1) Spend A Day at the Beach. 13 miles of broad, open Atlantic coast make for a playground that is always different and always appealing. Whether it’s playing in tide pools, building sand castles, hunting for shark teeth or jumping the waves, a day on Amelia Island’s beaches is always good for the soul. Take a surfing lesson with Surf Asylum, Driftwood Surf Shop, Riptide Watersports, or Amelia Surf Co. They’ll have you hanging 10 in no time!

2) Cruise On the River. Amelia River Cruises is a popular activity the whole family will enjoy. Cruise offerings include Cumberland island tours, family sunset tours, special shrimping eco-tours and family cruises. View Fort Clinch from the water, look for the wild horses on Cumberland Island, and watch as dolphin pop up and swim alongside the boat. Kids love Captain Pajama Dave (yes, he wears pajamas) and his stories about the island, nature, and history. Your kids will talk about this for years to come.

3) Dine Outdoors and Play. Lunch at Timoti’s Seafood Shak is always a kid favorite. Dedicated to serving fresh local and wild-caught seafood on Amelia Island, we recommend – well – everything. But, some favorite menu items include shrimp tacos, lobster rolls, seafood baskets and poke bowls. Dine family-style in a fun outdoor atmosphere. Parents can discuss what’s next on the agenda while kids check out the enclosed pirate ship play area. Sliders, located right on the beach, also has a playground set in sand and is fun for kids to play on while parents enjoy the outdoor Tiki bar and live music.

4) I Scream, You Scream! Ice Cream brings out the kid in all of us and lucky for you, we have delicious ice cream shops from one end of the island to the other. Located smack in the center of the island is Denucci’s where hand-dipped and soft serve ice creams, frozen custard, frozen yogurt, and Dole Whip are what’s for dinner. Sit indoors or in the shaded outdoor area with children’s playground. In the heart of the downtown historic district, a delicious smell begins wafting right about the time you reach Fantastic Fudge, where fudge and chocolates are made fresh daily. Enjoy an ice cream cone and watch the magic happen or head down to Island Time Frozen Yogurt where you can cleanse your palate with a selection of yogurts and sorbets that are all natural with no artificial flavors.

5) Fore! Gregor MacGregor’s Mini Links & Drinks combines some of Florida’s favorite pastimes: a round of golf, a tasty drink and beautiful scenery right in the heart of historic downtown. Bring out a little family competition on this lush garden putt-putt course where you can dine on corn dogs, hot dogs, popcorn, jumbo pretzels, and novelty ice cream treats. The winner gets braggin’ rights for the rest of the trip! If you’re ready to tackle another course, you can also enjoy mini golf at Heron’s Cove Adventure Golf, Island Falls Mini Golf and Putt-Putt Amelia Island.

6) Get Back to Nature. Amelia Island is known for her natural beauty. Join an experienced naturalist on a bike, Segway, kayak, paddleboard or new pedalboard tour discovering birds, turtles, edible plants, night creatures, crabs and more. The Nature Center is located at Omni Amelia Island Resort and is open daily. Stop in for field binoculars, apparel, fishing poles, or a critter talk or to visit with the local animal rescues. They make nature come to life and fun for everyone!

7) Shop for Toys! Villa Villekulla is a neighborhood toy store in downtown Fernandina Beach offering some of the very best toys on the market and for all ages. Kids love coming in the store so much, it’s hard to make them leave!
NOTE: If you don’t recognize the name, Villa Villekula is a fictional house that is the home of Pippi Longstocking, a character in a series of books. It just so happens that The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking was filmed right here on Amelia Island and the real Villa Villekula is located in Old Town.

8) Climb around Fort Clinch. Located on the northern end of Amelia Island is Fort Clinch State Park, a Civil War era fort and state park providing daily fort tours, trails for biking and hiking, beachcombing, sunbathing, swimming, and surf fishing. Adults and kids alike will love traipsing around the fort as soldiers reenact what life was like back in 1864. If you happen to be around on the first weekend of the month, you’ll witness a soldier garrison firing cannons and demonstrating other battlefield skills.

9) Get a History Lesson. Housed in the former Nassau County Jail, the Amelia Island Museum Of History is Florida’s first spoken history museum offering docent-led ghost tours, walking tours of downtown, museum exhibits, an interactive children’s area, and a fascinating glimpse into our island’s storied past. Catering to many interests and age levels, kids will especially love the old artifacts and hands-on exhibits.

10) A Playground for Pirates, Big and Small. Pirate playground, located on Atlantic Avenue and created as a community effort by 8 Flags Playscapes, is a community-accessible playground which integrates exercise, art, nature, music, imagination, and local history for children of all physical and mental abilities. It’s open-ended and fun and the best part is you can take the path right behind it and be in Egan’s Creek Greenway where you can have an amazing nature walk and take some great photos. You may even see an alligator or two!