WHAT TO DO
BEACH IS NATURAL HAVEN FOR TOURISTS AND RESIDENTS ALIKE
Fort Clinch State Park Beachfront
Tourists flock to the island during the summer months to enjoy Amelia’s shoreline and oceanfront accommodations, from luxury resorts to beach cottages and condo rentals. You can even park your RV or pitch a tent at Fort Clinch State Park on the island, in Fernandina Beach.
Regardless of your activity level, you’ll probably spend a fair amount of island time at the beach when you visit Amelia Island. Do you love water sports such as swimming, surfing, boogey-boarding, fishing, sailing? Or would you rather relax in a beach chair with a good book, perhaps hunt for some shoreline treasures like shark’s teeth or shells?
“Life’s a beach on Amelia Island,” you could say, and the beach is a centerpiece of island life. Since the island is only about 2 miles at its widest point and 13 miles long, no matter where you are on the island, the beach is close by.
Low Tide Bike Riding, Amelia Island, Florida
Besides the beach, there’s plenty of other things to enjoy around Amelia Island. Read more about Amelia Island’s beaches as well as some other suggestions for spending leisure time on our fair isle…
HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE BEACH, AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA
How about saddling up and enjoying the view of the shore from atop a horse? Amelia Island is one of the unique places on the US Eastern seaboard where you can go horseback riding right on the beach. One hour tours are available (age 13+). Call Kelly Seahorse Ranch, located within the Amelia Island State Park on the south-end of the island, at 7500 First Coast Highway (904)491-5166. Visit their web site at http://www.kellyranchinc.com.
A MUST-SEE ATTRACTION, FORT CLINCH SPRAWLS ACROSS THE NORTHEND OF AMELIA ISLAND
The island’s preserved gem, Fort Clinch State Park, along with pre-Civil War brick fortress nestled in lush, maritime forest, offers 8,400 feet of shoreline along the Cumberland Sound, as well as 4,000 feet along the Atlantic Ocean. Fort Clinch offers fishing (there’s a fishing pier), beach access with restrooms (some of the most pristine beachfront on the island), hiking/biking on nature trails, camping, picnicking, plus tours of the historic fort. Entry to the state park costs $6.00 per vehicle (2 to 8 passengers).
Fort Clinch, Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, Florida
With huge cannons pointing out to the Cumberland Sound, the fortress is an interesting artifact of the Civil War era (the fort tour itself is $2.00 per person extra). The fort’s entrance is located at 2601 Atlantic Avenue, near the Fletcher Avenue intersection, close to Main Beach Park. Call the state park for further information (904)277-7274.
DAY-TRIPPING TO THE BEACH — WHERE TO PARK
If you’re not staying at one of the island’s oceanfront hotels and wish to enjoy Amelia’s beaches for a day trip, the two largest public beach parks with paved parking lots and restroom facilities are Main Beach Park and Peter’s Point. Main Beach Park is located at the intersection of Atlantic Ave. and South Fletcher Avenue, toward the northend of the island (the north side of Main Beach is North Fletcher Avenue).
Main Beach offers lifeguards on duty during the summer, public restrooms, outdoor showers, picnic tables, gazebos, playground equipment, oceanfront volley ball court, and putt putt golf. Sandy Bottoms is the only oceanfront restaurant in the Main Beach area where you can get a bite to eat and a cocktail.
The other large public beach with ample parking lot and restrooms is on the south-end of Amelia Island, Peter’s Point, near the Ritz-Carlton. Peter’s Point offers lifesguards on duty during the summer, public restrooms, picnic tables, outdoor showers. (SEE TRAVEL GUIDE BEACH PAGE FOR MORE ABOUT AMELIA ISLAND’S BEACHES).
KAYAKING AROUND AMELIA ISLAND
For the adventurous, how about paddling in the tidal creeks and marshes? Not only great exercise, but opportunity to see nature close up, especially birdlife around the marshes. Kayak Amelia offers tours, including a Marsh Paddle, Moonlight Paddle, Yoga Paddle, and more. Call for full details on Kayaking excursions, at (904)251-0016. Kayak Amelia is located near Amelia Island between the Big and Little Talbot Islands. Visit their web site at http://www.kayakamelia.com.
BOATING AROUND AMELIA ISLAND
The waterways around Amelia Island offer the avid boater and fisherman hundreds of hours of year round pleasure (as much as your free time will allow). Several marinas offer boat slips including the Amelia Island Yacht Basin, and the Fernandina Harbor city marina on Front Street. There are two public boat ramps for those who trailer boats.
PUBLIC BOAT RAMPS, AMELIA ISLAND
The newest, largest public boat ramp on Amelia Island is on the Amelia River/Intracoastal Waterway at the end of 14th Street, the Dee Dee Bartels Boat Ramp. To reach the boat ramp, go over the 14th Street bridge and head left toward the old pogey plant, and then make a right. There’s an expansive parking lot to accommodate well over a hundred vehicles and boat trailers — parking the trailer should be a pleasure here. The ramp itself is very wide, allowing three boats to be put in at the same. Two fishing piers/walkways jut out into the water a fair distance, and flank the ramp. Two floating docks, one on each side, are below the elevated walkways.
The second public boat ramp is located at the foot of Centre Street (Front Street) at the Fernandina Beach Harbor marina, near Brett’s Waterway restaurant.
FISHING AROUND AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA
Fishing is a favorite activity in the waters around Amelia Island. Apart from Fernandina being the base for a fleet of local shrimping boats (and known as the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry), many charter fisherman offer trips, as well as local boat owners who go fishing regularly. People also fish off the beaches (especially the beachfront at tip of the south-end) and from the dedicated fishing bridge also at the south-end (permanently closed to motorist traffic). Plus, there’s the fishing pier at the Fort Clinch State Park. For additional information and recommendations on chartering boats for nature tours and charter fishing trips, call the Amelia Island Charter Boat Association at (904)261-2870.
AMELIA ISLAND — EIGHT AREA GOLF COURSES
Amelia Island is also well known for its beautiful and challenging golf courses, whether at the private golf courses affiliated with the top luxury resorts or the public and semi-public courses where you don’t have to be a member to play. For further information about golf, call the public city course, Fernandina Beach Golf Club – (904)277-7370; the Amelia Island Plantation Resort – (904)277-5907; The Golf Club of Amelia Island, Summer Beach located at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel – (904)277-8015; or The Golf Club at North Hampton – (904)548-0000, or Amelia National (904)652-0660.
BIKE RIDING ON AMELIA
Amelia is also a nice place to ride bikes, and many islanders spend leisure time biking on both the beach (at low tide), and along miles of sidewalks on the island. If you start at Main Beach Park, it’s about 2 miles along Atlantic Avenue sidewalks across the island to reach the Centre Street historic district. There are also sidewalks running parallel to the beach along South Fletcher from Main Beach Park heading south to Sadler Road. Turn right onto Sadler at the roundabout and peddle up the sidewalks to Citrona Drive, make right onto Citrona and follow the sidewalks back over to Atlantic Avenue. If you ride a bike into Fort Clinch State Park, the entry road itself is about a 3-mile bike ride under thick oak tree canopy to get to the rear of the park near the actual Fort.
EXPLORE THE HISTORIC DISTRICT AND LEARN ABOUT LOCAL HISTORY
Fernandina's Tourist Center (Old Train Depot)
Amelia Island has an intriguing past, filled with pirates, Indians, ruled under eight flags, birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, and noted for its preserved 55-block historic district, Victorian-era architecture intact.
Take a charming horse drawn carriage ride and hear about historic points of interest. Two carriage companies operate tours in Fernandina Beach. The Old Towne Carriage Company has been operating horse drawn carriage tours for many years in historic Fernandina Beach. Call Rita Jackson at Old Towne Carriage for further information at 904-277-1555. Old Towne Carriage Tours feature “Dickson”, a pure bred Belgian Draft horse who has traveled the streets of Fernandina since 1993. Amelia Island Carriages also offers tours. Contact Cyndi Myers at 904-556-2662. Amelia Island Carriages’ tours feature “Boomer”, a Percheron white horse (French breed of Draft horse).
AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUM OF HISTORY
Take an Eight Flags Tour in the Museum Monday through Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and 2 pm. Trained docents tell the story of Fernandina’s 400 years under eight flags in the museum’s special 8 Flags Gallery on the first floor of the Museum, which includes three stages depicting the changing Fernandina Harbor (a Native American Village, a dock with pirates, and a Victorian Parlor). The museum is located at 233 South Third Street, (904)261-7378. Available only September though June are “Walking Tours” through the historic district, noting “Golden Age” (1878-1912) homes and buildings in the 55-block historic district. Visit the musem’s web site for further information, www.ameliamuseum.org.
SHOPPING ON AMELIA ISLAND
There’s plenty of boutique shopping on Amelia Island, in shopping pockets dispersed island-wide. Don’t miss the historic Centre Street district with its specialty boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and restaurants.
HIT THE ART GALLERIES AND ANTIQUES SHOPS
On a lazy day in Fernandina’s sleepy downtown, historic district, who doesn’t like to get a cup of coffee or an ice cream cone along Centre Street, and browse the shops?
ISLAND ART ASSOCIATION
Take a slow stroll and see what Amelia Island’s very own artist colony has to offer in various art galleries, including the Island Art Association co-op, located at 18 North 2nd Street (off Centre St.). The co-op gallery offers a wide variety of art works and media by local artists. Call 904-261-7020 or visit their web site at www.islandart.org.
ANTIQUE SHOPS IN HISTORIC FERNANDINA BEACH
There are two larger antique showrooms located on Centre Street. If you’re in the mood to take a little walk and browse, the following shops are within walking distance of each other…
The largest is the Eight Flags Antique Market located at 604 Centre Street. This market features the wares of more than 50 antique dealers, each with a “booth” within one building. People with varying tastes are bound to find something of interest here, where offerings range from novelty items and collectibles to a large selection of furniture, including fine quality period pieces as well as cottage style. Plus old books, jewelry, glassware, china, garden items — and the list goes on.
Another large shop is Eileen’s Art & Antiques, located at 702 Centre Street (between 7th & 8th streets)(904)277-2717. Owned by Eileen Shannon Moore (a local artist), exhibiting the art of local (and other artists), this gallery showcases various media. Funky one-of-a-kind jewelry, picture frames, and furniture (new reproduction or antiques). Decorating a home? From elegant to funky you will find just the right touch for your beachside cottage or elegant home. Lots of neat, unique things in this shop.
Look for the rooster sign on Centre Street, for French Market Antiques, Accessories & Gifts. Located at 203 Centre Street, it’s on the same block as the gourmet coffee shop. Make sure you stop in this wonderful shop with beautiful antique furnishings (shipments arrive direct from France), plus reproductions, accessories and gifts. Also visit the French Market Antiques website, at www.frenchmarketantiques.com, or call the shop at 904-491-0707.
GATEWAY TO AMELIA
Gateway To Amelia, just over the Shave Bridge on A1A, offers two restaurants (Barbara Jeans and Thyme), several shops, and the Amelia Island Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center.
THE AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION’S SPA & SHOPS
Another quaint shopping village is the Spa & Shops on the Amelia Island Plantation (open to the public, not just resort guests), on the south-end of Amelia Island, on A1A/First Coast Highway at the roundabout. This quaint shopping village offers a variety of shops, including PLAE, a fabulous fine dining restaurant (serving dinner-only), an ice cream/dessert parlor, art gallery, gourmet grocer with wide assortment of wines and lunch menu, plus the Spa with 25 treatment rooms. The Spa & Shops is a very pleasing environment to just walk around and browse the shopping village.
SHOPPING AT PALMETTO WALK
Also on the south-end of Amelia Island on A1A/First Coast Highway is Palmetto Walk, another shopping village offering clothing, bathing suits, island-wear, home decor, including the Plantation shop with a wonderful selection.
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