Bed & Breakfast Inns
- Oceanfront, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
Travelers to Amelia Island can enjoy the accommodations of several wonderful bed and breakfast inns, offering the option to stay right on the beach or in the heart of Fernandina –the quaint historic district downtown. (You may have a difficult time choosing between these island charmers…)
The two inns located on the beach are the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, and Amelia Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast, both overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Elizabeth Pointe Lodge on the Beach
Resembling a Nantucket shingle-style inn, the award-winning Elizabeth Pointe Lodge (904)277-4851, a 25-room, oceanfront boutique hotel, was ranked the #2 Top Hotel in the U.S., by Conde Nast Travelers in November 2008. Enjoy its sweeping oceanfront verandah, cozy rooms, excellent breakfasts –a charming lodge at the Florida seaside in Fernandina Beach. (Also a nice venue to hold an intimate beach wedding, with accommodations for smaller wedding reception parties.) It’s just a short walk from Elizabeth Pointe oceanfront lodge at 98 South Fletcher Avenue to Main Beach public beach park in Fernandina, with retro putt putt mini golf, picnic tables, gazebos, and Sandy Bottoms beach bar.
From “the Pointe,” sidewalks connect visitors to Fernandina’s historic district (about a 2 mile walk or bike ride on sidewalks from beach across the island to historic district and harborfront). An expert in the small lodging industry, “the Pointe” is run by top B & B industry consultant, David Caples. This savvy innkeeper even offers B & B industry seminars and workshops for “aspiring innkeepers.” So, if you have dreamed of owning a B & B inn, Elizabeth Pointe Lodge would be an excellent choice to visit and enroll in B & B innkeeping education courses. How does “Bed & Breakfast Bootcamp” sound?
- Amelia Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast
Amelia Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast Inn, (904)430-0026, South Fletcher Avenue, Fernandina Beach, Florida. A cottage by the sea with six guest suites, all with oceanfront views and nautical decor. Breakfast in a basket can be delivered to your room, or enjoyed on the outdoor oceanfront patio. The beachfront here is very quiet, since this inn is located in more of a residential area without a big beach access parking lot for daytrippers to access. Located on South Fletcher Avenue within a half mile of Main Beach Park, the inn changed ownership and had an exterior renovation in 2009. CYCLIST ALERT: This inn operates a bicycle riding tour for athletic cyclists (long distances), First Coast Bicycle Tours.
FERNANDINA BEACH HISTORIC DISTRICT — STAY AT AN INN “DOWNTOWN”
- Historic Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, Florida
Staying at one of Fernandina Beach’s bed and breakfast inns located “downtown” in the historic district does have its advantages, especially if you wish to ditch the car and just walk around, staying within the main shopping and restaurant district near the city marina.
Downtown Fernandina is a foot-friendly place to walk around and browse the boutiques, art galleries, and antique shops. There are many restaurants and pubs concentrated in the historic district within a few blocks of the main corridor of Centre Street. Walking to the Amelia riverfront by the city of Fernandina Marina is another convenience, where charter fishing boats depart as well as nature cruises and the Cumberland Sound ferry service. Most of the B & B inns offer guest bicycles (beach cruisers), allowing visitors to go bike riding and cross the island on sidewalks along Atlantic Avenue to hit the Atlantic Ocean beachfront. So if you wish to explore by foot and bicycles, staying at one of Fernandina’s quaint bed & breakfasts inns is a nice option. (Also get a stylish ride — arrange for a horse and carriage to pick you up at downtown inns for a tour of the historic district in yesteryear style…)
- The Addison on Amelia, Fernandina Beach
The Addison on Amelia (800) 943-1604. Another award-winning bed and breakfast inn on Amelia Island, the Addison on Amelia was designated a “Top Ten Inns in U.S.A.” by Bed & Breakfast.COM awards. “Wonderful place to stay, outstanding food, beautiful rooms, walking distance to downtown…“. The 14-room Addison on Amelia offers guests full-plated breakfasts each morning, high quality linens and towels, and the finest in toiletries. Private, semi-private and public porches and a lovely fountain courtyard. The Addison combines three Antebellum-style homes around the courtyard, with the original home dating back to 1876. The inn offers “luxurious, modern baths (some with jetted tubs large enough for two).”
- The Williams House Inn, Fernandina Beach
Amelia Island Williams House (800) 414-9258. With its crystal chandeliers and beautiful antiques from around the world, the elegant 10-room Amelia Island Williams House bed and breakfast (circa 1856) treats guests to the historical ambiance of an Old Florida era. Guests can enjoy a “Victorian Tea for Two.” Enjoy southern-style breakfasts and sunset wine socials. The Williams House, circa 1856, is one of the oldest homes in Fernandina, has been nominated by the National Geographic Traveler’s 2009 “Places To Stay List.” This inn has a very interesting history. Its namesake, Marcellus Williams, participated in the Underground Railroad, and there’s a secret room at the inn that formerly sheltered runaway slaves. Union soldiers used the Williams House as a headquarters.
- Fairbanks Bed & Breakfast Inn, Fernandina Beach
Fairbanks House 904-277-3103. With its distinctive architectural style, “Italiante,” and the 15-foot high tower topping this historic mansion, the Fairbanks House stands out in Fernandina Beach. Circa 1885, it was built by Major George R. Fairbanks, a prominent Fernandina citizen, and had marvelous innovations for the time period, including a telephone, a concrete sidewalk and indoor running water. The mansion is four-stories with 12 foot ceilings, floors of heart pine throughout, has ten fireplaces, Fernandina’s first elevator (actually, it may have been a large dumb waiter) which was used to move wood to the 10 fireplaces. The historic Fairbanks House features oversized rooms (nine in the mansion) and three cottages, a swimming pool (unique for a downtown historic inn), and amenities such as wireless internet access, spa robes, evening cocktail hour and more. There’s a neat suite taking up the entire 3rd floor and tower, offering 1,600 SF. If you’re thinking about eloping, Fairbanks House offers an Elopement Package that includes a horse and carriage ride to “secret location” for vows, an officiate for vow exchange, champagne and chocolate covered strawberries, a small wedding cake and dinner for two. On the other hand, leave the guys at home and catch up on old times with the gals with the Fairbanks House’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Getaway.” Packages for 3, 4, or 5 ladies — sounds like fun! Special holiday packages are also available.
- Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast Inn, Fernandina
Hoyt House Bed & Breakfast Inn (904) 277-4300, circa 1905, was modeled after the Rockefeller Cottage on Jekyll Island. This lovely inn sits at the intersection of 8th Street and Atlantic Ave. (the main east/west corridor between Main Beach Park and Fernandina’s historic district). It’s here that Atlantic Ave. transitions to famous Centre Street, the main historic corridor leading down to the Amelia Riverfront and Fernandina’s city marina. Eight blocks of shopping sit at the inn’s doorstep, including art galleries and antiques shops, eclectic boutiques, ice cream, fudge, and gourmet coffee, pubs and restaurants. New owners welcome visitors to enjoy this 10-guest room inn featuring 3-course breakfasts, a heated pool, hot tub and garden gazebo. Framed by ancient oak trees draped in moss, if you’re a porch person, you’ll love sitting on Hoyt House’s swing on the wrap-around verandah, overlooking St. Peter’s Episcopal church located just across the street.
- Florida House Inn, Circa 1857
LANDMARK TO REOPEN ITS DOORS IN NOVEMBER. The Florida House Inn has a new owner who is renovating the inn, with a planned reopening in November, 2010. This historic inn circa 1857 (located at 20-22 South 3rd Street in Fernandina Beach) is noted as Florida’s oldest surviving hotel. The inn has 16 guest rooms, many with fireplaces. The original structure dates back to 1857, built by David Yulee’s Florida Railroad. During the Civil War, Union soldiers occupied the hotel. Notorious guests include Ulysses S. Grant, early film stars such as Laurel & Hardy, and members of America’s elite families, the Rockefellers and Carnegies.
To the rear of the Florida House Inn is a lovely courtyard with outdoor seating. A centuries-old oak is the centerpiece of the rear brick courtyard. It seems to be embracing the inn with outstretched limbs, actually touching the structure where they’ve cut out notches in the lodge itself to accommodate this wonderful oak. A mermaid fountain adds to the ambiance in this private outdoor setting (weddings accommodated). Within the inn, a small English-style pub offered a lively atmosphere, with live entertainment and other activities.
