Take a trip on the new Amelia Island Historic Tours!

Amelia River Cruises and Charters is thrilled to announce the launch of their partner land tour – Amelia Island Historic Tours!

Amelia Island Historic Tours officially launched on Monday, September 23^rd. Their journey has been a group effort with Daniel Daly and, our own, Kevin McCarthy manning the helm.

A Little About Daniel Daly

Daniel came to Amelia Island from Ireland in 2012.  He was a part of an educational program working in the music industry. With this program, he worked as a musician in North Jacksonville, St. Simons, and Jekyll Island. Then Daniel discovered the music scene on Amelia Island. While here he began playing with many of our islands amazing musicians and worked for the transit as well. He wanted to make sure he could answer visitors’ questions about the island – So, he began researching and the history of the island sucked him in.

Evolution

In 2015 he recorded an album with Kevin’s brother, Sean McCarthy and got to know much of the family. “The McCarthys are a very tight family. Our partnership in this endeavor was just a natural evolution. We began doing more together and the opportunity to put the tour out there, came. Kevin and I decided that the time was right…and we went for it.”

Working on the permit process since May, they got the official go ahead to provide three different tours, the Eight Flags Tour, American Beach, and Kingsley Plantation.

Launch

Amelia Island Historic Tours is concentrating on one tour to start, the Eight Flags Tour, and will expand as demand increases. Known as the ‘Isle of Eight Flags’, Amelia Island has been claimed under eight different authorities since the first flag was flown here over 450 years ago, while Native Americans called it home for over a thousand years prior to that.  These eight flags tell stories of bloody massacres between the early settlers, tales of fraud and deception to possess and occupy the land, as well as love and comradery between the long-time residents, and those seeking to call the new world home.

Fun History

Don’t think these tours are going to be just a 90-minute history lesson! Daniel has enjoyed his fair share of historic tours. Some have been, “factually to the point but the delivery could be a cure for insomnia.” Daniel is taking this tour in another direction. He plans on using his stage experience in the music industry to turn the tour into a performance. “It’s not just a tour. It’s a show. Every tour will be different. It will constantly evolve as I learn more or depending on what the visitors want to know. I will inject some humor, lively information. It’s about giving my guests a fully enlightened and enjoyable experience.”

Where to Book Your Tour

Public tours are departing at 10am and 12:30pm daily, from the curbside loading area outside 204 Ash Street; it’s right outside the City Hall Parking lot and directly across the street from the Hampton Inn & Suites downtown. Amelia Island Historic Tours is also looking forward to working with as many of the hotels and bed and breakfasts as are interested, some of which have already inquired about their services. They hope to provide their tours to all who would like to come and learn a little bit more about the amazing history of our little slice of paradise.

Tours are already booking fast. While you can book your tour right at the van, it is recommended to book your tour ahead of time to ensure your seat by calling (904) 899-2429 or visiting www.ameliaislandhistorictours.com.

Thank you and Congratulations

Daniel would like to thank the team from Amelia River Cruises and Christene Stewart for all their guidance and assistance. It has been a group effort to get these van tours rolling and he couldn’t be more grateful and excited for the future.

A heartfelt congratulations and welcome to Amelia Island Historic Tours from Amelia River Cruises & Charters! We are so excited to have you become a part of our family of legendary tours and can’t wait to watch you grow!

Categorised in: Amelia Island, History & Community