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Family Kayaking Trip

The hotel offers many activities, some complimentary and some for a fee. We all were excited to book the guided kayaking trip that explores the island's inter-coastal waters. We booked this activity for our first full day at the hotel, and it was a good choice.

Our guide for the trip was Casey, a delightful young woman who was eager to share her wealth of knowledge about the island, and her enthusiasm for the island's natural beauty was infectious. She drove us to be outfitted at Kayak Amelia, about a 10-minute drive from the hotel, pointing out unspoiled Big Talbot Island State Park along the way. Kayak Amelia gave us the choice of individual or tandem kayaks, and we agreed that as novices, the individual ones would be easier to maneuver. Casey explained that the direction of the current would decide which way we would travel.

With Casey as our leader, we felt we were in good hands and headed north. The scenic waterways led us through picturesque salt marshes, where the only people in sight were a few fishermen. We ended up on a sand bar, about two hours from our starting point and docked our kayaks, and got out to explore this remote corner of seemingly untouched sand. It gave us a stunning view of the area, and we felt like Robinson Crusoe as we walked barefoot on this deserted beach. Kayaking back against the current was tiring and a bit anti-climactic, but Casey was encouraging that we could do it, despite our sore muscles.

Casey embodied the eager to please spirit that we encountered with much of the staff at the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. The word "no" does not seem to be in the vocabulary of the multi-tasking staff. Throughout our stay, we saw Casey perform a variety of jobs, all with a warm and genuine smile. This can do attitude was evident when we wanted to have a picnic dinner on the beach one evening. We shopped for provisions at a local supermarket, and the staff provided us with a basket, blanket, and linen napkins, everything we could possibly need for a casual yet elegant al fresco dinner.

Activites for Teens and Tots

After our family kayaking trip, the kids were ready for some teen-oriented fun, and my husband and I were looking forward to spending some adult time together. We booked a surfing lesson that the hotel offers for the kids, and the gentle waves proved just right for two first timers. Brad, the surfing instructor, was yet another young staff member whose true desire to be helpful was what made our family vacation at the Ritz-Carlton such a stand out. Like much of the staff, he does many jobs, all with a smile. He got the teens in the group outfitted with wet suits and surf-boards, and demonstrated on land before the group waded out into the surf to try their hand at the waves.

Maddy was a bit anxious, as she had seen quite a few jellyfish in the ocean the previous day.  Brad, a native of Amelia Island, patiently helped to ease her worries by explaining the seasonal patterns of the Island's marine life, and that the jellyfish rarely stung anyone. It did the trick, and the group paddled out on their surfboards. Everyone in the group managed to stand up and ride a wave for a few seconds. Alec rode several waves, and really got the feel of surfing. All the teens in the group said that they had a great time.

Alec and Maddy were tired after their foray into the world of surfing, and wanted to have lunch spend the rest of the day relaxing by the pool, which features views of the Atlantic Ocean. They ate at the poolside Ocean Bar & Grill and raved about the burgers and fish tacos. They also wanted to hang out in the Our Space lounge, billed as a place that teens can call their own. Aiming to please this most discriminating age group, the sleek space is equipped with all the modern technology that a teen could ask for, including Wii, X-box , iPods and docking stations, and of course, Internet access. They enjoyed playing air hockey and foosball in the teen friendly indoor area, but commented that it was most certainly not for teens only, as it was full of younger children enjoying the variety of games offered.

Younger children are well-catered to at the hotel as well. The Ritz-Kids program (for children ages 5 to 12) is well-known for providing a plethora of fun activities. The Ritz-Kids Night Out evening program is very popular with families, as the kids have dinner, watch movies, and do crafts, while parents can enjoy an adult-only evening. The hotel even offers Pirate and Princess tuck-in at bedtime.