If bidding farewell to carefree summer days has got you
down, we've got just the ticket to banish those back-to-school blues. We're
giving away a four-day family vacation on Amelia Island,
voted one of the top island destinations in North America by the readers of
Conde Nast Traveler. This 13-mile barrier island off the northeasternmost coast of
Florida is known for its long stretches of pristine shoreline and endless
outdoor activities, from shelling and nature tours to kayaking, biking, and
horseback riding on the beach.
One lucky family will receive a three-night stay at the island's newest hotel, Residence Inn by Marriott on Amelia Island. The hotel offers a lot for families to love, including 133 spacious suites with fully-equipped kitchens, complimentary breakfast, and fun special events such as tastings from local restaurants, Wednesday barbecues, and manager's toasts. The prize also includes four tickets for Amelia River Cruises, whose one- to two-hour narrated tours promise many chances to spy frolicking dolphins or the wild horses on nearby Cumberland Island.
To enter, leave a comment before September 30, telling us your family's favorite beach activity. One entry per person, please. We'll pick one winner at random in early October.
September 5. 2009 15:45
We love to build sandcastles and walk on the beach.
Would love to win this. My youngest daughter is named after Amelia Island!
Jamie
September 5. 2009 15:54
I'm second! Woot!
We live in Florida and really want to go to Amelia Island. Have never been there.
We're a beach family and live 30 minutes from it and spend almost every other weekend there.
Thanks for the contest
Joseph
September 5. 2009 16:14
This looks like a beautiful paradise!! I would love to come and explore it.
sharon
September 5. 2009 16:24
Our favorite beach activity is to ride bikes through a little beach town and then down to the road that runs along the beach. My four year old finally rides his own bike and loves to lead the way, while my two year old just enjoys the breeze and the scenery.
I have always wanted to see Florida's beaches. I really hope we win!
Amber
September 5. 2009 16:43
We like to go shelling, especially on Sanibel Island.
carol
September 5. 2009 16:51
Reading about Amelia Island, this is a place I'd love to explore and take my family. The area is beautiful and full of wonderful places to create memories.
Peter
September 5. 2009 18:10
We have relatives we would like to visit
desiree
September 5. 2009 18:35
My 2 year old loves to fill bucket molds with sand, turn them old, and squash them while yelling "Boom!" He never gets tired of it.
Kristi
September 5. 2009 18:36
That was supposed to say "turn them out"
Kristi
September 5. 2009 18:42
Taking our grandson boogie boarding
susan
September 5. 2009 19:13
As a family we just like to relax on the beach, read a book, sleep,etc. I would love to ride the horses, though. Sounds wonderful.
Cathy
September 5. 2009 19:26
My little boy, who is three, just loves the beach. And the latest addition to our family, a little girl, has not yet been! Unfortunately, we live in the middle of PA and have to travel quite far to get to the coast. We recently moved from CA and it would be refreshing to bask in the sun with our two children and show them the beauty of the beach!
Misha
September 5. 2009 21:22
My son got his first bodyboard this summer and both he and his sister now love riding the small waves in the Gulf.
Brett
September 5. 2009 21:36
I love Florida in the fall and winter. I walk the beach in the morning. I walk the beach after dinner and watch the sunset. Nature, the ocean, peace, that is what life is all about.
Carmella
September 5. 2009 22:23
We love to walk along the beach and pick up seashells.
lisa
September 5. 2009 23:34
My husband and I love to just relax on the beach while my son and his friend rushes from one activity to the other. Watching the children play is the highlight of our beach stay.
Yulonda
September 6. 2009 02:24
My 2-1/2 yo daughter just learned to love the beach this year. Her favorite activity is to have her daddy dig big holes, fill 'em up with water, and then make drip castles
Me, I like watching her and sitting on the beach. It beats chasing after a toddler in the park any day!
Regina
September 6. 2009 03:27
We like to make sandcastles.
Jennifer
September 6. 2009 05:01
two little sand eaters and a baby chaser here! thanks for the contest!
meg
September 6. 2009 06:26
We love to walk on the beach, play board games if a rainy day and eat seafood. Love the beach. semtaylor@yahoo.com
Susan
September 6. 2009 09:50
My kids love to surf and we just enjoy the sun snd scenery oh and the awesome seafood!
Bridget
September 6. 2009 13:35
We love to ride the waves! Then come back under the shade and enjoy a packed lunch. It wouldn't be a beach lunch unless you tasted a little gritty sand in your mouth along with the sandwich!
Joanie
September 6. 2009 13:56
Just relaxing on a chaise lounge and listening to the waves is paradise.
Darlene
September 6. 2009 14:04
Favorite Beach Activity? We just like to relax, soak up the sunshine and watch the waves.
Diana
September 6. 2009 15:25
We love walking down the beach and building sand castles. Our favorite beach is in Florida. I would love to check out this one. Thanks for the chance to win.
Renee
September 6. 2009 17:20
We love going to the beach right after a storm and collecting the amazing shells!
Rachel
September 6. 2009 17:43
My family's favorite beach activity is just riding the waves. Thanks for the giveaway!
Chris G.
September 6. 2009 18:45
We are giving my two boys their first beach experience this weekend. I'd love for them to learn more!
Jill
September 6. 2009 18:57
My 1 1/2 year old son has not been to the beach yet, so our trip would be filled with exploratory adventures!!
Whitney
September 6. 2009 18:57
We like to dig in the sand & find shells. =)
Craig
September 6. 2009 19:01
What a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.
Our family loves all the usual stuff: sand castles, making dams in the tide run-off. I'm about 6 years away from enjoying a book while the kids play by themselves. I know I'll miss it, but that book sounds so good most days!
Heidi
September 6. 2009 21:00
going in the water
cathie
September 6. 2009 21:33
We love to body surf. And we love to just relax, have a drink and read a good book.
Carolyn
September 6. 2009 22:19
Jumping huge waves in Martha's Vineyard!
suzy
September 6. 2009 22:24
My kids love looking for seashells on the beach. They are also learning to snorkel and enjoy that as well.
Sandy
September 6. 2009 23:33
The first- and last time- my girls were at the beach was February-April of this year. On Boston's South Shore. Not exactly beach-going weather. But we made the best of it picking up shells and digging sand into buckets while bundled in winter coats, hats and mittens. I would love to win this so my girls can actually enter the water and feel the sand between their toes!
Jody
September 6. 2009 23:57
We love to ride the surf
Linda Lansford
September 7. 2009 00:00
Our favorite family beach activity was walking with the horses on Cumberland Island.
Greg
September 7. 2009 01:55
I like to just chill with a good book at the beach!
Kim
September 7. 2009 03:36
The three girls in my life (my wife and daughters)just love the sea,sun, and sand and it makes me so happy to see their joy and experience it with them.
ed
September 7. 2009 03:37
My mom and i love to sunbathe, hunt shells, and ride the waves!
DANA
September 7. 2009 05:05
Our favorite beach activity is swimming in the water until dusk... then watching the sun set.
Elizabeth
September 7. 2009 10:46
Shelling. Naples, FL is great, and the family loves to do it together.
Richard
September 7. 2009 13:37
Walking our dogs on the beach is our favorite beach past-time.
Mike
September 7. 2009 16:38
We would love to just lay on the beach and enjoy the water.
Patricia
September 7. 2009 19:26
With 13-miles of beautiful beaches and pristine waters Amelia Island was voted #6 among Top 10 North American Islands by Conde Nast Traveler's 2008 Reader's poll. It's time I got there and maybe We Just Got Back will turn me on my heels set me on my way to Amelia Island.
nancy
September 8. 2009 01:44
Relaxing wife my wife, kids playing in the sand
paul
September 8. 2009 09:35
We have little kids, so we play in the surf and build sand castles.
heather
September 8. 2009 14:51
Last visited there as a kid and loved it!
Wlking on the beach would have to be overall favorite.
Matthew
September 8. 2009 18:47
Ohhh, we'd love to put our toes in the sand of Amelia Island! Could you include airfare??
mary
September 8. 2009 19:40
Are family likes to go to beach to sit and watch the waves roll in. We also like to take walks on the beach also.
candy
September 8. 2009 21:42
If the grandkids are with us we can be found digging in the sand and playing in the waves. If it's just the two of us we're more likely to be relaxing in the sand with a good book!
Cindy B. in Montana
September 9. 2009 01:38
We love to collect shells and, of course, make sandcastles (Ava likes to smash them like a dinosaur).
We reeeeeally need a vacation. We would love to actually live near the beach one day.
Amy
September 9. 2009 02:04
We love building sand castles at our local beach in Pacifica!
danielle
September 9. 2009 08:42
I like to walk on the beach with my husband.
Laura
September 9. 2009 10:09
We like to collect shells on the beach. My Dad moved to Florida 5 years ago and it would be so nice to see him again for me & my son.
Mika
September 9. 2009 10:32
My husband and I always have our daughter (23)and my son (29) and his family with us which includes 2 grandkids. Who could ask for more! Grandpa and myself usually stay close to the beach so the kids can enjoy the waves, shells, crabs, etc. We also enjoy the pool. In the evening we take in the sights which always include a family game of putt putt! I has become a yearly event for us.
Elizabeth
September 9. 2009 12:29
We love to sit on beach chairs and watch the waves - very relaxing and peaceful
cheryl
September 9. 2009 12:41
Personally, I love to jump in the waves, but my kids love to walk the boardwalk and play in the sand. I'm happy as long as they're happy!
Melanie
September 9. 2009 13:12
Daily life with two teenagers can be stressful and so full of busy schedules that we forget what is really important.
The beach is our peaceful stress free time to regroup and reconnect as a family. There is something about walking on the beach that brings out the best in everyone!
Paula
September 9. 2009 16:10
Never been there. Would love to go!
Paula
September 9. 2009 16:13
My favorite is walking on the beach just when the sun is going down. Great way to end a fun day at the beach. semtaylor@yahoo.com
Susan
September 9. 2009 18:51
My girls and I love to hunt for sand crabs at the beach!
Marianne
September 9. 2009 23:29
My girls and I are so happy just being on the beach having fun, eating and playing in the sand, being together. It's the simple things that make life so much fun. Spending time with each other is the best gift anyone can give us, especially with the economy today taking the girls on a vacation would be something I would never be able to do,along having a family of 5 to take.
Michelle
September 9. 2009 23:45
My family and I were in Miami this summer and Florida is great.
john
September 10. 2009 09:52
Our family likes to body surf. My husband has vacationed on Amelia Island when he was a boy. It would be nice for him to visit it again.
JM
September 10. 2009 11:09
My husband recently introduced our 3 year old to the fun of playing in the surf. We'd love to try it out on Amelia Island!
Mary
September 10. 2009 11:16
Have never been to Amelia Island and hear it is very nice--would love to win.
carole
September 10. 2009 18:33
Favorite beach activity... hmmm...
playing in the sand and making rivers, lakes and castles, and playing in the water.
Aaron
September 10. 2009 21:11
There are so many wonderful things that my family and I love to do at the beach...from attempting to make sand castles to finding sea shells or just sunbathing. However, one of our favorites is to enjoy the beach at night...its a whole new experience...so beautiful to lay on the sand pick out stars and make wishes or sitting on the life guard chairs and enjoy listening and looking at the waves crash the shore!!!
Alex
Alex
September 11. 2009 04:17
I need a break and something to look forward to!
Patti
September 11. 2009 05:45
Digging in the sand and jumping in the surf are our faves!
jodi
September 11. 2009 09:15
Our favorite activity is walking on the sand and chatting as we enjoy the view! Thank you for the giveaway!
Beeb
September 11. 2009 14:34
A favorite beach activity for the family is to walk along the water. Not a lot of us like to go in, but it's nice to be in the sand.
Kari
September 11. 2009 18:56
Running with no obstacles in sight!
Alyssa
September 11. 2009 19:27
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September 12. 2009 02:33
My family and I like to picnic on the beach and then take a long walk afterwards.
Vanessa S
September 12. 2009 04:18
Horseshoes on the beach while watching the sunset.
John
September 12. 2009 05:01
If the weather's right (a bit windy is best) we love to do wave jumping. Launch yourself into an oncoming wave & let it carry you ashore or you might float over the top. My 10 yr. old daughter says it makes her feel like "a tossed salad."
Barbara
September 12. 2009 05:04
My son doesn't really like to get in the waves yet, so we go to beaches that have tide pools and he sails his boats! This is a great prize-thanks!
Madeliene
September 12. 2009 05:17
We love to bury our kids in the sand. The also love looking for treasures of each beach they explore,shark teeth from Venice to the shells and starfish of Sanibel. We have quite a collection from different locales in Florida . Every year we like to visit a different beach to add to our scrapbook and keep the kids excited about theor next adventure.
Melissa
September 12. 2009 05:20
Amelia Island is the best beach hands down. u can even see the skyway bridge from the north end. thanks for the great giveaway!
trin
September 12. 2009 05:21
i would love to take our kids to the beach and watch them attack the waves! they are 1 and 2 and just getting used to the water. hope we win!!! - leah (nystraldjo at hotmail dot com)
leah
September 12. 2009 05:27
Our family loves the beach! We like to find shells, build sandcastles, and take family walks along the ocean.
Stephanie
September 12. 2009 06:12
Our family enjoys long walks on the beach, sitting in our beach chairs and soaking up the warmth of the sun, playing catch in the ocean, attempting to build fabulous sand castles but falling short and laughing about it and leaving our day to day routines behind.
Colleen
September 12. 2009 06:36
Would love to take my grandchildren there they love to wade in the water and play in the sand also they like to collect different shells for their collection and make shell crafts with them.
laura
September 12. 2009 06:43
Our family LOVES everything about the beach. We truly cannot wait to MOVE there someday, as we now live in PA. We love to swim, build sandcastles, walk the shoreline, and SHELLING. We spend hours looking for unique shells and finds. There is nothing more serene than the beach with all the sounds, smells, colors and genuine overall feelings! It's heaven!
Marla
September 12. 2009 06:45
Just watching the waves and picking up seashells
R
September 12. 2009 06:52
We love playing volleyball
mike
September 12. 2009 07:04
love to body surf in spite of the sand in all the wrong places
sure beats spending 5 out of 7 days at the ice rink for both hockey and figure skating
Jodi
September 12. 2009 07:09
I grew up in Jacksonville Beach and never went to Amelia Island. Would love to go and take my kids.
Dodi
September 12. 2009 08:27
Our favorite would be to tie hot dogs to strings and catch crabs in the rocks and feed the seagulls.
Kim
September 12. 2009 09:40
my wife and I love to walk on the beach
ronald
September 12. 2009 11:50
I love to just relax and watch my husband and daughter play in the sand.
Yolanda
September 12. 2009 12:35
I'm tired of trying to find a new and exotic place to travel...it would be nice to find a great getaway place right off the coast of florida!
glenna
September 12. 2009 15:52
We've been to beautiful Miami Beach once and CANNOT WAIT TO RETURN with our CHILDREN to share the beauty with them~
Debbie
September 12. 2009 16:29
Like to feel the sea breezes and the cool sand between our toes; listen to the call of the sea gulls or the lapping of the waves; build sand castles and memories.
Diane
September 12. 2009 16:48
My kids are sand lovers! As soon as we hit the beach, it's time to dig. They can build sand castles, sand cities, sand bridges all day. It's even OK to watch it all get washed away when the tide comes in...
Colleen
September 12. 2009 17:54
We'd love to take long walks on the beach
Mireille
September 12. 2009 22:41
I end up using my daughters float to just chill in the water while she snorkles next to me.
Glenda
September 13. 2009 04:23
My 9 year old loves to boogie board through the waves at the Jersey shore. My 4 year old tries to imitate him on his mini-board, but won't go in past his knees! We love the beach and would love to visit Amelia Island!
Natalie
September 13. 2009 05:54
My family loves walking on the beach and collecting sea shells. Amelia Island looks SO relaxing!!
althea
Althea
September 14. 2009 17:45
We LOVE to walk on the beach and collect shells.
Jill
September 15. 2009 01:27
We love to sit on the beach and watch the waves go in and out.
AMS
September 15. 2009 05:32
We love flying over the waves. As the waves come in, I "fly" my son over the waves. Great arm workout.
Susan
September 15. 2009 09:40
We try to walk the length of the beach, or at least the nice looking areas. Also, trying to find rocky areas along the beach that you can climb on is fun.
Thanks for this sweet giveaway chance!
Courtenay
September 15. 2009 21:20
My 2 girls and I haven't been to the beach together since they were 5 and 2 years of age. They are 15 and 12 now and have been a couple of times with their father. They tell me that they love bodysurfing in the waves. When they were little, they delighted in getting their toes wet while holding on firmly to my hands. They also loved looking for shells on the beach and looking for dolphins out in the water. I'd love to be able to take them on a beach vacation now that they're older. Thanks for having this contest and for the opportunity to win such a great trip.
Cheryl
September 15. 2009 22:28
We heart building sand castles.
Beth
September 15. 2009 22:42
We love to sit on the edge of the water and dig our hands into the sand, exploring and finding cool shells.
Lee
LeeChrista
September 15. 2009 22:44
We're big into snorkeling!
I had to talk my Middlest into it, but once she tried it, she overcame her fear of sharks and LOVED it.
--Lisa
Lisa
September 16. 2009 01:16
Our favorite used to be raft surfing now we just swim and sit and enjoy the beach, the surf and the sea smells and sounds
Tammy
September 16. 2009 03:15
Our favorite beach activity is watching our daughter play in the waves. Pure joy!
Sarah V.
September 16. 2009 09:07
I enjoy taking photos of my three kids burying themselves in the sand, riding the waves and eating a yummy picnic lunch. We would LOVE to get away and spend quality time together with no video games, television,or cell phones! lol!
Lauren
September 16. 2009 20:01
My kids are real water babes and love to swim and boogie board. They miss the ocean since we moved inland, so we'd love a few days on this island!
Karen
September 17. 2009 01:39
My girls love finding the biggest, best and most perfect seashell! The beach is so much fun. This sounds like so much fun! Thanks
Heather
September 17. 2009 10:35
I live in Indiana so there are no beaches around,but when we would go when I was young I loved ride the waves. It might sound Crazy but I love the smell of the salt water. My husband and my children ages 2 and 3 have never been this would be the ultimate vacation to win.
Lisa
September 19. 2009 03:32
beach vollye ball
jennifer gersch
September 19. 2009 05:45
We live in Florida and don't get to the beach as often as we would like to. We've never been to Amelia Island. When we do get to the beach, our kids love to build sandcastles and look for shells.
Layla
September 20. 2009 05:58
Our children love to build sand castles at the edge of the water and watch the surf sweep them away!
David
September 20. 2009 13:55
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September 20. 2009 19:47
We love to walk on the beach and collect shells and sea glass.
Amy
September 21. 2009 14:53
We love to look for shells and just spend quiet time together.
Angie
September 22. 2009 20:31
This is the most beautiful island can't wait to return!!
Kerry
September 23. 2009 01:38
We love to take walks and take pictures of the water, shells, birds, etc.
Erica
September 23. 2009 17:05
We all love to go to the beach, set up an umbrella and have a picnic lunch while listening to the sounds of the ocean waves roll in.
Debrajaye
September 23. 2009 22:22
I get the biggest kick out of looking for shells and sand dollars.
Lynda
September 23. 2009 23:10
The kids like to bury our(mom and dad) feet while we sit in our low beach chairs and read.
Alicia
September 24. 2009 00:13
Our family rented a condo on Pensacola Beach and enjoyed the beach, the pool, walks, Pegleg Pete's restaurant and Goofy Golf!
ann
September 26. 2009 06:20
We love to sit on the beach in our chairs with a drink in one hand, a book in the other and watch the waves come in. We would love to see the waves on Amelia Island!
sharon
September 26. 2009 06:24
We live in IL, so that means that if we are on a beach, we are on a vacation! Being away from the everyday stresses at home and spending quality family time together is our favorite thing about being on a beach. Watching the kids build sandcastles and finding shells is fun and relaxing, and they have so much fun, they usually forget to fight!
My husband and I both started businesses this year and I have had 5 (yes, 5!) shoulder surgeries this year and am in physical therapy 3 times a week, so we have not been able to get away. A beach vacation sounds wonderful about now!
Tonya
September 26. 2009 06:33
We like to run from the waves. As they crash we move out of the way so they don't get our feet!
Laurie
September 26. 2009 06:46
My family loves to spend time on the beach. We took our 2 and 14 year old sons on vacation this summer. The little one had a blast sitting and playing in the sand and wading in the ocean. The older one loves to search for unique shells and snorkel in the ocean. Our oldest son also has always wanted to go on an "island getaway".
Sherri
September 26. 2009 07:09
Our favorite beach activity is to sit on the balcony of the condo and beach watch all the beach goers. From those from the womb to the seniors. Love to watch families, lovers, babies, and those just friends. Thanks SW
sarah
September 26. 2009 07:10
Just having a vacation with me children would be a blessing. But, we are up for any sport or beach game. Thanks!
Angela
September 26. 2009 07:13
We are traditionalists, so we love building sand castles. My son's specialty is digging a hole, sitting in it, and calling it a 'sand chair.'
Ann
September 26. 2009 07:15
My daughter loves just to sit on the beach with the water just touching her and play with the sand.
Karen
September 26. 2009 07:23
We live in the very center of the Contenital US, which means Kansas. But we are in a county that is boardered on the east by the Missouri River, so we do get to see sand that is dregged up from the river.
Seriously, we have a granddaughter who lost her mother at the age of 6 months. We went to Virginia Beach because my husband was temporally stationed there a few years ago. She was not able to go with us. She asked if we would take her to the beach sometime. I would love to walk along the sand with her and show her the power of the ocean. You can't believe it until you see it. She is 12 and this would mean so much to us. Thank you.
Roberta
September 26. 2009 07:27
Our daughters (4 and 7) love to build all kinds of this in the sand and then go out and just in the waves.
Richard
September 26. 2009 07:29
To all. I am the head of the family with two daughters, one son, one new grandson( five months old) and a wife of 32 years of marriage. To be able to go back to the beach to enjoy the waves, the sand, the wind will be incredible To relive the memories of days go by is a dream come true
Thank you for this opportunity
Harry
September 26. 2009 08:00
Our family loves building sand castles - we also like playing frisbee, it's wonderful exercise!
Karen
September 26. 2009 08:04
We like collecting seashells in the morning on the beach.
Mary
September 26. 2009 08:07
We'd love to visit sunny Florida! What we like to do:
Dad (me): Chill with a cold drink, watching the waves and pondering the size of the Earth...
Kidzilla: Wakeboarding, digging in the sand, climbing whatever he can find to climb...
Mom: Taking pictures of the abovementioned participants...
Bryan
September 26. 2009 08:18
We love to play in the sand and make sandcastles.
The kids also like to jump into the waves and collect rocks.
Brenda
September 26. 2009 08:23
We live a couple of miles from the beach in Florida.
Bodysurfing, boogeyboarding and Kadima rule at our beach.
LOUIS
September 26. 2009 08:29
Our famiy loves to eat lunch, look for shells and any other interesting objects that wash up on the beach. Running in and out with the tide is always fun too and gets our kids excited! We've only experienced the west shores though since we live in Sacramento.
rob
September 26. 2009 08:30
Our favorite beach activity is walking the beach early in the morning and looking for shells and whatever else mother ocean has revealed overnight.
Audra
September 26. 2009 08:49
My family enjoys checking out the piers for fishing, taking long walks barefoot in the sand, and eating at seafood restaurants.
Patty
September 26. 2009 09:01
I have three boys and we love to go seining. We drag the net in the shallow water and use a big bucket full of water to observe the sea life before we set it free. Every kid on the beach likes to help.
Paula
September 26. 2009 09:18
My son just LOVES boogie boarding, and my daughter just LOVES collecting shells. My husband and I like doing both as well as taking walks along the beach.
Robin
September 26. 2009 09:19
Our favorite beach activity is to walk/run along the shore. In the warmer months, we try to accomplish it early in the day - when it's a little cooler. But in the fall,or even the winter, when the beaches no longer attract a crowd (because it is no longer summer...) we can still enjoy the beach!
ELSIE
September 26. 2009 09:21
My daughter and I watched some trained volunteers dig up a sea turtle nest and release some babies into the sea. It was wondrous to see them scramble into the surf!
Joy
September 26. 2009 09:24
We love playing in the sand and looking for shells along the beach. We would love to win this trip. It has been way too long since we have been able to have a vacation! I would love to be able to bring the kids to a real beach!
Rebecca
September 26. 2009 09:25
We love to fly kites on the beach!
Sue
September 26. 2009 09:48
We like to sit at the edge of the water and read while the kids enjoy boogie boarding and jumping in the waves.
Margie
September 26. 2009 10:08
We love watching through our three-year-old's eyes as he plays and explores in the sand. We've never taken him to the ocean, so this would bliss!
Kristi
September 26. 2009 10:08
I love to walk on the beach and look for shells. I also love the sound of the waves. I grew up in Louisiana, so we were close enough to vacation on the Gulf Coast occasionally. But I live in Wisconsin now and I miss the warm beach!!!!
Vicki
September 26. 2009 10:11
My family's favorite beach activity is to kick back and do absolutely nothing. Can't wait to go back. Whoop Whoop!!!
Hillery
September 26. 2009 10:29
My girls and I have gone to diffrent beaches since they were small, now they are teens and I would have to say they still like "playing" in the sand only now they want to bury ME in the sand! We also love to walk the beach, this is becoming the best time to really talk to my girls.
Cheryl
September 26. 2009 10:48
The best part of a beach vacation is the ocean you are visiting. Each one is different and the kids and I love to take big buckets and dig deep into the sand of the beach we are visiting. Some shores have sea glass and baby crabs while others have shark teeth and shells. It's fun and educational to explore different beaches together!
pam
September 26. 2009 10:48
We are from England and just love to make the most of the sun and beautiful beaches you have in Florida.
Jane, Chris, Joel, and Ellie-Mae
September 26. 2009 10:51
We live in Minnesota which is far, far away from any ocean. When we get the chance to visit a seaside beach we check into our hotel, put on our swim suits, and head as fast as we can down to the edge of the water. I then tell everyone to hold hands and close their eyes...."Take a deep breath and smell the ocean", I say. We all take a breath and say "Ahhhhhhh"! Then someone says..."Last one in the ocean is a rotten egg!" and we all run as fast as we can, spashing water everywhere!!It's a fun tradition that gets us in the spirit for a fun vacation time at the beach!
Jeanie
September 26. 2009 10:53
my kids love to play in the sand
desiree
September 26. 2009 10:53
We love to walk the beach especially during sunrise and sunset looking for treasures to take home. I collect shells and sand in small jars from the places we visit.
It is a real treat to dine outside at a seafood restaurant or shack overlooking the water.
Kari
September 26. 2009 11:06
We love to get up before dawn and watch the sun come up, and then go shelling, before everyone else hits the beach. In the evening we like to just play in the sand and watch the sun set. Some of our best family memories and pictures are these times. Amelia Island looks AWESOME!!! We would love to make some family memories on Amelia Island and to be able to recommend it to family and friends.
Danette
September 26. 2009 11:16
We like to bodysurf and build sandcastles.
Rory
September 26. 2009 11:26
Body surfing is our favorite family activity. We have contests to see you can go the farthest to shore. Second to that, we love to walk along the shoreline and look for shells.
Mary
September 26. 2009 11:28
My boys have never been to the beach so I don't know what they'll go for most...I really hope it's sitting in chairs for eight hours a day under an umbrella. That would be cool!
Christine
September 26. 2009 11:28
we like to look for shells , then my daughter sits quietly for hours painting them! ITs heaven!
Denise
September 26. 2009 11:50
Our favorite beach activity is just exploring all of the wonderful animals/plants the beach offers.
The sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever. - Jacques Cousteau
Lili
Lilia
September 26. 2009 11:57
My family really enjoys swimming and riding the waves in back to shore!
Stephanie
September 26. 2009 11:59
Our favorite beach activity is sitting on the beach after dark just winding down and relaxing while the children try to catch crabs.
Tracey
September 26. 2009 12:52
There's nothing like playing football in the sand! The clean ocean air and splashing in the salty water! Would love to enjoy that on Amelia Island! What a great way to celebrate my sons last high school year!
Danielle
September 26. 2009 12:53
We love Florida and especially its beaches. We would love to visit Amelia Island, esp. during the winter, and walk along the shoreline. To watch the sun set on the beach would be one of life's great pleasures.
Bev
September 26. 2009 12:58
I've had the opportunity to take my Family to beaches only twice. We enjoy body surfing the most. Watching the waves is the best stress reliever.
Benjamin
September 26. 2009 13:30
We love strolling the beach looking for Sea Glass.
Aurora
September 26. 2009 13:33
We love to use our sand shovels to dig deep enough holes near the water and let them fill up to become mini wading pools to splash in.
Vicki
September 26. 2009 13:34
Living in Vermont, we've only been to the beach once as a family in Maine. Our kids loved looking for seashells and walking along the beach!
Marci
September 26. 2009 14:13
We love to walk the beach and look for special sea shells. The kids love to bury each other in the sand and build sandcastles.
cathy
September 26. 2009 14:17
The kids love to dig a giant hole, climb inside and fill the sand around them so all that can be seen is their heads sticking out of the sand! My husband and I help and then get some fun and unique family photos!
Angela
September 26. 2009 14:21
We live in Seattle so the beach "near" us is 4 hrs away and very different from east coast beaches. There are cliffs and primarily a rocky shore, but the beachcombing is magnificent! We have found some great rocks, smoothed from erosion, and seaweed that wash ashore. It teaches the kids to stay alert when they're walking!
Michelle
September 26. 2009 14:36
our favorite thing to do at the beach is nothing. just walk, listen to the surf, watch birds and chill.
tory
September 26. 2009 14:57
A beach on the lake is all we have been so far.... The kids love to look for rocks and shells. I love to sit at the water edge and wiggle my feet in the sand and dream.
laura
September 26. 2009 15:02
I love to play in the sand with my two year old daughter and watch my husband teach our boys how to ride the waves!
wendy
September 26. 2009 15:04
My family loves to travel, especially to
a place with a beautiful beach. We all
work so hard everyday that just simply
spending quality time on the beach makes us sooooo happy !!!! My 12 year old son Joe
loves to surf, my husband loves to swim &
for me a long walk along the shore always
makes me smile !!!
maureen
September 26. 2009 15:10
love to look for shells and sea creatures
Shelly
September 26. 2009 15:13
This place sounds beautiful! We have never been to Florida so this would be a true blessing. I love seeing new places and seeing the beautiful places God created and being able to show our children makes it so much more special. Our kids love the beach but we have only been able to take them to Myrtle Beach. I'd love for them to see the pretty blue water that Florida beaches have. Their favorite thing to do on the beach is play in the water and pick up sea shells. Here's hoping they will be able to do that at Ameila Island!
Terri
September 26. 2009 15:29
It's so hard to find one activity - it all depends on our mood and time of day. We love to swim, play volleyball, walk, be creative with the sand, relax, read, chat and watch the sunset (the best time on the beach!) As a mother though my favorite is spending time together as a family (sounds corny, but it's true.)
Patti
September 26. 2009 15:50
We would absolutely love to see Amelia Island! We have fun building sand castles and collecting seashells. My son and daughter love to ride the waves on their boogie boards. They have never been to the Florida beaches and I haven't been to any since I was a child. We live in PA and have only been able to vacation in Florida once with our children, but we did not get to enjoy the beach. I would love to win this trip so my family could visit Florida again! Thank you!
Lauren
September 26. 2009 15:54
When we go to the beach we love to boogie board and build sand castles. Not to mention that I like to take the occasional cat nap when I get the chance. ;)
Andrea
September 26. 2009 16:02
We love strolling the beaches in search of sea glass! A trip to Amelia Island would be wonderful since we have been wanting to visit this Florida treasure for a long time.
Kristin
September 26. 2009 16:05
We like to take flashlights and sturdy bait nets-wood hands about an inch in diameter and galvanized steel rim. Then we go walking ont he beach at night and try to catch the biggest ghost crabs!
Lots of squealing and screaming!!!1
Kathleen
September 26. 2009 16:19
We enjoy reading books and magazines on the beach - under a huge umbrella.
livingbytheloa
September 26. 2009 16:28
The four of us love to walk down the sand, to where the ocean comes up to our knees, and play frisbee or throw around a football.
Eric
September 26. 2009 16:29
My husband and I love to walk along the beach early in the morning just after sunrise.
Marcia
September 26. 2009 16:30
I love everything about the beach. I build castles and sculptures and picnic and read there. I enjoy the waves and the sand. I especially love to collect shells. I would say that my favorite thing to do on the beach is to share it with family and friends, whatever we're doing.
Stephen
September 26. 2009 16:31
THE BOYS LOVE SHELLING AND BOOGIE BOARDING.
JEFF
Jeffrey
September 26. 2009 16:36
Our favorite beach has a swing set. We love swinging, overlooking the ocean!
Amy
September 26. 2009 16:49
Headed on a 4-day Disney cruise to the Bahamas next year based on your website and reviews! A side trip to Amelia Island where I could watch my 5 and 7 year olds jump through the waves would really be a bonus!
Angela
September 26. 2009 16:49
My 2 year old daughter loves to splash in the water while my 3 year old son loves to build and play in the sand. I love to watch them have fun.
Kim
September 26. 2009 17:12
We go to the beach every summer and we especially enjoy swimming and collecting shells to see who can find the most original shell.
Larisa
larisa
September 26. 2009 17:18
My husband and 2 young sons and I used to live near the beach in CA. One of our favorite things was watching for dolphins and sea lions while we played in the sand together. We've since moved far from the ocean and would love a chance to play on the beach together again!
Tracey
Tracey
September 26. 2009 17:32
The Bailey's are Crazy about sand!!!
We take our Dune Buggy out to the Coast and build our own jumps out of the sand, plus nothings funner than making big holes to jump in and make pretend your on a big pirate ship and your on the look out! My daughter makes sand art while my son plays in the big holes.
Bailey's Got Sand!
Shauna
September 26. 2009 17:33
My 12 & 14 year-old sons live in the water. While the entire family helps my 3 year old daughter search for seashells to add to her collection. She takes this very seriously! It is so hot here in New Orleans and we love the beach.
Eric
September 26. 2009 17:38
We like to dig in the sand. It doesn't matter what implement- our hands, fingers, toes, shovels, sticks. My 2 year old will find anything to dig with.
Also- we love collecting shells.
Would like to visit Fl. We have family nearby.
Eleni
September 26. 2009 17:44
Our favorite beach activity is to watch our daughter playing, digging, and building in the sand. It's not as tidy as Tinkertoys, but it's just as much fun (if not more)!
Keith
September 26. 2009 18:09
We have not been on a beach vacation yet, but I'm sure our favorite activity would be collecting shells and building sand castles.
Ami
September 26. 2009 18:26
We love going to the beach. We have four children and it is a great vacation for them that doesn't cost an arm and a leg to get into. We live in Nebraska and have been wanting to see the Ocean we have local lakes that we visit but the Ocean would be amazing. Our children love playing in the water and sand. The last town we lived in we lived right on a lake and this past year my children have missed being able to just go the beach whenever they wanted to go. We used to go at least 4 times a week and we even went in the winter just to look at the water and walk along in the sand looking for treasures. Since moving we only get to go a couple of times a month its just not as convenient anymore. This would be a great family vacation for us as we were unable to take a regular family vacation this past summer due to my husband relocating us for a new job and not having the funds to go anywhere.
Michelle
September 26. 2009 18:30
We love to win this prize! We live on the West Coast and would love to fly out to Florida for a nice relaxing vacation at the beach on the East Coast!
Going to the beach is my one of my favorite things to do w/ my family. I would pack a ice chest full of food/drinks and bring our lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy the Southern California sun!!
Mia
September 26. 2009 18:38
Our favorite beach activity is building sandcastles. My older daughter likes to ride the boogie board with dad!
Judy
September 26. 2009 18:41
I love making "sand villages" with my 2 year old son. He loves the beach, which is a good thing since his mom and dad are beach lovers too!
Rose-Anne
September 26. 2009 18:51
We injoy the sun and swimming.
Buddy
September 26. 2009 19:00
Our family enjoys walking the beach and collecting shells. The boys love to ride the waves while my little girl enjoys building sand castles. My husband and I love to sit and watch ... and smell... and do nothing but be happy!
Ali Justice
September 26. 2009 19:00
Sand castles! over and over again.
I'm interested in the residence inn being a suite with a kitchen. We always end up going to cancun because we can get full kitchens there. A change of pace would be good!
H
September 26. 2009 19:01
My children love to build sand castles and search for shells and treasures on the beach. My husband is in the water constantly diving under waves and swimming. I love to sit back and watch everyone with the sun on my face. Florida's beaches are so beautiful.
Tracy
September 26. 2009 19:11
We love to walk on the beach in the early morning or evening.
Carissa
September 26. 2009 19:12
My daughters love to play in the sand and find little treasures. Whether it's a feather or shell it must be looked at and kept at least for awhile!
Brooke
September 26. 2009 19:14
we love to camp on the beach the kids love it and it makes me feel young again
william
September 26. 2009 19:14
We originally come from Indonesia but at the moment reside in Houston, Texas since 2008. Our country is famous with great beaches and that is why we love to spend our holiday on the beach with swimming and sunbathing. Since we arrived in 2008, we have not had a beach holiday and hoping that the Amelia Island experience will ease our home"beach"sick.
Vini
September 26. 2009 19:39
we love doing many things on the beach a few of them are walking the beach looking for shells, sitting on our beach chairs and watching the people walk by or swimming.
Laurie
September 26. 2009 19:53
We love to close our eyes, take in the ocean breeze and then play all day!
Stacy
September 26. 2009 19:53
This will be Tysen's first year to go to the beach. He is 10 months, so we are excited to see his reactions to the sand and water. Indigo (6) and Vyncent (3) both love making sand castles and hunting for seashells. Sabrina and I just love being with each other and watching the beautiful creations God gave us in our children and the Beach!
Victor
September 26. 2009 19:54
You know what I live in Idaho and we have NO beaches!!! But if we did I'd love to build a sand castle and bury my kids so only their heads are showing and then make funny bathing suits on them out of the sand(not sure if they could lay still that long though) ;o)!!!
Well thanks for this chance to win WOW!!!
Shawna L.
weloveourdogs@juno.com
Shawna
September 26. 2009 19:54
My family loves to escape the cold Chicago weather and feel the sun and sand. We test the water gradually and then never want to leave! We don't get to Florida as often as we'd like but dream about it often!
Mary Rose
Mary Rose
September 26. 2009 19:55
We live on Long Island Sound in Connecticut, and go to the beach several times a week in the Summer. My son and daughter play tag and practice tricks in the water until they are blue and shivering...then they roll around in the hot sand to warm up and take turns burying each other up to the neck!
They have never been to the beach in Florida and we would love to go!
Amy
September 26. 2009 20:00
We love taking long walks on the beach to discover what the tide has brought in. Every walk is differnt. The beach is a magical place for our family.
Becky
September 26. 2009 20:39
We like to jump the waves as we get used to the water.
Liz
September 26. 2009 20:46
We have 3 kids with different personalities and passions. My 14-year-old son loves to swim, swim, swim and swim some more! My 11-year-old daughter loves to build sand castles and dig in the sand. My 10-year-old daughter loves to look for shells and rocks; we always bring some home and we keep them from all our trips, in a glass case in our living room. She also loves to kayak, but she's only done it in lakes and not in the ocean!
Katherine
September 26. 2009 20:54
We are beach people - my kids (2 and 4) love just rolling around in it, hunting for seashells, running in and out of surf. Can't wait till they're older and we can teach them how to snorkel!
Shawn
September 26. 2009 21:36
Walking the beach looking for shells, enjoying the beautiful sand and beach with my family.
We're from Arizona and would love a trip to the beach.
Lori
September 26. 2009 21:38
My kids would be ecstatic if we won this vacation. Our beaches at home are not very nice so when we do get to go to a nice one they love to collect shells and run barefoot in the sand, build sancastles and they love to stand in the water and let the waves bounce off of them. We planned a nice vaca during their spring break this year to Fort Myers beach and it turned into a nightmare as the second day their we discovered our children had head lice and it ruined our whole vacation, we barely got any beach time nor did we get to Sanibel Island! We spent alot of money to spend week in our hotel room, doing laundry and trying to get our kids rid of lice. The girls were heartbroken!
elisa
September 26. 2009 21:38
At the Jersey shore it's skee ball, mini golf and the wonderful Holiday Snack Bar that are parts of our routine at the beach--though, if we win, we'd be very happy to make new memories at Amelia...
howard
September 26. 2009 21:41
My family loves the beach. My sons (12 & 14) live in the water. While we search the entire beach for my 3 year old daughter's seashell collection. Let me say, he takes it very seriously. That beach looks gorgeous.
Eric
September 26. 2009 21:41
Our favorite beach activity is definately kiteboarding. (It's not as dangerous as it seems if you take the right precautions, and it is a lot of fun.)
Katie
September 26. 2009 21:45
Beach volleyball and building sand castles are our favorites.
mike
September 26. 2009 22:27
My husband and I love to relax on the beach and watch our kids have fun in the sun. We collect Seashells & play in the sand until the sun goes down.
Would love to win this trip. Times are tough, new baby on the way, so many of our outtings have been compromised. My kids deserve this. :o)
Allison
September 26. 2009 22:35
My 4 kids are mostly grown but we still love to get together for a beach vacation. My favorite memories are of watching them swim in with the waves or walk along the beach with their buckets looking for treasures.
Elisabeth
September 26. 2009 23:10
We just love BEING on the beach
Living in New England we only get 3 months to enjoy the beach, so we just appreciate any time at all on the beach!
Carrie
September 26. 2009 23:15
Sand Sculpting, that's the ticket. Then laying back in the sun to watch the tide come in and leaving nothing but footprints behind.
Eli
September 26. 2009 23:16
Our family loves to race out to the waves, scream loudly in terror as they approach, and tumble with them to the shore. Every once in awhile we actually manage to ride them instead of being dunked by them....
Jennifer
September 26. 2009 23:17
We love catching critters. OUr six year old can catch anything. Its amazing.
Brandy
September 26. 2009 23:19
We like to look for things on the beach for our 'treasure' jars - a collection of unique little items we find in various places near and far. The kids like looking for shells, sea glass, and we try to make a point of leaving the beach nicer than when we found it by picking up trash others may have left behind!
Tracyn
September 26. 2009 23:23
we love to walk on the beach, look for wildlife (crabs etc) and my daughter just wants to make friends with other kids to play and dig in the sand with.
Elizabeth
September 26. 2009 23:27
My kids love to watch mom and dad build sand castles and then promptly destroy them. They also love throwing rocks in the water.
Nancy
September 27. 2009 00:00
We love shelling and dolphin watching. We have never visited Amelia Island and would love to!
Julie
September 27. 2009 00:08
WE LOVE THE BEACH! My husband & I were married on the beach in Florida, My family, and friends love to swim, parasail, snorkel, picnic, relax, walk, sail,cruise, listen to the sounds of the ocean morning & night. Play frisbee, collect shells..... Since 3/4 of our group is Pieces (water sign) there is no question where we like to spend our time best. I would love to experience AMELIA ISLAND!
Tracy
September 27. 2009 00:08
When my family goes to the beach, we all work together to dig the deepest whole we can in the sand. Once we have it ready, we (carefully) bury my husband and then the kids make drip castles on top of him. It's so much fun, the kids just giggle all day long.
Amy
September 27. 2009 00:09
This summer was the first time at the Lake Michigan beach for our younger kids (4 & 6). They had such a great time! We loved building sand castles together.
The kids always want to go to Florida for a vacation...they have some friends that go every year, so going to Florida is a REALLY BIG DEAL!!!!
We have never taken an "away vacation" as a family...and with our oldest heading off to college next year, it would be wonderful to have the opportunity to go away as a family, especially to Amelia Island. I hear it's a great place for families!
Danielle
September 27. 2009 00:10
I have always wanted to go to Amelia Island. It looks and sounds like an absolutely wonderful place to visit. Our favorite activity is just being at the beach; smelling the fresh air, enjoying the radiant sunshine, drowing out the cares of the world with the lapping of the waves. We love to go horseback riding on the beach, totally enjoy being in the water, collecting sea shells, walking on the beach, my sons love to play soccer on the beach, picnicking at the beach, etc. etc. etc. I have talked with others who have visited Amelia Island and it has always sounded like a nice peaceful place to visit, regroup and get centered again.
Ruth
September 27. 2009 00:21
We love hunting for shells along the beach.
Lisa
September 27. 2009 00:45
We recently took our kids to the beach for the first time. There's not much they didn't love. Building sand castles was probably the most enjoyable.
Terry
September 27. 2009 00:55
We like to play in the sand and jump waves!
Maria
September 27. 2009 00:58
Our fave activities include shelling, boogey boarding, jumping in the waves, and just relaxing. We also love strolls, biking, and hiking. We have not had a beach vacation in a few years, so this seems to be an idyllic place.
Finally, the last two vacations we were lucky enough to learn how to horseback ride. It would be great to continue this tradition with a sunset ride along a beach -- that would be different and spectacular!
Barb
September 27. 2009 01:48
Our family loves the beach! The kids love building sandcastles and playing in the water. Our favorite activity would have to be looking for seashells - that definitely thrills our kids the most! We love the ocean, wish we lived closer!
vera
September 27. 2009 01:53
Our 15, 13, and 4 year old love the beach!! The kids enjoy playing in the sand, making sand castles, etc....while Mom and Dad relax and watch!
Karen
September 27. 2009 01:54
We love the beach at night - we take our flashlights and go crab hunting. As soon as we shine the light on the crabs, they scurry away. The kids jump and scream so that the crabs don't run over their feet!
Janet
September 27. 2009 02:36
We live in the middle of the midwest so don't get many beach days, however when we have been lucky enough to go we love to spend the whole day there. Hubby and oldest daughter love to body board, son and middle daughter love to play in the sand and hunt for shells. The baby could sit and play in the sand all day, funny she hates grass but loves sand.
Jennifer
September 27. 2009 02:41
Who wouldn't love to win a trip to Ameilia Island!! Our little boys think you only head to Florida to see Mickey! What an amazing time we would have relaxing and just enjoying each other!
diana
September 27. 2009 02:47
My son love to hunt for shark teeth! Me, I like to sit with my feet in the sand, and a book in my hands, listening to the waves.
Lisa
September 27. 2009 02:51
My toddler kids love to play in the sand, they get sand in their hair and clothes. They like how it just pours out of their little fists when they squeeze it.
Christopher
September 27. 2009 03:20
We learned a great beach game from a friend while in New Zealand. Draw a maze in the sand - a random pattern of intersecting channels about 2 ft wide. The maze doesn't need to be square - it can be big sweeping loops, curves and spirals. The chase takes place within the channels - all players have to follow the path. The person who is "it" chases the other players through the maze trying to tag them but they are also give two sticks (pieces of driftwood work well) that they can lay down anytime to block off a channel. The sticks can be picked up and laid down as many times as you wish during the game. A dip in the ocean is a welcome refresher after the game!
sarah
September 27. 2009 03:26
Our favorite beach activity is smimming in the Ocean.
Noel
September 27. 2009 03:29
Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches, coppertone sunscreen, and a frisbee are "musts" when we go to the beach. The beach is just a simple, carefree day with your kids. No plans - time stands still. There is nothing to distract you (cell phones / tv / computers) - just you and your family, great conversation and just being a kid again yourself. Nothing beats the smell of the salt air and the sound of the waves breaking.
Christine
September 27. 2009 03:31
We are from the midwest where there are no beaches so we don't get to go to the beach very often. This kids enjoy riding the surf on inflatible rafts.
Randy
September 27. 2009 03:33
What a wonderful opportunity for us to reunite with our 4 southern grandchildren..in spite of the long drive from new england....we would relish the chance to play,walk on the beach,and most importantly connect with the kids...and stargaze together!
ann
September 27. 2009 04:15
The summer family crowds have dispersed the winter tourists are months away. Time to visit Ameilia Island for a bit of respite.
nancy
September 27. 2009 04:19
We love sailing in the water and playing in the waves.
Jennifer
September 27. 2009 04:19
We like to play coits on the beach! If we don't have the game w/us, we use shells that we find on the beach. We use the shells to dig the holes, and then try to toss them in!
Lots of fun.
nancy
September 27. 2009 04:26
We like to surf. We've recently taken it up as a family, and reall enjoy it. It's an exhilerating feeling when you finally stand up on a wave!
Janice
September 27. 2009 05:02
We love to take leisurely walks on the beach, listening to the waves crashing against the shore, while looking for little sand creatures and shells to add to our shell collection. My son loves to have the waves chase him and I love the whole atmosphere of being at the beach. Amelia Island sounds heavenly.
Barbara
September 27. 2009 05:03
We love to build sand castles while my husband plays his guitar. And walk the beach looking for beach glass. Really, it is those moments that I hang onto in the middle of winter.
Deborah
September 27. 2009 05:06
My 17month old made his first trip to the beach this summer and had a ball! We found a great little tidal pool and he played all day. He loves splashing water on his mommy and daddy, and we loved watching him laugh! Perfect family vacation.
Angie
September 27. 2009 05:11
#1 activity is looking for shells and identifying what we find. Our boys like to jump in the waves, skimboard, boogieboard, build sandcastles, dig holes and climb lifeguard stations. Our favorite time of day at the beach is late afternoon, when the crowds have thinned and a light breeze is blowing. We stay until it's dark and look for constellations in the sky.
Susan
September 27. 2009 05:13
We love to jump the waves. We are all about the water. The absolute best thing is laying back, floating, and listening to dolphin clicks and trills as they pass!
Laura
September 27. 2009 05:15
Simply sitting on the beach watching the waves come in and go out.
Amy
September 27. 2009 05:18
We love playing in the water!
Kathy
September 27. 2009 05:27
We love anything and everything related to lazy beach days... riding bikes, collecting shells, flying kites, building sand castles, playing in the surf and those evening sunset walks. Ahhh, I can feel the sand between my toes right now!
Dana
September 27. 2009 05:27
We like to let the waves chase us onto the beach.
Shelley
September 27. 2009 05:40
We love to walk on the beach and look for seashells. It is just so relaxing!
Tracy
September 27. 2009 05:43
Our favorite beach activity is looking for seaglass along the shore. We love finding unique colors!
Adrienne
September 27. 2009 05:45
I love to stand with my feet in the water and watch the waves.
Diana
September 27. 2009 05:46
My husband and I are fortunate to live in Rhode Island, and love the beach.It is beautiful and a special place to relax. But all of our 8 grandchildren live out of state, as far away as Minnesota and Indiana.Because of the economy, it is hard to get everyone together, but we did 2 years ago at Disney. When we are at the beach with them, it is constant fun and activity!!Grampy teaches them to boogie board and we all build castles and fly kites, and eat local seafood and have picnics! When our grandchildren are with us at the beach, it is the BEST, and everyone is so happy!! We love it and have so many special memories. Life doesn't get any better than the beach with your loved ones.
Anita
September 27. 2009 05:51
i did my summer internship at amelia island plantation, lived down on fernandina. i would love to show my daughter, coral, where i lived that summer. we live on the nc coast, and our favorite activity is island hopping by boat, to go to remote places to look for shells, particularly after a tropical storm or hurricane. we have quite a shell collection from over the years! my birthday is tomorrow the 25th, and being laid off and having no money for vacations right now, what a wonderful birthday present it would be to win this trip!
Rebecca
September 27. 2009 05:52
The truth is that everything on the beach to my daughter and i is paradise. We love to look for shells and sealife, build sand castles, swim, and sometimes just relax and listen to the sounds of the waves and the seagulls, or just smell the salt air. I grew up going to the beach all the time, and have always loved it, unfortunately now we live too far from the beach to visit except on rare occasions, but Ariel loves it as much as me!! Her grandmother has a love of the ocean too, I guess she passed it down and we inherited it. My daughter works so hard in school to make good grades, and has to work extra hard now to catch up because she was out ill, that I would love to be able to offer her a reward for all of her efforts!! And her grandmother and I would love it too!!
Michelle
September 27. 2009 05:55
We love to build sancastles and play in the surf! We live in Maine, so a warm beach would be a huge treat!
Polly
September 27. 2009 05:59
We have three sons, 11, 11 & 9. Spending time at the beach involves lots of time in the surf and sand doing pretty much everything you can imagine! We stay busy!
Julie
September 27. 2009 06:00
My kids love to build sand castles and forts with big moats. I love to just sit and meditate on the amazing beauty!
Jean
September 27. 2009 06:00
My family and I love to wake up early, pack a lunch and head to the beach to shell, make castles (or big blobs of sand) and play in the water ALL day until its dinner time... Then we have our tradition of going to the closest restaurant that is "beach" friendly and having a nice big dinner before heading home. The beach is always an all-day affair!
Jessica
September 27. 2009 06:01
Bodysurfing, walking on the beach, watching for dolphins if we're in the right locale, making sandcastles and just enjoying the sun and each other's company.
Dawn
September 27. 2009 06:07
We love to pack up and "hang" at the beach for the day...build sandcastles, play with our beach toys, eat our beach foods, etc. We just had really close friends from our home town in Maine move here and would love to win this trip and be able to visit them! Hoooray beach and warm weather, the way life should be!!!
Sue
September 27. 2009 06:13
The beach has ALWAYS been our haven...and we are trying to pass that along to the kids. Though they are 3 and 5 (and 3/4!), they don't want to read People Magazine and veg out just yet...so we have had fun exploring the sand looking for treasures and burying Mom!!!! It's a great place to learn about new things together and be a family in the perfect place. What a great opportunity...thanks!
Amy
September 27. 2009 06:15
We love to walk on the beach and collect seashells and build sandcastles! We have never been to Amelia Island, but would love to visit there someday!
Nicole
September 27. 2009 06:17
We love to walk on the beach together and look for sharks teeth. We also look for shells and neat aquatic animals!
Emily
September 27. 2009 06:20
The most remarkable thing about my kids at the beach is it seems to be one of those rare places that there is no bickering because they are so focused on having fun. This makes the beach the ultimate parent destination too
Donna
Donna
September 27. 2009 06:22
Our family goes to Sea Isle City, NJ every summer. The kids love to boogie board, build sand castles and ride surries on the boardwalk. My mom travels to Idaho first to get my neice and nephew so they can enjoy the family beach vacation too! Lots of their friends have never seen an ocean!
Lauren
September 27. 2009 06:25
My kids love to be buried in the sand with only their faces uncovered. They also love trying to jump the waves- even though they are a little small for this. They love doing anything at the beach.
Jodi
September 27. 2009 06:29
Our favorite beach activity is to stroll along the water's edge at sunset, breathing deeply the salty air, and reveling in the peaceful breezy sounds of wind, surf, and seagulls. Life doesn't get much better than that!
Brenda
Brenda
September 27. 2009 06:30
Getting so sandy while building our sand castles/playing on the beach that we race into the water to wash it all off. And then we start again...
Laurie
September 27. 2009 06:35
In the water, jumping and riding the waves is where you would find this beach loving family. Lathered in sunscreen and soaked in happiness is how you would find us on Amelia Island!
faith
September 27. 2009 06:36
When I saw this contest I immediately asked my four year old what his favorite beach activity is and he told me "playing golf and jumping in the water." My husband and son bring their putters down to the beach, bury a bucket so it is even with the sand to see if they can putt it in. My son loves it!!
Amy
September 27. 2009 06:37
Living in Central Florida, we have spent a lot of time at the beach, which is rather ironic because if you asked us, we'd say we don't really like the beach! The water is too salty and sticky, the sand ends up everywhere, there's little shade from the beating Florida sun..... and yet we seem to end up there often.
Why? Could be the sound of the ocean waves crashing on the beach. Or the smell that brings back so many memories when you close your eyes and just breathe in. Or the breeze that always blows across your face. Or the variety of life that lives in this area that at first glance appears so barren.
So despite the sand and the salt and the sun, I think it's a good time to go and start planning our next trip to the beach....
Robin
September 27. 2009 06:37
Favorite activity? Walking along in the surf and playing chase with my girl.
TJ
September 27. 2009 06:39
My daughter and hubby love to boogie-board at the beach while I hang out in a chair, read a book, and try not to burn!
Heather
September 27. 2009 06:41
As a family we love going to the beach and looking for sea glass and finding different crabs, sea stars, and shells. My children find different crabs and dig a hole in the sand and collect as many crabs as they can. Then when it is time to release them, the kids open the hole and let the crabs have a race back to the water. They enjoy watching the scurring crabs and it usually draws other children around to watch! I love the beach and am missing it. We would love to go to Florida! (what kind of crabs do they have there?)
Charlotte
September 27. 2009 06:42
My three children love the beach. My boys' favorite thing to do is ride the waves on their boogie boards. My daughter enjoys making sandcastles with her daddy. I just love having the opportunity to spend time together as a family. I also take advantage of the beautiful surroundings by capturing as many memories as I can with my camera. Photography is my hobby, and my favorite subjects are my family!
Ellen
September 27. 2009 06:42
Our favorite things to do on the beach as a family are building sandcastles, flying kites, and looking for that perfect sea shell. My girls have only been to the beach once but have wonderful memories from the trip and are looking forward to making many more.
Kacey
Kacey
September 27. 2009 06:44
My daughters and I love to dig in the sand until we reach water!
Jonathan
September 27. 2009 06:44
We love to do anything on the beach-picnic, boogy board, play in the sand and just relax while listening to the waves!
Kim
September 27. 2009 06:48
our favorite activity is collecting shells and twigs and then building fairy houses with those shells.
Emily
September 27. 2009 06:48
My two boys and I love to find sea creatures and shells on the beach.
Thomas
September 27. 2009 06:54
My kids love playing in the water and collecting seashells! Thanks for the chance!
Jenn
September 27. 2009 06:55
We love to fly kites and dig in the sand! Five kids can find hours of fun on the beach - thank goodness!
Beth
September 27. 2009 07:00
Having 2 boys they love to throw the football back and forth on the beach. While me, being the mom loves to sit and watch and relax. Dad, he doesn't like just sitting around - he would probably be throwing the ball right with the boys...
Liz
September 27. 2009 07:05
Our family loves to snorkle from the beach. We have snorkled with sting rays and seen many beautiful fish. This looks like a beautiful place to make some wonderful family memories.
Tammy
September 27. 2009 07:06
We love to jump in the water when we see dolphins, swim out, and listen to them "talk" to eachother!
Lea
September 27. 2009 07:09
We love digging big enough holes to stand in (well, for our toddler to stand in), and then playing in the sand. We also get a kick out of looking for cool stones.
Regina
September 27. 2009 07:09
My family grew up going to the beach... we love to take it all in. We love building drippy sandcastles,looking for sand crabs and body surfing in the waves. At dusk we walk the beach collecting shells and playing tag. Then, we top it off with a photo session at dusk. We would love a getway!!
sharon
September 27. 2009 07:09
Our family has never even been on a vacation. I would love for my two daughters, 13 and 9, to see the ocean and get an opportunity to find out what their favorite beach activity is.
T
September 27. 2009 07:10
"We just got back" from a wonderful time at Myrtle Beach. We shared a house on the ocean with a terrific family we met in Jamaica, last year
Our all-time favorite activity was playing bocce ball as the sun was setting
Other families walking the beach would approach us and ask how to play. We met more wonderful people, adults, teens and kids!
Jenny
September 27. 2009 07:11
A long walk on the shore line with a bottle of wine with my squeeze.
Ronald
September 27. 2009 07:12
We love to collect shells
Jeff
September 27. 2009 07:15
i would love to win this vacation for my son and daughter. we love to go to the beach and play in the waves, go shelling or just sit together building sandcastles.
j
September 27. 2009 07:16
We live in Florida and really want to go to Amelia Island. Have never been there.
We love to walk and collect shells.
Yanina
September 27. 2009 07:19
The shells, the waves and the smell of the ocean make it the most special place to go. Your day can be filled with non stop acitivity or be the most relaxing ever. The beach, we love Vero is a great place for a family vacation.
Bridget
September 27. 2009 07:24
We love to walk the beach and collect sea glass and shells and then warch the beautiful sunset. Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
Pat
September 27. 2009 07:25
We love to walk on the beach, listen to the waves, and body surf in the waves.
Brian
September 27. 2009 07:27
I have a 2 1/2 year old boy and a 14 year old girl, so the activities vary. Both of my children love to gather sea shells. We make it educational for my son as we count each shell he puts into his bucket. We could sure use this trip. Horseback riding on the beach sounds wonderful--a mother/daughter bonding time...
SHIRLEY
Shirley
September 27. 2009 07:29
We live in Traverse City, Michigan, and are blessed with great beaches all over our county, and Lake Michigan is only 30 minutes away too! We love to swim, build sand castles (always with moats!) and search for beach glass with our kids. I used to visit my grandmother in Florida when I was a little girl, and Amelia Island was a favorite spot. I miss it, and I miss her too. Great contest... sounds wonderful! (especially around January in Michigan
Jennifer
September 27. 2009 07:29
We took our first beach vacation this summer and my children loved to jump into the waves and then look for all the wonderful shells left on the beach.
Roxane
September 27. 2009 07:29
My boys love jumping over little waves!
Jennifer
September 27. 2009 07:31
My family and I love spending as much time on the beach as possible and we love try new things to do at the beach. This summer we went parasailing and it was an awesome experience. We would love to explore all that Amelia Island has to offer.
Angela
September 27. 2009 08:57
The kids love to bury me in the sand. I'm sure they would love to do that at Amelia Island.
Joe
September 27. 2009 09:00
We used to live here. Would love to go back and go to Ft Clinch on the north end of the island.
Alison
September 27. 2009 09:34
My son has autism and we used to live in Southern California. He craved the pounding of the waves. He and his big brother and little sister would run to stand in the way of the a crashing wave and let it pound them back, flipping end over end, only to stand back up sputtering and rush to do it again. It was the highlight of his time at the beach.
Jennifer
September 27. 2009 11:04
I would love to travel anywhere, I can never afford it. It sure would be a blessing for my family to recieve such a gift!
Mika
September 27. 2009 12:41
I've got young kids and their favorite things to to at the beach is dig in the sand with their shovel and pails. No exaggeration, they can keep themselves occupied with their sand digging for hours and hours. Me, I like to relax with a book!
Debra f
September 27. 2009 14:12
Hunting for sharks teeth!
howard
September 27. 2009 14:52
Our favorite family thing to do at the beach is, "Absolutely Nothing!". We love to kick back in the sand and or water to enjoy each other and the beautiful place we are at.
Jill
September 27. 2009 16:05
Whenever we go to the beach,we get up early enough to watch the sun come up other the ocean.I tell the kids that we can get the best shells before everybody else picks over them.They pick up shells and I get to see a beautiful sunrise. The sea air seems to make their appetite hearty,so we go in search of a big breakfast afterward. This is my favorite family beach activity.
Priscilla
September 27. 2009 19:29
We love the beaches of Florida, drive from Texas every year. Ready to go! finding sharks teeth and shells is our favorite!
Dennis
September 28. 2009 07:34
Our favorite activity is just walking the beach and splashing in the water.
Pamela Ray
September 28. 2009 07:52
Showing grandchildren the wonders of a part of their planet not found where they live---shelling, swimming, bodysurfing, dolphin-watching,
setting up construction crews for cooperative sand castle-building.
Arnold
September 28. 2009 13:33
We LOVE to walk the beach and search for beautiful shells. At the end of the day, everyone gets to share the shells they found each other...we get lots of "ooohs" and "ahhhs". It's so much fun spending time on the beach enjoying the sunshine, fresh air, and each other !
Cathy
September 28. 2009 15:17
My family just had our first beach vacation this past year... our favorite thing was to catch crabs on the beach! What an experience! We don't have many crabs or beaches here in North Dakota...
Paige
September 28. 2009 15:49
I've never been to Amelia Island but have read about it since I was a child. It always seemed like a beautiful and mysterious place to me. We used to take yearly vacations to the beach but due to our personal issues with the economy we didn't go this year. Always so nice to wake up hearing waves and the smell of the sea.
Tabitha
September 28. 2009 16:16
One step, two steps, three steps... Our whole family love to climb the lighthouse. The eldest kid loves to know the history of the lighthouse. The younger one thrilled to climb up the spiral stairs and stand on the top!
Pui
pui
September 29. 2009 03:19
We love to build sand animals. I make a great crab!
wen
September 29. 2009 04:02
We live in the middle of the US and my daughters visited their first beach just last week. They loved sitting on the beach digging in the sand and building sandcastles. My oldest tried snorkeling and was amazed at all the fish. We can't wait to visit the beach again!
Kristen
September 29. 2009 04:45
Every beach has its own charm. My FAVORITE thing is less specific and more environmental. First, I like to stop/take a deep breath/listen to the surf and the gulls/and feel my stress level bottom out. THEN, (depending on the beach and the crowds) I like to comb the beach for treasures early in the morning. Play in the sand and make sand sculptures later in the day and sit quietly on a dune and watch the crabs come out to play in the evening.
Rebecca
September 29. 2009 05:46
Our favorite thing to do on a beach while we're enjoying the sights,sounds and smells of the sand and water is to people-watch. Sometimes we try to guess where people are from by what they are wearing or their accents, and sometimes we just make up wild stories about them after judging by a quick glance. It's no harm-no foul since we never let people hear us and we seldom see the people again....our imaginations can run wild!
eileen
September 29. 2009 12:44
I love the beach. I grew up going to the Gulf Coast and the beautiful beaches there, but a trip to Amelia Island with my husband and 2-year-old son would be a great way to start some new beach memories.
Angella
September 29. 2009 21:11
Our favorite beach activity is to stand at the edge of the water barefoot and feel the sand wash away from under our feet while the waves retreat back. My boys also like to skip rocks.
Sabrina
September 29. 2009 23:16
I would love to win this! My daughter's favorite beach activity is building sand castles - my son's favorite activity is to destroy whatever his sister builds.
mathew
September 29. 2009 23:53
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Win a family vacation on Florida’s Amelia Island | Enter to Win A Trip - the Amateur Traveler Guide to Travel Contests
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September 30. 2009 00:03
Long walks on the beach, early or late in the day.
Raymond
September 30. 2009 00:22
We love playing in the water the most!
Leilani
September 30. 2009 01:05
We love going to the beach just to enjoy being around the water. We also love building sand castles in the sand
kelsey
September 30. 2009 01:32
We love finding shells and sea creatures!
Melinda
September 30. 2009 01:35
My husband and I love to read the same book while relaxing on the beach. The lull of the waves is the perfect de-stresser and the sun brightens both of our moods. A quiet chuckle is quickly followed with, "which part" and then more laughter.
We haven't taken our daughter to the beach yet but we can't wait to see her with her feet in the sand some day soon!
Stephanie
September 30. 2009 01:45
We love going with our little boy as he walks along (Backwards!) to see all of our footprints in the sand. Mommy or Daddy has to walk forward to make sure we don's step on anything bad, or to alert us if we are about to come upon a treasure like a shell, sand dollar or some interesting sea creature. We have only been to Port Aransas, TX and Galveston. We look forward to some really pretty beach visits in the future.
Holly
September 30. 2009 06:12
Our family loves to build huge sandcastles and then we make up stories about the queens and kings the live in them.
We would love to try out your sand!
mike
September 30. 2009 13:11
Build sand castles with my kids
jason
September 30. 2009 17:28
My family loves the beach! We like to collect shells and keep them in vases to remember our vacation at home.
Tiffany
September 30. 2009 18:13
My 2-year-old son's favorite beach activities are still TBD, I'm afraid. I just haven't been able to get him to the beach since he was 5 months old. I'll bet he's going to love building sand castles and playing in the water, though. I can't wait to show him how much fun it is!
As for me, I love playing in the water, fishing, shelling, crabbing and clamming, and boating. Hope I'll get a chance to take my little boy to the beach soon.
Bonnie
September 30. 2009 18:26
Our favorite memory of when we lived in Florida was to make a picknick lunch/dinner and go out to Honeymoon island in Dunedin at sunset. The girls from work would get together with sandwiches, salads, goodies, and of course some wine. We would sit in our chairs wtih our feet in the water and watch the dolphins play just off the beach. Then as the sun would set, we would drink our wine and toast to another day in pariadise. I especially miss this when the snow is blowing and the temp dips below zero here in MA.
Donna
September 30. 2009 18:47
The twins will play in the water for hours. They have their mother's dark hair and skin. I would fry! It's wonderful to see them get along so well. I will enjoy it while I can! My wife and I will sit under a large umbrella and read all day in between a few dips. I wonder if I could learn to ride the skim board? No, I think I'd wipe out. They make it look so easy.
The beach reminds me that life is good.
Charles
September 30. 2009 19:23
looks like a relaxing place! I need to relax!
susan
September 30. 2009 20:01
My family would love to have this vacation.
Paul
September 30. 2009 20:13
Oh YES PLEASE!! We would love to leave the cold NJ weather and check out Amelia Island!
sandra
September 30. 2009 20:56
Our favorite past time on the beach is shelling and listening to the wave roll in.
Lisa
September 30. 2009 20:59
We love to take walks on the beach just before sunset and look at the sky reflected in the wet sand, while we feel the evening breeze. Sometimes we swim and other times just stroll.
Gretchen
Gretchen
September 30. 2009 21:41
We love to sit in a chair by the water and let the waves wash over our legs.
Kathy
September 30. 2009 22:25
Just hanging out at the beach - relaxing, listening to the waves, splashing in the surf, noshing on uber fresh seafood and enjoying the beautiful scenery and each other's company!
Marianna
October 1. 2009 00:37
We go to the beach so much that we have it down to a routine. We pack our books, drinks and snacks, boogie boards, towels, a ball, shovels and pails and hoodies for the evening. We like to stay until dark. The twilight at the beach is the best time to be there.
Saralyn
October 1. 2009 01:09
Listening to my daughters check out the cute guys.
Patti
October 1. 2009 01:56
We have had a year of surgery, cancer, death and life changing challenges which we have overcome. Just to enjoy eachother on this beautiful island and splash around in the water would be such a welcome gift.
Anne
Anne
October 1. 2009 02:17
We like to play in the water!
Chrysa
October 1. 2009 02:20
Every beach trip since I was two, my dad and I would wake up early to go and collect sand dollars off the beach. To this day it is a treasured tradition.
Sara
October 1. 2009 23:22
Our kids love to look for shells.
Todd
October 3. 2009 16:27
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Paradise Coast vacation giveaway: We have a winner! » Travel Insights 100
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November 8. 2009 16:22
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¤ Discovering the Best Way to Chill and Hang Out Vacation Under The Jamaican Sun ¤
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May 18. 2010 02:15
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Headlight 1967 1966 Plymouth Valiant, Headlight 1963 Plymouth Valiant Convertible Top
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