Amelia Island, Florida is still very much an undiscovered secret, but perhaps not for much longer.  The island's endless blue skies and stunning sunsets attract more and more people each year.  Amelia Island features a wide array of fine restaurants, boutiques, galleries, inns and outdoor activities.  It is host to numerous festivals and world class events, including the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance and the Bausch & Lomb Tennis Championships.  Many visitors to the island, however, simply enjoy strolling the streets of the downtown historic district, absorbing its rich cultural past.  Time is measured only by the rush of waves against the shore.  Relax on the golden sands of the Atlantic Ocean.  Ride horseback on the beach.  Sailing, kayaking and fishing are favorites for the whole family.  For the golfer, Amelia Island is paradise, with six championship golf courses spread out amidst the island's lush natural beauty. Amelia Island is a unique 13.5-mile barrier island ideal for visiting or living.  It was named by Oglethorpe in honor of Princess Amelia, the daughter of English King George II.  Amelia Island is located in Nassau County in the northernmost corner of Florida, 32 miles northeast of Jacksonville and across the St. Marys River from Georgia. Only 20-25 feet above mean sea level, the 18.2 square mile area is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and on the west by the Amelia River and the Intracoastal Waterway.  Width varies from a quarter mile to two miles.  The population on Amelia Island is estimated at 20,000.  Annual average temperature on the island is 69.9 degrees. Annual average rainfall is 51 inches. The City of Fernandina Beach is a quaint historic seaport on Amelia Island.  Fernandina Beach is the home of the modern shrimping industry.  It is also one of America's most charming Victorian villages with a fifty-block area in the downtown district that is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.  Fernandina Beach is dotted with picturesque homes, shops, and public buildings.   It was discovered by French explorer Jean Ribault in 1562 and encompasses seven square miles in the north-central portion of the island.   It is the only site in the United States to have been under eight flags: French; Spanish; British; Patriots; Green Cross of Florida; Mexican; Confederate; and USA.  The population in Fernandina is estimated at 10,000. A mix of residential and commercial late-Victorian architecture in downtown, reflecting city's great prosperity in late 1880's.  When the north-south railroad line bypassed the island in early 1900's, tourism moved southward and shipping declined.  Thus, old buildings were repaired rather than replaced, and the architectural heritage was preserved. The heart of downtown is Centre Street, a charming eight-block corridor with pedestrian-friendly street-scaping leading to the Intracoastal Waterway and the Fernandina Harbor Marina, where shrimp boats unload catches and charter boats depart for sightseeing and fishing.