Every fall, Jacksonville Beach is the site of an extraordinary parade and the return of the right whales. The endangered whales visit the area to calve in Florida's warm coastal waters. Hunted to near extinction before coming under governmental protection in the 1930s, there are only about 350 right whales in existence today. Just a short ferry ride across the St. Johns River is Big Talbot Island, where a bird sanctuary, rock-like outcroppings and fallen trees have become bleached and weathered with time, making the island a dramatic sight and a popular spot for artists and photographers. The island's spectacular bluffs, two plantation ruins and canoe routes through salt marshes add to the experience. South of Big Talbot is Little Talbot Island, which is actually the larger of the two. The entire 2,500-acre island is a protected state park, with wide beaches and high dunes. Fishing is excellent in the island's small ponds and salt marshes, and for bird watchers, Little Talbot is paradise found.

Another inviting stop is the Fort George State Cultural Site, where huge oyster shell mounds are evidence of Timucuan Indian habitation dating more than 7,000 years. Another strange phenomenon is Mount Cornelia, which at 65 feet above sea level is the highest point along the Atlantic coast south of North Carolina. Comprised of more than 46,000 acres along Jacksonville's river and oceanfront, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve protects important wetlands and historic sites. The 600-acre Theodore Roosevelt Area preserves the once vast wilderness that lined the lower St. Johns River. Hiking trails in this beautiful area wind through several distinct ecological communities and offer the chance to view many varieties of plants and animals. Look up and spot ospreys, eagles and wood ducks, and on the trails watch for the wild turkeys and hogs known to frequent the area.

North of the Timucuan Preserve lies Amelia Island, which is the site of Fort Clinch State Park, where visitors can explore a beautifully preserved island ecosystem with a unique addition. At the centerpiece of the park is a Civil War-era fort, where the park rangers dress in wool Union uniforms and conduct candlelight tours as though it were still 1864. The rest of the park's sprawling 1,100 acres provide sand dunes, overwash plains, maritime hammock and estuarine tidal marsh for exploration. Nature trails guide visitors through these areas.

Closer to Jacksonville Beach, Amelia Island State Recreational Area offers more than 200 acres of oceanfront activities, including guided horseback rides along its wide, dune-lined Atlantic beach. Another one of the area's jewels is Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, a 450-acre oceanfront getaway. Hanna Park offers mountain bikers of all skill levels 20 miles of premier biking trails. Other recreational opportunities include camping, hiking, swimming, surfing and fishing. Near downtown Jacksonville, nature trails can be found in unexpected places, such as the 40-acre Tree Hill Nature Center right in the middle of suburbia, or the University of North Florida's 12 miles of trails through every type of terrain found in Northeast Florida.

South of Jacksonville Beach, Guana River State Park sits on 2,400 acres of undeveloped Atlantic seacoast. Among the preserve's special features are a five-mile coastal strand, an ancient Spanish well and 2,000-year-old Indian shell bluffs. Active families can mountain bike along nine miles of old service roads or boat through nearby rivers.

In the Jacksonville Beaches area, the great outdoors offer intriguing getaways for those who want to discover the area's natural side. For more information, contact The Beaches Chamber & Visitors Center at (904) 249-3868 or the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau at (800) 733-2668.