E2Ride Bike Tours
1468 Hendricks Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32207
9074-945-1571
e2ride.com
EcoMotion Tours
11255 Fort George Road
Jacksonville, FL 32226
904-251-9477
ecomotiontours.com
Take the Amelia Island driving tour offered by AdLib Luxury Tours for an interesting eight-stop historical adventure. Amelia Island, about 45 minutes north of Jacksonville, is known as the "Isle of Eight Flags" and is steeped in history. Stops along the way include the Kingsley Plantation, downtown Fernandina and former Spanish Fort San Carlos. Tour Time calls its similar bus tour to Amelia Island "island hopping by motorcoach."
AdLib Luxury Tours and Transportation
421 W Silverthorn Lane
Ponte Vedra, FL 32081
904-827-1845
adlibtours.com
Tour Time Inc.
3860 Magnolia St.
Middleburg FL 32068-5136
904-282-8500
tourtimeinc.com
