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Eco-Friendly Escape

Nature & Outdoors

You're invited to immerse yourself in Amelia Island's natural wonders while treading lightly on the environment. From exploring biodiverse ecosystems to savoring locally sourced cuisine, every aspect of your eco-friendly getaway is designed to minimize your ecological footprint and maximize your connection to the beauty of this coastal paradise. Join us as we embark on a journey of discovery, conservation, and relaxation, ensuring that your time on Amelia Island leaves both a lasting impression and a positive impact on the planet.

Day One - Arrival and Nature Exploration:

Afternoon

  • Check into the Home2 Suites by Hilton, a certified green hotel just a short walk away from the ocean and your home away from home for the next 3 days. This all-suite hotel is eco-friendly and pet friendly boasting furnishings made from recycled materials and bulk bath products and real dishes to reduce their carbon footprint. They also participate in “Clean the World”, a soap recycling effort that helps reduce waste!
  • After check in, explore Fort Clinch State Park, where you can hike or bike nature trails, observe wildlife in action, and learn all about the fort’s history going back to the Civil War. Take a lunch from Amelia Fresh Cafe, a natural whole food cafe located inside Nassau Health Foods, and picnic in the park using reusable containers and utensils. The visitor center picnic area at Fort Clinch is located in a maritime hammock area surrounded by relic dunes and oak trees. It’s a seriously beautiful place to enjoy a healthy lunch!
Afternoon

Evening

  • Join Amelia Island Kayak Excursions for a guided sunset tour of the Amelia River. Learn about the local ecosystem, including marshes, estuaries, and the diverse marine life that inhabits them. It’s an opportunity to see dolphins, wading birds, ospreys and a gorgeous sunset. Be sure to bring your phone or camera – a complimentary digital memory photo album is included!
  • After your paddle, head over to Timoti’s Seafood Shak located in the heart of downtown Fernandina. Timoti’s is a hit with just about everyone with shrimp baskets served blackened, grilled or fried. Their ever popular poke bowl is made with raw ahi tuna, coconut rice, avocado, spinach, and green onion. Or, try the blackened or grilled tofu tacos for a twist on the original fish taco.
Evening

Day Two: Conservation and Culture:

Morning

  • Grab made-to-order juices, smoothies, cold brew coffees and acai bowls for breakfast at GoJuice – where everything is served up fresh, daily with nothing extra added like syrups or artificial flavors. Their GreenGo Bowl (Frozen GreenTea Blend, Granola, Banana, Pineapple, Blueberry, Coconut Flakes & Honey) will have you wondering where GoJuice has been all your life.
  • Amelia River Cruises & Charters provides narrated, historic and wildlife sightseeing tours with views of dolphins, manatees, sea otters, alligators, and the wild horses of Cumberland Island National Seashore. Sign up for a Shrimping Eco Tour, an interactive and informative tour of the waters surrounding Amelia Island.​ These tours run from June to September and provide a hands-on encounter where you help deploy an otter trawl net, retrieve it, and then learn all about your catch in aquariums while the onboard marine biologist helps you identify your treasures. Great fun for the whole family!
Morning

Afternoon

  • Visit the Amelia Island Museum of History to learn about the island’s cultural heritage and its ongoing efforts to preserve its natural environment. Explore exhibits on indigenous peoples, early settlers, and maritime history.
  • Take a leisurely stroll through the historic district of Fernandina Beach, admiring the well-preserved Victorian architecture and browsing eco-friendly boutiques and art galleries. Be sure to pop in to Color It Green, an all natural gift shop dedicated to preserving our environment and protecting the ocean. Known for its “gifts with a purpose” mantra, Color it Green offers backpacks, wallets and duffels made from old billboards, water and food bowls made from wood and scrap Corian for your four-legged friends, and biodegradable flip flops! Yes!
Afternoon

Evening

  • Enjoy a true farm-to-table experience at The Sprouting Project located at Omni Amelia Island Resort, where guests dine on a featured seasonal ingredient grown directly from their on-site organic garden. Prior to a 5-course dinner, guests will tour the garden, aquaponic greenhouse, barrel room and apiary. Monthly featured ingredients include mushroom, fig, watermelon, squash, truffle and more. NOTE: These dinners are only held once a month. If you miss one, try the resorts’ Verandah restaurant where flavors of the local Atlantic Ocean and neighboring farmers are served directly to your plate.
Evening

Day Three: Eco-Adventure and Relaxation:

Morning

  • Have a light or full breakfast with locally made pastries and a large selection of espresso drinks along with cold brew, select organic teas, fruit smoothies, frappes, milkshakes, and Red Bull Infusions at Amelia Island Coffee – known for its eco-friendly practices.
  • After breakfast, head south to The Nature Center, your one stop shop for all things nature. They have bird watching books, apparel, top-of-the-line binoculars, and field guides. They also have local rescued critters you can see, naturalists you can chat with, fishing poles to rent, and ecology tours to sign up for – like an Eco Bike Hike, Birds of Amelia, and Ecology of Amelia. Each tour is about an hour and allows visitors to experience the natural beauty of the property and learn about the nature that surrounds us.
Morning

Afternoon

  • Grab lunch poolside and oceanfront at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island’s Coquina, a dynamic restaurant focusing on seafood and coastal dishes inspired by the island’s Eight Flags Spanish heritage. They have so many healthy and flavorful entrees that it’s hard to choose. Relax and soak it all in – you could get used to this.
  • After lunch, rent bikes and take a leisurely ride along the island’s scenic trails, stopping to admire the breathtaking views. Don’t forget to snap photos of all the abundant wildlife, flora & fauna.
Afternoon

Evening

  • Have a farewell dinner at Cafe Karibo where the decor is as eclectic as the menu. Located downtown, Cafe Karibo offers entrees from land and sea in a funky casual atmosphere. Dine inside or outside on the patio. Either way, you’ll leave full and happy. INSIDER TIP: Try the Blackened Fresh Mahi Mahi Fillets topped with a Crab Cake and Tropical Fruit Salsa. You’ll thank me later. 
  • After dinner, walk down to the docks and reflect on your eco-friendly escape as you watch the sun set over the river. What a great feeling to experience the island’s natural beauty in a responsible and sustainable way. We can’t wait to see you again!
Evening

These suggestions are just a sneak peek of all Amelia Island has to offer as you plan your Eco-Friendly Getaway. Mark your calendar for the Wild Amelia Nature Festival and Bicentennial Opening of the Beaches on May 17-18, 2024 and the Right Whale Festival on November 2-3. Both great events that celebrate the environment. Discover more and plan you perfect trip on WWW.AMELIAISLAND.COM for a complete list of places to stay, eat and play.

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