Destination: Amelia Island, Florida

Why should you visit Amelia Island, Florida? Voted among the top 10 North American Islands by Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards for four consecutive years, Amelia Island is truly a magical place. The Island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway, just two miles wide and 13 miles long.  This Island features the perfect setting for a wide range of accommodations, restaurants, and an array of activities to match many interests. Features such as the Island’s wide beaches, the state’s oldest lighthouse, and towering sand dunes preserved to offer protected foliage and fauna make this location ideal for relaxation.  Aside from the topography, Amelia Island holds a charming waterfront town that is the Island hub.

A beautiful site to visit or stay, Fernandina Beach is full of an eclectic mix of shops and galleries, and was also voted “Best Small Town Getaway” by Southern Living magazine.  Explore the Island on an EcoMotion Segway Tour, guiding you to where the birds roost, turtles dig, dolphins swim, and old-time plantations still stand. To explore Amelia Island’s backyard natural environment, take a joy ride on The Bloxom, an 84' Chesapeake Bay Bugeye providing access to the Island’s natural environment. All day kayak adventures to Cumberland, sunset in seclusion, and overnight adventures are some of the possibilities that exist. If you have ever dreamed of cruising into the sunset, the natural environment guarantees a unique adventure. For those who live for golf, there’s no better place in indulge than Amelia Island. Here you’ll find 117 holes of championship-caliber golf, including a PGA tournament course, each providing a unique challenge for golfers of all skill levels. Not only are there great sites to see while exploring the historic downtown,  you cannot ignore the plethora of homespun cuisine such as the famous Jack & Diane’s, “The Tastiest Spot on the Centre,” or another local favorite spot,  Brett’s Waterway Café, overlooking the Fernandina Harbor and marina on the Amelia River. For fresh off the boat seafood, Amelia Island’s family owned and operated Crab Trap is yet another neighboring gem sure to impress. Whatever the location and whatever the style, it is sure to be a memorable stay on Amelia Island.

Host Hotel:

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island

4750 Amelia Island Parkway

Amelia Island, Florida 32034 USA

Front Desk: 904-277-1100

Reservations: 1-800-241-333

http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/AmeliaIsland/

Poised on a bluff of dunes on a barrier island overlooking the Atlantic Ccean, The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island is the quintessential conference resort or perfect personal hideaway in northeast Florida forty miles north of Jacksonville and five miles from the Victorian seaport town of Fernandina Beach.

Find yourself on Amelia Island, Florida - where Southern charm meets the sea and live oaks meet white sandy beaches. Southern hospitality at its finest is on display here at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. One of the most popular beach destinations on the East Coast, this luxurious barrier island hotel provides a welcome barrier between you and the world beyond.

Located on a grand stretch of the island’s 13 miles of coastline, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island hotel is a resort that features:

• 444 well-appointed guestrooms, including 43 Club rooms, 42 suites and two Presidential suites
• Four restaurants and lobby lounge
• More than 48,000 square feet of indoor function space, several outdoor and ocean view venues
• The Ritz-Carlton Spa 
• Fitness center
• On-site tennis facilities
• 18 holes of private championship golf right out front door of our Amelia Island hotel

Making Your Hotel Reservations:

The host hotel for the event is The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.  State Policy Network has a negotiated group rate of $189.00 per night plus applicable taxes at The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island. Please call 1-800-241-3333 and reference the State Policy Network 20^th Annual Meeting when reserving your room to obtain the group rate. Please ensure you book a room by October 12th to secure this rate based on availability.

Check in: 4:00pm

Check out: 12:00pm

Additional Accommodations Option

Summer Beach Condos

5456 First Coast Highway
Amelia Island, FL  32034

http://www.summerbeach.com/rentals/

Reservations: 800-862-9297

Summer Beach Condos
Beautifully situated on the Atlantic shoreline at the south end of Florida’s picturesque Amelia Island, adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, Summer Beach Resort has been acclaimed by New York Magazine and countless visitors for its wealth of activities, glorious lifestyle and exquisite amenities. Come here to enjoy golf, tennis or watersports, or simply to relax and bask in the warmth of our sun. You’re sure to enjoy a vacation that will live long in your memories. We invite you to explore all the beauty, magic and natural wonders that surround you at Summer Beach Resort.

Making your reservations

State Policy Network has a negotiated rate of $202.50 for 2 bedroom villas and $256.50 for 3 bedroom villas  per night plus applicable taxes at Summer Beach Condos. Please note that there is an additional cleaning fee per day so please make sure you inquire about this when making your reservation and confirm if you would like the service.  There is a mandatory cleaning fee of $107 per 2 BR villa and $117 per 3 BR villa upon departure. Please call 1-800-862-9297 and reference the State Policy Network 20^th Annual Meeting when reserving your villa to obtain the group rate. Please ensure you book a room by August 10, 2012 to secure your villa based on availability.

Check in: 4:00pm

Check out: 11:00am

Additional Accommodations Option

The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Villas 

6800 First Coast Highway
Amelia Island, Florida 32034
Front Desk: 904-261-6161

Reservations: 1-800-THE-OMNI

http://www.aipfl.com/villanotice/

As Florida's natural island destination, the beauty of Amelia Island Plantation can be seen in the ocean-topping sunrises and spectacular sunsets over green salt marshes. The 1,350-acre Florida beach resort offers superior villa accommodations, fun family resort activities, functional and flexible meeting facilities and Florida's most beautiful natural surroundings.

The Omni Amelia Island Plantation hosts three championship Florida golf courses - which have been certified by Audubon International as courses that conserve and restore natural ecosystems - both inspire and challenge our golf guests. Avid tennis players can enjoy the 23 Har-Tru tennis courts. The fitness center, nature center, Segway tours and year round youth programs cater to an active lifestyle. Refresh your mind and body in the resort spa and salon, savor the tastes from a variety of restaurants, and explore their collection of shops.

Making Your Hotel Reservations:

A room block has also been established at the Omni Amelia Island Plantation at a rate of $170.00 plus applicable taxes. Please call reservations at 1-800-THE-OMNI and reference the State Policy Network 20^th Annual Meeting when reserving your room. The Omni has a range of villas so you will be able to choose if you would like two double beds or one king bed based on availability. Each room has a living area and kitchen attached.

Check in: 4:00pm

Check out: 11:00am

Resort Fee Has Been Waived Which Includes the Following:

·         Complimentary Self-Parking

·         Internet Access in Guest Rooms

·         On-property resort transportation service

·         Use of Health & Fitness Center

·         Local & Toll Free Phone Access

·         Resort Beach Access

·         Preferred Racquet Club and Golf Course reservation access

TRANSPORTATION:

Please note that shuttle service will be provided between both the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Villas during specified times for the State Policy Network event.  Specific times and locations will be distributed in the agenda booklet that you will obtain at event registration in Amelia Island, FL.