The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

One of only a handful of resorts in Florida with both a beach and golf course, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island also features tennis, horseback riding, fine dining, a world-class spa, and views of the Atlantic Ocean from every guest room balcony. The eightstory, U-shaped hotel crowns 13 acres of courtyards, gardens, and dunes on Amelia Island, just 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville.

For groups, the resort practices its brand of AA Five Diamond Award–winning hospitality in more than 35,000 square feet of meeting space and at an array of outdoor venues. An expert culinary team, conference managers, technicians, and destination services orchestrate everything to perfection, from small business meetings to gala corporate events. The $22.1-million Talbot Ballroom will add more than 11,000 square feet of meeting space in the fall of 2009, making the hotel one of the largest conference venues in the region.

The resort rests on Amelia Island, the southernmost in a chain of barrier islands. The wild beauty of sand dunes, palms, and native oaks combines with inspiration from the nearby community of Fernandina Beach, where national landmark status preserves an atmosphere of carefree Victorian charm. Guests of The Ritz-Carlton soak up a sense of place not only at the beach and golf course but also in the 444 guest rooms, four restaurants and lounges, and through such signature spa treatments as Heaven in a Hammock.