Having complained and sulked about the weather here in the North East( yes, I sulk) my husband thought that a trip to Florida would be nice. We decided to combine seeing family with exploring northeast Florida, so we went to Jacksonville last week.

Getting there:
We flew on Continental. The airfare was about $400-for two, we flew out of Newark. Security was a breeze, although I forgot about the taking off of shoes thing, so I had to walk barefooted on the floor through the metal detector, ick ick. Then we sat around the airport for an hour having breakfast and watching CNN. These days, no matter where you go, CNN will be there to watch.
We flew on an Express Jet, loved it! Seats 50, there were only 30-something people on board, two seats on one side, one on the other. One flight attendant. Clean and comfortable. By the time I finished my magazine, it was time to land.
We rented our car from Enterprise, right there at the airport. They gave us a free upgrade, so we got a Mitsubishi Galant. We drive a foreign car, so my husband thought we would be more comfortable driving the Galant instead of a Taurus or SUV. The cost was about $37. a day. Unlimited mileage in three states.

Staying there:
We stayed at the Adams Mark Hotel in downtown Jacksonville, on the St Johns River. Faaabulous views, comfortable room, the hotel is only about 2 years old, so nothing is worn or tired yet. Housekeeping could get their act together a little more, and there were a few stray Spring Breakers a couple of nights, but it wasn't that bad. I must warn you though, if you want small, intimate, cozy-forget the Adams Mark. They had a Mary Kay convention, a Linesmans Rodeo (more on that later) and a Southern Baptist Preachers convention, all at the same time.
*Linesmans Rodeo-when I saw these men getting on our elevator, carrying cowboy hats, but wearing shirts that advertised Electric companies, I had to ask! They had a competition where they would do their linesmans work, but be graded on it, someone would get an award for the Best Linesman at the Banquet Saturday night.* I must say-the outfits that we saw on those elevators going to that banquet room were quite entertaining.(You know-short tight slinky dresses with sun burn lines showing, and cowgirl boots?)

Eating there:
Thanks to great recommendations , we ate well every night. The following is the list, they were all excellent!
bb's-Hendricks Ave,Jax.bistro-ish, 4 people had different dishes, they were all sooo good.

Biscottis-St Johns Ave, Jax. sister bistro to bb's, not quite as busy or dressy, but also very good.

Bistro Aix-San Marco Blvd, Jax. amazing grilled grouper, mussels & fries, 50 wines by the glass, very, very good.

We walked to the Landing each day and got a Frappacino at Starbucks then walked along the river . Stay away from the restaurants at the Landing, waaay too touristy bad food. Unless you absolutely love nachos and beer, and everything fried.
Speaking of fried, we went to a fish place one night, luckily I got the grilled swordfish, the rest of the food was soaked in grease. No one does grease like a Southern cook! Fried fish, fried hushpuppies, fried potatoes, I thought they were going to fry the cole slaw!
One night we went for down home Mexican. Nothing to write home about, but authentic which was good.

Amelia Island:
One of the highlights of the trip. This tiny island is so charming, has such an excellent mix of things to see and do, even if you don't play golf! My favorite part is the Fernandina beach Historic District. All of these charming, beautiful old Victorian houses and buildings, the entire place is on the National Register of Historic Places, right by the beach! What more could you ask for?
OK, shopping! One cute little shop after another. I don't know why, but my husband was not as excited about it as I was, but we did manage a little gift shopping here and there.
Fernandina Beach is quite touristy, but not obnoxious about it. There were a few nice places for lunch, The Marina-family run, busy, noisy, home cooking. We liked Bretts Waterway Cafe, right by the water, eat a seafood salad and watch the pelicans fight over a fish!
I never did get to see a Manatee though.

St Augustine:
We drove down ( about 45 minutes south on I-95) and decided to park in the neighborhood and walk all over the town. It was 83 degrees, a nice wind blowing, all thoughts of cold NY floated right out of my little ole head.
We saw the church where Henry Flagler and his family are buried, lovely Spanish architecture, everywhere you look there are the live oaks dripping with moss...sigh, so romantic.
The homes that have been restored are lovely, the others are a little sad and shabby. ST Augustine itself, with the shops and pedestrian streets is a mess of tourist traps but we wandered down the streets, just for the atmosphere. Wandered over to the water way and the Fort. By then, our feet had just about given out, so we headed back to the car, stopping for my favorite drink along the way-Sweet tea~

Ponte Vedra:
I was not impressed. There are plenty of huge expensive overdone homes up here, don't need to look at them in Florida too.

Going home:
We should have known that the flight to Florida was so nice, we were going to pay for it on the way back.
Jacksonvilles Airport is just fine..not as big as some, not that small either. Clean and well run.
The security took about 7 minutes, we had TSA people scan us, they locked my suitcase with those tie thingees and were smiling and pleasant. We were, of course, ready to fly about 2 hours before the flight time. So we got some papers and sat down to pass the time, reading and listening to CNN..no matter where you go...CNN.
Then the Continental people took the time of departure off of the little plaque and didn't put a new one up..Hmmm, something is afoot!
A while later, I am thinking of getting on a plane already! When they tell us that they flight will not be at 12:20 but at 1:30-they are waiting for a part to a fire extinguisher. OK.
Around 2:00 the cattle were getting restless and mooing quite loudly, so they made an announcement. The part to the fire extinguisher was a cap, we could not fly without it. We were going to have to wait until................
the Courier drove to Jacksonville from Orlando on I-95 with the little cap clutched in his hand to put on our fire extinguisher so we could fly back home.
We left Jax at around 4:00. The pilot groveled a little, then told us we would fly higher and faster to make up for the wait. We would be in Newark in an hour and a half!! Maybe we were, but we had to circle Newark for an hour so we didn't really care that much by then.
I have written a note to Continental. I was lucky not to be one of the people meeting an international flight, and missing it. But I did have people and a pup waiting for me. So far, Continental has apologized, but I am holding out for the free upgrade and trip to a destination of my choice...hey! I can dream can't I?
I will let you know what happens with that.

So, that is my trip to Florida, hope you enjoyed it.

Hi Scarlett!

I posted a rather lengthy reply to this earlier but for some reason it didn't take.

But so glad you had a faboo time in FL! Just wanted to let you know that the kids saw the ocean for the very first time when we visited Jacksonville as a daytrip from Valdosta, GA where my brother lives.

Sorry you didn't get to see any manatees. : ( Wanna come to Cincy to see our wonderful Manatee Springs exhibit at the Cincinnati Zoo?? They are soooo sweet. The lay around with their flippers around each other's backs.

Your restaurant recs sound divine! Next time I go to Jacksonville I'll have to try 1 or 2 of them.

Scarlett, your perspective on experiences sounds so much like my daughter, I'm not sure that I didn't birth you. Did I? No matter.

I think your report was quite entertaining. It appears that your outlook on air travel is um . . . how shall I put it . . . cavalier, which is how most of us leisure travelers should regard it. You made my day by not being stressed out over the inconveniences.

Every single leisure traveler should have the same outlook as you.

I wish for you an early spring and a balmy summer.

Beatchick, thank you !
I really did want to see a manatee, I have heard how gentle they are. Guess maybe a visit to Cincy should be my next trip
I didn't want to bore people to tears with descriptions of every bite that I took, but if you like seafood and wonderful salads, the restaurants that I listed are the places to go!
Catherine,
How nice! I might be someones long lost daughter, who knows
The way I try to look at things is, there is always something so much worse that could happen, so why get crazy over the small things. We were safe and arrived , which these days are quite enough to keep me fairly happy
But I still hope Continental makes nice with some vouchers~
ciao, Scarlett

Keep, dreamin', Miss Scarlett, keep dreamin' and maybe a little present from Continental will pop up in the mail. You never know!!

Now, Scarlett, of all the restaurants you listed which one was your favorite and why?

Also, where did you do your research? Here on Fodors?

Hi Beatchick,
I do a lot of research on Fodors! While I read many trip reports and replies to questions about Florida in general, I did post some of my own and got some great advice.
The restaurants were advice from Fodors and from my daughter, in Florida.
My favorite I think was Bistro Aix.
Lunch one afternoon, outside under big umbrellas with music, flowers and vines, great service, calamari salads and sweet tea
Dinner one night, boisterous, full of nicely dressed cheerful people. The staff is excellent, wine was very good, dinner was grilled grouper with leek mashed potatoes and roasted veggies. Dessert, which is soooo important to me, was a molten Belgian chocolate cake in a pool of Creme Anglais...aaahhh~
We paid for everyone so I have no idea how much dinner for two would be

Howdy Miz Scarlett!
Great report. Maybe I should give that part of Florida a try??

Glad you got away, got some sun, got some family time in.

Hey, Mel!
Yes, give that part of Florida a try
Actually, when the winter up here gets to you, you will be happy just about anywhere in Florida,:lol!

Hey Scarlett, you come to Ohio stop by Columbus and I'll buy you a cocktail...

Great report. I really enjoyed reading it. :->

Aww shucks, buckeymom, I would love to

This website really does give great advice, doesn't it??

And Bistro Aix sounded like my favorite, too, and now that you've described it further it sounds DIVINE!! Yummy! : D Especially dinner - ooh la la.

Hi Mel Belle!!

Hey, Buckeyemom! Greetings from Cincy!!

Maybe we should have a get together for Fodorites living in this part of the world???

Buckeyeymom, talk to Rex - I think he's already trying to gather interest.