Amelia Island - Top Travel Tips - TheLuxuryVacationGuide

Amelia Island tops Florida’s northeastern-most point like a crown jewel. And we love Amelia! Picture sand beaches, four spectacular State Parks, preserved dunes, designated bike paths and nature walks, protected inlets for paddleboard and kayak excursions, intracoastal and Atlantic boating, and a charming historic downtown of Fernandina Beach with fabulous boutique shopping, restaurants and lodging.

Amelia is “amiable” in size, 18 sq miles (13 long and 4 wide), with a population of about 30,000. Amelia’s eastern Atlantic coast stretches the entire 13 miles with quartz beach sand and dunes, North Beach to American Beach to the south (more on that later).

Amelia is famous for scenery, sand, shore, and shrimping too. Delicious local shrimp, caught daily on local boats! There’s also a strong Spanish influence particularly in Fernandina, named for Spanish King Ferdinand VII, interesting Amelia was the last Spanish settlement on the continent, 1881, while St Augustine 60 miles south was the first Spanish occupation in 1565. Amelia is referred to as the home of 8 Flags honoring its various occupations over the centuries.

There is so much to see and do on Amelia Island, here are our top tips!

Explore the 50 block National Historic District of Fernandina Beach, to the northwest, stroll this beautiful brick seaside village. Sidewalks are draped with grand trees. Victorian mansions are now boutiques, cafés, and pubs lining Centre Street, and the perfectly planned grid of avenues from Front Street on the waterfront, ascending up to 10^th. Take an Historic Walking Tour to truly appreciate Amelia’s architecture, legends and lore. Even Fernandina’s municipal offices are spectacular, the 1909 Post Office is Florence Medici Palace inspired, Nassau County’s Court House is 1891 revival style, and the 1878 County Jail is now Eight Flags Museum.

Walking Fernandina’s shaded streets brings you to beautiful homes constructed of tabby (crushed seashell concrete) or those featuring gingerbread detail woodwork, look for the horse carousel balcony. The 1884 City Mart is a centerpiece, now home to Fernandina’s Fantastic Fudge – twice worth your stop.

See Florida’s first sunrise, from North Beach or Fort Clinch. Amelia’s early morning ritual is akin to driving up Cadillac Mountain in Maine’s Acadia Park to greet the sun first, magical! End your day as the glowing orange ball sets in Fernandina across the ICW.

SUP with Riptide Watersports to paddleboard amid lush salt marsh estuary in the shadows of Florida’s oldest Lighthouse, 1839 Amelia Island Light, flocks of native birds and gorgeous moss-draped trees. You may even spot manatee on your guided tour around serene pristine Egan’s Creek.

Rent bikes, also from Riptide, to bike Fort Clinch Park, Florida’s northernmost state park. Fort Clinch is 2,000 acres of protected sand dunes, beach, nature walks and bike paths, campgrounds, and the historic 1847 fort. The 3-mile park drive is magical, canopied with live oak draped in Spanish moss (its actually epiphyte). Perched at the northern tip is the Civil War fort with outstanding views of St Mary’s Georgia. Fort fanatics will find this monument incredibly well-preserved and fascinating. Amelia has designated shaded bikes paths all around the entire island, you can also ride bikes on the beach at low tide.

Get on board Amelia River Cruises for a 1 1/2 hour narrated tour of Fernandina harbor, the northern Fort Clinch seen from the waterfront, and Cumberland Island where wild horses run free on this southernmost Georgia preserve. Our Captain was funny and informative on this BYOB boat ride, we saw dolphin, a sea turtle, horses, learned of pirate and plundering days, to today’s shrimping and fishing heritage, plus interesting military operations at the Naval Submarine Base nearby at St Mary’s. Amelia River Cruise also offers a Sunset Cruise with live music, BYOB.

Discover the broad Atlantic Beach which extends 13 miles, the entire eastern side of Amelia Island. Main Beach and North Beach offer tremendous walking, sunning, swimming and surf. The fine sand is delightfully white and light and sparkly in most spots, thanks to crushed quartz.

Go to American Beach on the south eastern coast of Amelia, this Atlantic beach was established in 1935 as the first racially diverse beach for “recreation & relaxation without humiliation” by Abraham Lincoln Lewis, President of Afro American Life Insurance, as a place where African American families could finally go and enjoy the sand and surf without discrimination, represented in The Green Book, as depicted in the award winning motion picture.

Visit the Old Town and waterfront park, including The Captain’s House – also known as Pippi Longstocking’s home featured in the film of the pig-tailed ginger’s adventures! If you dig graveyards, Bosque Bello Old Cemetery, which means beautiful woods, is nearby in the Old Town with super old tombstones made from tabby oyster shells, dating to the 1700s, beautifully creepy I might add.

Sky Dive with Sky Dive Amelia Island for a truly thrilling, daring and highly scenic descent from 10,000 with skilled tandem experts.

Golf Amelia at one of the beautiful courses on and off island. Both Ritz Carlton Amelia and Omni Resort Amelia have championship courses, and beautiful beachside resort settings with spas and top-notch dining too. Golf Club at North Hampton and Amelia River Golf are less fancy.

Drink Local at Marlin & Barrel Distillery. Free tastings of their delicious house-crafted locally sourced spirits are served here. This small batch maker of Vodka, Rum, Bourbon and Whiskey is very special, akin to City Gates and St Augustine Distilleries just an hour away. Our pourer Shannon was fun and so knowledgeable about their craft! On 8th Street South, you’ll find their tasting room and production facility. Be prepared to love the Apple Spiced Rum, or the smoked-pepper infused Vodka depending upon your mood and food!

Eat Amelia! Fernandina is known for its fresh local seafood, so you must dive in. In fact they host an annual Shrimp Fest every May. Be “shore” to taste your way around the eclectic restaurants in Fernandina and Amelia, indulge in indigenous oysters, shrimp, freshly-caught grouper, snapper, halibut, flounder, served with southern flair and spice. Visit during the annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Fest in May for a fun festival and boat parade! See our Fernandina dining faves below!

Where to Dine on Amelia

Fernandina Beach Downtown Restaurants

Salty Pelican on Front Street is THE place! Head to the top deck overlooking the water for an ICW view of the yachts coming and going, the occasional train passing through that shakes the ice cubes in your cocktail, and spectacular sunsets. Happy hour daily deals are fabulous, and the people are fun at the Pelican. The roasted oysters with bacon and blue cheese – yes please! Crab Dip! Or try The Seafood Pie –oh my – loaded with lobster, shrimp, crab – spicy, fabulous and filling topped with flaky pastry! If you went fishing today, inquire about The Pelican’s “you hook it, we cook it” Chef’s deal. Casual, scenic, fun & yum!

España for authentic Portuguese Spanish flavors! Sitting in their beautiful backyard courtyard under heat lamps is heavenly. Savor tapas of calamari and shrimp paired with house-made sangria, and the best patatas bravas I’ve tasted outside of Barcelona! Superb Paella, and fresh catch seafood served creatively.

Burlingame is chic, upscale and delicious. Make a dinner res, to indulge in fabulous food in a swank setting, we sat at the bar and enjoyed great banter with our barkeep too!

David’s is in Fernandina, serving Chef inspired seafood, prime beef, in a lovely setting. The octopus starter and shrimp bisque were extraordinary. Happy Hour in the lounge Sunday- Thursday, but you have to ask the Bartender as they don’t promote it!

Cafe Karibou is a casual lunch spot, with wonderful fresh salad and clever yummy sandwiches, served in a pretty outdoor courtyard.

For Drinks
PJD’s Wine & Beer Garden often rocks with live music and locals in a rustic garden patio bar setting under big oak trees.

Palace Saloon on Centre Street is Florida’s oldest operating saloon, since 1903. Its loaded with character, artifacts and pirate swagger, in an old brick corner stone haberdashery. Palace also sells specialty wines by the bottle to go.

Boathouse is in town, with a modern vibe, its a great place to go for a drink, by the indoor-outdoor bar or on the patio, often live music plays.

Salt Life Food Shack on Fernandina Beach offers Atlantic views and a hip beachy vibe at the Main Beach area. Enjoy drinks and apps at this salty seaside hangout.

Slide in to a swing bar stool at Sliders Tiki Bar, right by the Beach, serving fun drinks, with a happy hour, live music, and salty breezes by the sand!

Bar Zin on central island is a classic restaurant (in an unassuming locale) serving delicious southern fare with a flair, very popular with Island locals that live down this way near the Omni and Ritz.

Where to Stay on Amelia Island

In Town in Fernandina:

The Hampton Inn and Suites at Amelia Island in Fernandina Beach is a modern, convenient property, just steps to everything. Ask for a 3rd or 4^th floor room with a view of the ICW, the marina, and sunsets. Complimentary breakfast is served on the 2^nd, where you will also find an outdoor waterview pool at this Hilton hotel.

The Florida House is the state’s oldest operating hotel, since 1857, built by David Yulee. This charming Victorian inn harkens back to a more genteel time, on 3^rd. FYI: Yulee was

Florida’s cross-state railroad visionary, see his replica at the 1899 Train Depot by the waterfront.

Down Island Resorts:

Omni Amelia Island Plantation on beachfront Lagoon Road offers a luxe golf, spa and beach resort on 1,300 acres including private beach access, and 36 holes of Championship golf, on the southeastern tip of Amelia Island, nine miles to town.

Ritz Carlton Amelia Island is mid-island on the eastern beach side, six miles to Fernandina, with luxury accommodations, spa, indoor and outdoor pools, ocean and beach access, and golf among its 5-star resort amenities.

Departing Amelia Island, don’t miss Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot State Park. This amazing beach park is home the most amazing collection of petrified oak trees. It’s a spectacular maze of intertwined giant driftwood on the beach. It’s a bit of a hike out from the parking area out to the best collection of “bones” – massive old oaks trees toppled, weathered and salted by the sea over the years. Boneyard Beach is a perfect place for a picnic and a photo shoot.