Remember the 80s girls-gone-wild movie, “Thelma and Louise?” Susan Sarandon played Louise, a burned-out, chain-smoking waitress mad at her boss, her boyfriend, the world.  Geena Davis was Thelma, a gorgeous, ditzy housewife afraid of her husband and bored with life.

One Friday afternoon, the girls decide they’ve had it. Louise bolts from her restaurant and Thelma leaves her husband a “see ya later, honey” note on a sandwich. Their getaway car: Louise’s 1966 turquoise Thunderbird convertible, loaded with suitcases, fishing nets and a 38 revolver.

Back in the 80s, my girlfriend Shelley and I were TV commercial and corporate film producers in Chicago. Our friendship has thrived through exhilarating highs and devastating lows. Shelley is middle-aged, healthy and gorgeous. A few months ago, she e-mailed me: my divorce is final, my belongings stored, and I plan to plumb the joys of planet earth.  She loaded up her new red Toyota Prius and headed to my Mount Pleasant home, which I’d offered as her global launching pad.  A few days later, we began hatching a road trip.

AMELIA ISLAND

A favorite Web site entices us with this description: “Amelia Island is Northeast Florida’s coastal treasure, rich in colorful history, breath-taking natural beauty, abundant wildlife and beautiful beaches.  Upscale resorts with world-class spas, unique dining and shopping in Fernandina Beach, a vibrant Victorian seaport village.  Forget the everyday getaway.  Make memories on Amelia Island.”

“First stop, Amelia Island,” I say, pointing

to the map. The next morning, the Prius is loaded with four suitcases, two coffee makers, sweaters, bikinis, beach covers and my new Seal CD. No revolvers allowed.  We cruise south on I-95, soulfully crooning along with Seal, “A Change is Gonna Come.” Five hours later, we pull into Fernandina Beach and the Hampton Inn and Suites, a rainbow-hued hotel on the waterfront. Starving, we hurl our stuff into the suite and head for the Beach Street Grill, where I order a spinach/shitake mushroom salad and seared tuna. Shelley dives into a taste grilled scallop dish with aru-gula and fried leeks.

 “I may never cook again,” I say.  

Their first night on the road, Thelma and Louise went bar hopping.  Thelma got drunk, pick-ed up a creep, and that’s when their troubles began.  After our tiring drive and a great dinner, we pass on John Stuart and fall asleep, dreaming of tomorrow’s fun.

The next morning, singing along with Shelley’s favorite Gypsy Kings CD, we drive to Fort Clinch State Park to meet Ray Hetchka, Amelia Island’s legendary guide from Kayak Amelia. Ray takes nature lovers on leisurely kayak adventures to watch terns, egrets, herons and cormorants, and he shares anecdotes on wildlife, history and everyone cool living on Amelia. It’s too chilly for kayaking, so Ray offers us a bike tour.

“You’ll see 40-foot sand dunes, ´gators, great blue herons, and if we’re lucky, dolphins and right whales,” he says.  

The man loves his job.

He unloads two shiny blue Navigator 300 Trek bikes, and we ride off in style.  He tells us the history of the park’s centuries old, two-story sand dunes, then takes us to see the new multi-million dollar pier splaying between a serene opal beach and the Atlantic Ocean. We gaze at the water, hoping a dolphin or whale will surface, but wildlife never comes when you call.

“How about one of my fam-ous homemade chocolate-chip cookies?” Ray asks.  Under a cobalt sky on a sunny day, we’re munching delicious cookies with a hunky, fun-loving guide.

SEGWAY AND SPA

The next morning, naturalist Christina Nelson leads us on a tour of Amelia Island Plantation by Segway. We’ve completed a 45-minute Segway video-training session, and now we’re having a blast riding our two-wheeled human transporters.

“Watch your speed and focus on your balance,” Christina tells us, “and keep an eye out for wood storks, anhingas, and red-shouldered hawks.”

Gliding through the forest under live oak tree canopies, past sand dunes, along the ocean, our Segways are a fun way to watch nature and tour this gorgeous AAA 4-Diamond Resort.

We come to a hilltop, unusual in Florida, and Shelley begins a downhill descent.  Suddenly, her right wheel runs off the path and the Segway tips.  Shelley is thrown to the right, one foot off the machine. She hops with one leg, trying to keep up with the careening Segway carrying the rest of her.  Somehow, she leaps back on, spins in a half circle, and goes backward down the hill, leaning uphill to slow the descent.  Laughing, she comes full stop at the bottom next to a gaping Chris-tina, who says,  “I’ve seen a few spills, but never one that ended so well.  That’s amazing.”

Thelma and Louise would be proud.

We return our Segways and enjoy delicious seafood quiche and salad at the Resort’s charming Marche Burette Market.  We thank Chris-tina for the unique tour of the Plan-tation’s 1350 acres, where lucky guests vacation in elegant ocean-view rooms and relax in boutiques, eclectic restaurants, and an award-winning spa.  You could stay here for weeks and never run out of fun.  

The Plantation hosts numerous events year round, but July 4 is a favorite family celebration with fireworks, acrobatic planes, parachutes, and a golf-cart parade.

After lunch, we waltz our Segway-exhausted muscles into the Spa.  Shelley chooses a deep-tissue massage with Christine Neubauer, and I’m scheduled for an anti-aging facial.  My aesthetician, Jacki Harding, envelops my face with a hydrating pumpkin mask, half a dozen rejuvenating creams.  After an hour of bliss, I’m back to my sassy self.

“You look waaay younger!” Shelley says.

“Sooo much younger than you!” I retort. “How was your massage?”

 “Best I ever had.  She even put me into a hot tub with a thousand jets that blew out the Segway kinks!”  

For Thelma and Louise, everything went horribly wrong: robbed by a cowboy, attacked by a drunk, and chased by the cops. Maybe those wild girls shoulda checked into Amelia Island Plantation and chilled?

DAYTONA BEACH

The Prius is still full of gas, so we drive south for fun and sun in Daytona Beach.  We drive along one of the world’s most famous beaches, scoping out the hotels: Pirates Den, Pirates Cove, Pirates Nest.   I groan.  

“I hope our hotel doesn’t have a pirate theme, I think pirates are totally creepy!”  

Fortunately, we’re staying at The Shores, a super-hip, mega-luxury boutique hotel right on the beach.  We’re thrilled with the valet parking and the warm welcome at check-in.  Then we see our room, separated from the beach by sliding glass doors.  Gold and periwinkle, spacious, with two four-poster beds, it has overstuffed reading chairs, a 42” flat-screen plasma TV, a DVD/CD player, a mini bar, and best of all, a chilled bottle of dry white wine surrounded by fruit, cheese, crackers and crisp linen napkins.

“We’re livin’ large, girlfriend, let’s check out that Chardonnay,” Shelley says.

A golden glow entices me to step outside.  The outdoor pool is inviting, the Tiki Bar is busy serving cocktails, and people stroll glorious Daytona Beach. Flocks of pelicans glide lazily overhead, as 500 yellow-legged seagulls snooze under a tangerine sky.

We sip wine on our ocean terrace, listening to the crashing surf.    

“Well?”  Shelley says.

“Let’s toast to getaways, fun, a bit of adventure….”  

I’ll say.

“And seagulls and sunsets and…” Shelley murmurs.

“And whatever tomorrow may bring,”

The movie ended with Thelma and Louise driving off a cliff.  But tonight, we fall into Dreamland, where women are wild and free.

IF YOU GO

We recommend these Amelia Island and Daytona Beach, Florida  hotels:

The Hampton Inn and Suites on Amelia Island. In the heart of Fernandina Beach, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, two blocks from The Museum of History, deep sea fishing, sailing, sunset cruises, kayaking. Enjoy historic walking tours, boutiques, art galleries, and 25 restaurants close by. Roomy suites with balconies and kitchens, complimentary breakfast, free Internet and parking. 904-491-4911.  www.hamptoninnandsuites.net

Amelia Island Plantation. A beautiful luxury resort on 1350 acres. Guestrooms, Suites, Homes and Villas overlook the Ocean, Intracoastal, Lakes, and Marsh. Championship golf, tennis, swimming pools, nature trails for biking/walking, Segway nature tours, boating, fishing, restaurants and The Spa. Perfect getaway for a couple or families, and a romantic setting for weddings/honeymoons. 904-321-5049.  www.aipfl.com.

The Shores on Daytona Beach, offers gorgeous guestrooms with Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway views. Enjoy a variety of relaxing treatments at Indulge Spa.

Azure restaurant serves outstanding seafood and European cuisine.

Championship golf courses are nearby, as are Daytona’s museums, culture, and attractions.

The Shores Resort & Spa, 2637 South Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach, Florida 32118. 800-328-0122. shoresresort.com

Visitor Information: w.ameliaisland.com

and www.daytonabeach.com

Photos by Shelley Jones

Ray Hetchka, owner of Kayak Amelia, also offers bike tours through beautiful Fort Clinch State Park.

Lucky us, we’re staying at The Shores, a super hip, mega luxury, boutique hotel right on Daytona Beach.

Cafe Karibo, in historic downtown Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, serves delicious crab cake sandwiches, which we enjoyed on the garden patio.

Shelley and Sharon are girls gone wild with friendship, freedom, and wonderful food at The Shores Azure Restaurant. There’s nothing left to say...just get away whenever you can.