If you want a jet ski ride that doubles as a history and wildlife tour, Jet Ski Amelia runs two-hour guided trips led by certified master naturalists. The company calls them "eco tours at the speed of fun." The dock is at 3 North Front Street, at the foot of Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach, about 30 minutes from the Jacksonville airport.
Each tour starts with safety instruction on the dock. Then you follow your guide on your own Yamaha WaveRunner for a 15 to 20 mile run through the rivers, creeks and backwater bays between Amelia and Cumberland islands, out to the Atlantic and back. Expect four or five stops. Your guide points out Old Town, the Pippi Longstocking house, Fort Clinch and Dungeness on Cumberland, and the trip normally includes a stop at one of the white-sand beaches in the waterway. The company says you're likely to see porpoises, manatees, turtles and Cumberland's wild horses along the way.
The company has five skis, and each one seats up to three people within a 450-pound limit per machine. Drivers must be at least 16, and passengers at least 8. Florida law requires drivers born on or after January 1, 1988, to carry a Boating Safety Education ID card; if you don't have one, staff can issue a temporary card at the dock, but you'll need an extra 30 minutes for the instruction and test.
Bring a government-issued photo ID for every adult 16 and older, sunglasses with a strap, a towel, and clothes and shoes that can get wet. Tickets must be bought in advance, and you should arrive 30 minutes early. There's a locking cabinet on the dock for your belongings, and on cooler days you can borrow a waterproof top with neoprene seals at the wrists and neck. The site also mentions one-hour tours by phone. For a one-hour ride on the booking page and a free passenger seat, compare Amelia Jet Ski Rental at F-Dock, across Centre Street.