Amelia Island is more than just one of the
Top 10 Islands in the US. Within her thirteen miles, lie three "neighborhoods", each with its own distinctive character, charm, and appeal, that when combined, create a place where visitors and locals each find something to mirror their individual personality.
The South End
The southern end of Amelia Island is most notably known for the two luxury resorts – the
Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island and the
Omni Amelia Island Plantation - who grace our Eastern shoreline. Here is will you’ll find luxury interspersed with nature’s bounty.
If pampering is on your agenda, step into the relaxing sanctuaries of our resort spas and let your stress drift away like the current of the ocean’s tide. Relax poolside and bask in the ocean views. Feel your stress level go down as you listen to the waves crash against our shores.
Golf aficionados can play amongst canopied Oak trees, sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean, spectacular marsh vistas, and experience why LINKS Magazine named Amelia one of the
Top 25 Golf Islands in the World.
Get in tune with nature as you step off the beaten path and walk, run or bike the
Amelia Island Trail, seven miles of tree-lined pathways which hug scenic Highway A1A, part of the East Coast Greenway.
If your idea of luxury is a day on the water, the southern end of Amelia Island offers an array of aquatic expeditions, including stand-up paddleboarding or kayaking the Nassau Sound as you watch the sun’s golden rays set over the Intracoastal Waterway. At the southernmost tip of the island is Amelia Island State Park, a respite from everyday life. Cast a line off the mile-long George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier overlooking the Nassau Sound, ride horseback on the beach or simply take in nature’s majesty with over 200-acres filled with beaches, salt marshes, and maritime forests.
The Fun Zone
This is where kids of all ages come to play and there’s something for every member of the family in the center of Amelia Island. Travel along Sadler Road and you’ll find a collection of family-friendly restaurants, ice cream shops, and everything you need to create memorable family moments. Here families can take in a round of miniature golf, let the kids unleash their energy at the island’s bounce play center or build sandcastles on the beach.
Just north of Sadler Road on 14th Street, you’ll find the island’s
movie theater. The reclining seat theater offers first-run movies and, on occasion, Retro Night, an evening of movie classics. The whole family can be sleuth-sayers as they unleash the mysteries and unlock the puzzles in one of the island-themed rooms at
Amelia Island Escape Room.
Nestled behind the
Residence Inn, Amelia Island is an entrance to the
Egans Creek Greenway, a network of trails suitable for walking and bicycling. Interpretive displays along the Greenway offer excellent teaching tools for visitors and locals to learn and experience the island’s natural wildlife and vegetation. The trail’s formal entrance can be found behind the Atlantic Recreation Center on the island’s northern end.
The North End
From the sun rising high above Ft. Clinch State Park to the pastel sunsets turning the Fernandina Beach Harbor into a watercolor portrait, the northern end of Amelia Island offers a rich history that has been woven into the fabric of our current way of life.
On the eastern shore of Amelia Island lies
Main Beach, the island’s iconic and most-known beach. More than just a beach access, the park offers visitors two sand volleyball courts, a playground, picnic shelters, a skate park and more.
History and nature unite at
Fort Clinch State Park, a 1,400-acre park and home to historic Fort Clinch, a well-preserved Civil War fort. Visitors can explore the rooms and grounds of the park while staff bring history to life and take you back to 1864 as they tell the stories of life as a Union soldier. Beyond the fort’s walls are some of the most breathtaking scenery on the island. Guests can walk or hike miles of trails underneath majestic Oaks, search for shells along the park's shoreline overlooking the St. Mary’s Inlet or camp under the stars. Located near the park is the Amelia Island Lighthouse, which has served as a beacon for seafarers since 1938 and is Florida’s oldest lighthouse.
The original ‘downtown’ of Fernandina Beach is
Old Town Fernandina, the island’s northernmost point. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old Town is where the island was first settled by Timucua Indians. History buffs can spend an afternoon visiting Bosque Bello Cemetery and Plaza San Carlos, the site of the original Spanish Fort San Carlos, now known as Fernandina Plaza State Park. Kids will enjoy a visit to the park to see the private home made famous in the 1980s movie “The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking”.
Step onto the cobblestone streets of Downtown Fernandina Beach and embrace the town’s laid-back vibe. You’ll quickly learn why Coastal Living named Fernandina one of its
Happiest Seaside Towns. Grab a sweet tea, find a bench and watch the town’s cast of characters come alive. On any given day, you’re likely to snap a selfie with one of our beloved pirates or hear the incredible talents of local musicians. Amelia Island’s natural beauty inspires local artists and their talents are on display at many local galleries. During two weekends in December, Centre Street, the city’s main street, is transformed into a storybook scene right out of a
Dicken’s novel.
Whatever sets your soul alive, you’ll find it here on Amelia Island.