Sailboat Silhouettes. Enjoy Sunsets Over The Riverfront From Fernandina Harbor Marina.
There are two waterfront vistas to experience on Amelia. The western side offers sensational sunsets over the Amelia riverfront. Visit downtown Fernandina’s city marina and waterfront boardwalk for a front row seat.
On the opposite side of the island is the eastern Atlantic shoreline of this barrier island. The beach is the place to start the day early with an inspiring sunrise.
But even though the sun sets to the west over the Amelia River/intracoastal, the glow of the sunset can be seen at the beach, about two miles across the island.
On a sultry summer evening, take a walk on the beach during the transition from sunset to twilight to dusk. It’s a very tranquil time to be at the beach on Amelia Island. While you won’t see the orange ball disappear, the sky is still lovely looking west, with muted colors of the distant sunset.
There are three notable buildings just a little south of Main Beach, Fernandina that stand out on the oceanfront due to their architecture: Katie’s Light, the Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B, and Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. This trio is located within a half mile section of the shoreline between the New York Avenue beach access (on South Fletcher Avenue) and Main Beach Park.
Summer Evening Silhouette, Katie's Light, Fernandina Beach. (Photo by W.B. Lawson)
In the early evening, their silhouettes against orange sky are a pleasing sight.
There are times when sunset coincides with low tide. Often, a sheer layer of sea water forms a glaze on the flat sandy surface. If you like taking photos, it’s an opportune time to capture reflections of the colorful evening sky and the buildings.
KATIE’S LIGHT, SOUTH FLETCHER AVENUE, FERNANDINA BEACH
One of the more unique beach rentals on Amelia Island is “Katie’s Light,” a replica of the Thomas Point Lighthouse on Chesapeake Bay. Located at 614 South Fletcher Avenue, it’s situated in an area of the beachfront frequented more by local residents than vacationers. (Pictured, evening sets in at Katie’s Light.)
You can watch an awe inspiring sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean from the porch. In the evening, as the sun sets to the west, Katie’s Light is framed with the sun going down behind her.
This rental property is popular. One need only glimpse the common sight of beach towels drying in the sun, draped along the wrap around porch. A quick look at online reservations backs up this observation.
Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B Sunset Silhouette
AMELIA ISLAND OCEANFRONT B & B
Katie’s Light is complemented by its next door neighbor, the Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B, one of the oldest structures on the beachfront. This home dates back to the 1920s, was renovated in the 1980s, and again in 2009 when the inn changed ownership.
Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B (584 South Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034) features six suites, including a “Governor’s Suite” with living room and kitchenette, sleeping six.
ELIZABETH POINTE LODGE
A much larger inn, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge (located at 98 South Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida 32034), is a bit north on the beach of the other two.Photographed here at low tide with the orange sky reflecting on the wet beach, Elizabeth Pointe is hard to miss, being a major landmark in this northeastern area of the island next to Main Beach Park.
Sunset Reflection of Elizabeth Pointe Lodge at Low Tide
Having a stellar reputation in the bed and breakfast industry, this grey shingled charmer is reminiscent of homes and cottages seen on the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket. In fact, the structure was built modeling Nantucket shingle-style architecture that was popular during the 1880 to 1895 period on Nantucket.
Interestingly, Nantucket Today, an online regional magazine, actually published an article about Amelia Island a few years back. Quoting the journalist Terry Pommett, she states “In terms of historic preservation and natural beauty, Amelia Island can almost be thought of as a southern Nantucket.”
Mermaid Fountain Silhouette (at Amelia Oceanfront B & B)
Amelia Island does not fit the Florida stereotype. The beaches on Amelia Island here on the Georgia border are different than most other areas of Florida. They remind me of some northeast beaches, and are not what many folks have in mind when envisioning a Florida beach.
The small town character of the island, low profile structures along its 13 mile coast (maximum height 8 floors), and Victorian-era historic district all contribute to Amelia Island’s ambiance, unique in the state of Florida.
I chose the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge for my beach wedding back in 1995, with the ceremony in the dunes. The lodge’s dining area offers a charming seaside setting for smaller wedding receptions. Being a porch person, I often admire charming porches of historic district homes, within the neo-traditional community of Amelia Park, and elsewhere. The Pointe offers one of the loveliest verandahs facing the oceanfront on this barrier island. The main house of the lodge offers 20 rooms, plus there’s the Ocean House and Miller Cottage on the property.
All three of the properties featured here have something in common, besides their unique architecture. The innkeepers of Elizabeth Pointe, the Caples, also own Katie’s Light (which they built in the early 80s), and formerly owned the Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B (previously named “The 1735 House,” and before that the “Baker House”).
FERNANDINA BEACH: Standing out on the oceanfront due to their architecture: Katie's Light, Amelia Oceanfront B & B, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. Amelia Island's north end.
ENJOY NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
While the clock is ticking with summer sliding by, it’s not too late to enjoy this barrier island’s beaches and outdoor playground. While many beach vacation areas turn into ghost towns after Labor Day on America’s eastern seaboard (largely because the weather turns too cold for the beach), the weather remains hot in September and delightfully mild in October on Amelia Island.
Having resided on Amelia Island almost 17 years, October, is one of my personal favorite months, a great time to enjoy the outdoors on the island. Art and jazz lovers may like to visit the weekend of October 9-10, 2010 since two festivals are happening. The Amelia Island Autumn Fine Arts Festival is a juried art event with 60 exhibitors to be featured at this street festival in the historic district of Fernandina Beach. Plus, food and entertainment will be at the downtown riverfront. Also taking place is the annual Amelia Island Jazz Festival featuring performances over the weekend by Grammy Award-winner Ramsey Lewis and Steve March Torme.
October is an ideal month to hike in Fort Clinch State Park and Egans Greenway (great bird watching opportunities), both located in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Temperatures will still be mild, but with less humidity. Ditto to biking these same venues and other areas of Amelia Island. The surrounding waterways also offer plenty of pleasure crafts to hop aboard with opportunity to cruise around on the water for a nature or sunset cruise, or go charter fishing. And of course, Amelia Island is a golfer’s paradise.
THE HEART OF AMELIA ISLAND: FERNANDINA BEACH
Most would agree that the heart of the island is downtown Fernandina Beach with its lovely historic district featuring 50+ blocks on the National Register of Historic Places, including several historic bed & breakfast inns. Centre Street’s eclectic boutiques, art galleries, eateries and pubs are located in this “downtown” area of the island, along with the Fernandina Beach Harbor Marina anchoring this town on the riverfront.
Amelia Island Sunrise, Atlantic Ocean Beachfront
Anyone staying at Katie’s Light, the Amelia Island Oceanfront B & B, or Elizabeth Pointe Lodge who rises early can see the orange glow of the day’s dawning over the Atlantic Ocean. Later in the day head over to the historic downtown district for lunch or dinner and browse around. If you can ride a bike or walk two miles each way, you can enjoy this area of the island by foot or bicycle and ditch the car.
Hang around downtown to watch a sensational sunset over the riverfront. Or take an evening walk on the beachfront and admire these shoreline silhouettes, framed by the glow.
Wendy Lawson
Editor
Amelia Island Living eZine
