We decided to head back to the Jacksonville area for another overnight getaway. This time we would visit Fort Clinch State Park and explore the fort. Unlike in Virginia, camping reservations are scarce in Florida this time of the year. It tickled me to snag the last reservation at the state park in the oceanside campground.

The day after making the reservation, Chris tested positive for Covid. Florida State Parks cancellation policy allows a cancellation within 24 hours of making the reservation with a full refund. Unfortunately, the park office was closed by the time I finished work. I called first thing in the morning, and after I explained the circumstances of our cancellation, they allowed us some leeway and gave us a full refund.

A few weeks later, I was disappointed when I couldn’t get into the ocean campsite. I did, however, find a spot in the river campground, and we were on our way.

Our confirmation indicated that we should call for the gate code if we expected to arrive after five, but I could only leave a message, to which we never received a response. I was nervous about our timing and didn’t want to rush our dinner, so we went to the campground first.

When we arrived at the state park, the guard gate was unmanned. There was a sign directing us to proceed to our campsite. I was concerned that we would not have the gate code and would not be able to reenter the park if we left for dinner. We drove through the ocean campground first. The weather was nasty and wet, with the wind whipping off the Atlantic Ocean.

My concerns were alleviated when we reached our campsite. Our information packet was there and, with the park for a buffer, the river campground was calm and quiet. Once again, instead of things working out as planned, they worked out as needed.

We headed to the beach for dinner at Salt Life Food Shack. While we weren’t right on the water, we could see the ocean. The outdoor rooftop patio would be a spectacular place for a meal, but not in the whipping wind on this day. As we ate, the wind picked up even more, and I was thankful that we would be staying in the more protected site.

After dinner, we hunkered down in the truck and watched a movie Chris had downloaded before calling it a night. When we woke in the morning, the weather was much calmer. It was still overcast but not actively raining, and the wind was gone. It delighted me to find a fruiting orange tree next to our site.

Our original plan was to have oatmeal for breakfast at the campsite and then have an early lunch after exploring the fort. However, when I realized how close everything was, we opted to have breakfast out instead. I found what looked to be a lovely spot for breakfast. We drove through the darling town of Amelia Island, but when we arrived at the restaurant, an employee informed us that there had been a problem in the kitchen. They would not open until 10:00.

We quickly regrouped to find another breakfast spot close by, and after deciding against a cute coffee shop, we ended up at Beach Diner, where we enjoyed a tasty breakfast.

As we headed back to the park, I entered Fort Clinch into Google Maps, thinking it would take us to the actual fort. Instead, after following a winding road, we ended up at the water, but not the fort. While we were a bit annoyed by the detour, we had an unexpected treat when we spotted an armadillo on the side of the road.

We finally made it back to Fort Clinch State Park. I loved the Historic Canopy Road that travels through the park. The trees form an arch over the road, creating a tunnel feeling. The Spanish moss dripping from the trees made a spectacular view.

We arrived at the fort, paid our admission, walked through the museum, and then headed into the fort.

The fort sits on the water where the St. Mary’s River empties into the Cumberland Sound. Construction on the five-walled fort started in 1847. By 1860, while several of the buildings within the fort were complete, only two-thirds of the wall was built, with no cannons mounted. Work continued in 1862, but construction was never completed.

From 1869 to 1898, the Army maintained the fort on caretaker status. They reactivated the fort during the Spanish American War before returning it to caretaker status. In 1926, with the fort no longer having military value, the Army sold it to private interests before the state purchased it for preservation. The Civilian Conservation Corps worked to repair the fort and add amenities between 1937 and 1942 when it became one of Florida’s first state parks. The fort was again called into military service during World War II before being returned to Florida.

We enjoyed meandering around the fort. It was interesting to see the double-walled construction, a brick wall with a natural rampart inside the wall. I was delighted to discover tunnels leading to the bastions at each corner.

We enjoyed looking at the cannons, the view of the water, and wandering through the many rooms. It was like stepping back in time. Chris, who loves to ferment, was in awe of the giant fermenting crocks we discovered in the kitchens.

I found it interesting to see the difference in the bricks from the various stages of construction over the years. In the barracks, we saw bunk beds stacked three high. Some of the enlisted men’s and officers’ quarters were never completed. You can see the foundations where the officers’ quarters would have been. I can’t imagine where they would have put all 500 soldiers slated for the fort.

I found the prison fascinating. There were two cells, one with balls and chains and a smaller room for solitary confinement. What a nightmare it must have been to find yourself in that cell. With only a tiny view hole in the door, that inmate would have virtually no light inside the cell.

We left the fort and walked the Willow Pond Nature Trail. We did not see much wildlife, but the ponds covered in greenery were captivating. We continued to Egan’s Creek Overlook, where we found a lovely view of Amelia Island Lighthouse across the water.

After a beautiful walk into the past and nature, we returned home refreshed and ready to take on real-life again.

Cost for the trip – gas $63, camping $35.82, fort admission $5.