| It’s
hard for me to decide what I like most about Amelia Island.
Let’s look at the facts:
Amelia Island is Florida’s first
barrier island south of the Georgia border. It’s 32 miles
northeast of Jacksonville. It sits on the Atlantic Ocean,
naturally protected from hurricanes (most of the time), and is only
13.5 x 2 miles in size with an average temperature of about 70° F.
Amelia Island is the only place in
the United States to have been under the rule of eight different
flags: France, Spain, England, Spain again, Patriots of Amelia
Island, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican Rebel Flag and the United
States. For details, click on:
<http://www.net-magic.net/Amelia
Islandislanddar/pages/flags.html>
The City of Fernandina Beach has a
population of some 10,700 and is the main city on Amelia Island.
Fernandina has the oldest weekly
newspaper in the state of Florida, now known as the News-Leader.
It is published twice a week.
Sightseeing Opportunities
Amelia Light, our lovely old lighthouse, is not
currently open to the public, but there's lots more to do on Amelia
Island.
Guiding
Light
get
sweatshirts and more
Fort
Clinch State Park has a pre-Civil War fort. It stands at
the northern point of the island overlooking Cumberland Sound.
Camping and nature trails are offered as well as candlelight tours and
weekend encampments by reenactors. [904-277-7274]
I play handbells on the Ft. Clinch ramparts
with the Amelia Island Ringers every Easter Sunrise Service.
The scene is breathtaking.
Fernandina has a 50 square
block historic district of homes and businesses listed in the
National Register of Historic Places. The Victorian
architecture dates from the Golden Age of prosperity in the 19th
century. Visit the Silk Stocking District with the painted
ladies (multi-colored houses) from that period.
Centre Street is the main street
in downtown Fernandina. It runs right into the marina and
overflows with shops and restaurants. Centre Street retains its
traditional charm, but the food is fresh and the shopping is modern.
It’s just plain fun to take a leisurely stroll while you’re munching
on a yogurt cone.
Fernandina Beach is not only a
vacation spot, but is also a working port. It is the birthplace
of the modern shrimping industry, which thrives today. Try to
visit during the ever-growing Annual Shrimp Fest. It’s an arts,
crafts and food festival held the first weekend in May.
The Amelia Island Museum of
History is the only oral history museum in Florida - guided tours
are given by trained docents telling tales of the past 4,000 years of
goings-on on the island by way of describing artifacts, offering
walking tours and giving lectures. 233 South Third Street
[904-261-7378]
The three anchor buildings of the
downtown are the courthouse, recently refurbished, the post office,
modeled after the Medici Palace in Florence, Italy, and the railroad
station at the foot of Centre Street.
The Palace Saloon,
Florida’s oldest saloon, circa 1878, is also downtown. A fire
did some damage, but much of the original interior, including the bar
and back bar, replete with carved wooden maidens, was saved.
Restoration is now complete.
Bosque Bello
Cemetery includes military burials
from the Revolutionary, Civil, and Spanish American Wars. It is located on the way to Old Town.
Old Town,
the original site of Fernandina until it moved to its present
location, can be found via a short drive up N. 14th Street. Park
your car on the bluffs of the Plaza San Carlos parade ground
where Spanish settlers defended the point in the late 1700s.
A huge Victorian house overlooks the site and was used as Pippi
Longstocking’s home in the movie of the same name.
Historic churches are abundant on
Amelia Island. Some of them are: Saint Michael’s Catholic
Church, dedicated in 1872; Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church with its red
roof, circa 1884; First Presbyterian Church, circa 1860, and First
Baptist Missionary Church, circa 1874.
Standard Marine, also known as The
Net House, still produces handmade shrimp nets for buyers from around
the world.
Activities
Lose
fat, tone up, love yourself
Take a swim in the ocean or walk
along the beach looking for sharks’ teeth. With thirteen
miles of beaches, you won’t feel crowded.
Amelia Island Community Theatre and
The Fernandina Little Theatre offer local productions of plays,
comedies, and musicals year round.
Amelia Island Community
Theatre (ACT) - Call for current production.
[904-261-6749]
Fernandina Little Theatre - Call for current production [904-321-1595]
Golf or tennis anyone?
You’ve got several choices from municipal to private venues.
My son-in-law, a former golf pro,
recommends:
Amelia Island
Plantation: Amelia Island Links (36 holes)
[904-277-5907] and Long Point (18 holes) [904-277-5908]
Fernandina
Beach Municipal Golf Course - South Fletcher. [904-277-7370]
Beaks -
bird sanctuary and wildlife rehabilitation center just 6 miles south
of Amelia Island on Big Talbot Island. They care for injured
birds and release them back into the wild if possible. If not,
the birds live happily at Beaks. Admission is free, but
donations are appreciated. [904-251-BIRD]
Cumberland Island/Grey Field Inn - Ferry
leaves from downtown Fernandina marina for island day trips.
Dining and accommodations available. [904-261-6408]
Island Falls Adventure Golf - 18 hole miniature golf. 1550 Sadler Road. [904-261-7881]
Kelly Seahorse Ranch -
Horseback beach rides are $35. Reservations a must. 7500
First Coast Highway. [904-491-5166]
Schooner: Voyager (from the 1840s) 100-foot gaff-rigged replica, two-hour tours as well
as sunset sails. Docked at the marina at the foot of Centre
Street, downtown. [904-321-1244]
Tradewinds Charter Fishing - Dolphin watching cruises and deep-sea fishing.
[904/261-9486]
Shop, Shop,
Shop
Amelia Island provides plenty of
choices for the casual the gift shopper as well as the serious antique
collector: Once you've hit Centre St., check out these
locations.
Amelia Island Antique Mart - 6500 feet of collectables. 1105 S. 8th Street.
[904-277-2424]
Eight Flags Antique Mart -
Over 50 stalls of antiques in downtown Fernandina. 604 Centre
Street. [904-277-8550]
Special stores where you can
purchase The Goodbye Lie:
Alexanders Books - bookstore at 4924 First Coast Highway in the Palmetto Walk Shopping Center
Amelia Island Plantation - resort
complex, see hotel listing
Marché Burette
Bailey House Bed and Breakfast -
see our hotel or restaurant listings for more information
Books Plus - downtown bookstore (walk
from the wharf)
The
Florida House Inn - see our hotel or restaurant listings for
more information
Ft. Clinch State Park - see our
sightseeing activities for more information
Williams House - see our hotel or
restaurant listings for more information |
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click on the
photos to enlarge them
JM quilting
at the Amelia Island Museum of History
Inside the museum hangs a quilt
made by our local Amelia Island Quilt Guild, which depicts many of
our more historically significant buildings. I count myself
fortunate to have been a part of the construction of this pretty
piece.
The building
that houses our museum was originally the Nassau County jail.
When the jail moved, the brick structure was abandoned. My
husband was one of those wielding a sledgehammer and paintbrush that
turned the place into the wonderful museum you see today. He
helped knock out the old cells and refinished the antique back bar,
which is a coordinating section of decorative wood and shelving that
was often built to go behind the front counter or bar where
customers would sit to be served. The complete bar stands in
the second floor reference room and is often used for social
gatherings.
We both learned the
fascinating details of Amelia Island’s history during our docent
training at the museum. My spouse went on to give lectures
walking tours of The Historic District.
Martha Bear® and her collection of shark teeth
Accommodations
Amelia Island Plantation - Upscale resort with golf and tennis
as well as dining and an ocean front hotel. 6800 First Coast
Highway. [904-261-6161]
Best Western Inn at Amelia
Island is an easy walk to the beach. Shoney’s Breakfast
Buffet is next door. 2707 Sadler Road [904-277-2300]
Bailey
House Bed and Breakfast,
circa 1895 - Charming Victorian B&B. Ask for Woody, the
entertainment director. 28 South 7th Street.
[800-251-5390] [904-261-5390] [Fax -
904-321-0103]
Elizabeth Point Lodge - 25
rooms, oceanfront, continental breakfast. 98 South Fletcher Ave.
[904-277-4851]
Florida House Inn, circa
1857 - The oldest tourist hotel in the state. It can be found in
the historic downtown. Their family style dining is a unique
experience and the fried chicken tastes like you think fried chicken
should. 22 South 3rd Street [904-261-3300]
Purchase The Goodbye Lie in their gift shop.
Hampton Inn Amelia Island /
Fernandina Beach - One block from the beach. 2549 Sadler Road.
[904-321-1111]
Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island - Located on the ocean with fine dining. 4750 Amelia Island
Parkway. [907-277-1100]
Williams House - Elegant
Victorian house filled with antiques. Gourmet breakfast
included. 103 S. 9th Street. [904-277-2328]
PLUS
Amelia Island Lodging Systems - Resort rentals from B&Bs, private homes and condos to a
lighthouse. Rates vary. 584 S. Fletcher [800-872-8531]
Delightful
Dining
Beech Street
Grill - Fine dining. Catered the
secret wedding of John F. Kennedy, Jr. Reservations recommended. 801 Beech Street. [904-277-3662]
$$$
Brett’s Waterway Café -
Great loaded potato soup on Tuesdays. Burgers to seafood.
Located at the marina at the foot of Centre Street.
[904-261-2660] $$$
Down Under Restaurant -
Family owned seafood establishment since 1982. A1A & the Intercoastal
Waterway. [904-261-1001] $$ to $$$
El Potro Mexican Restaurant - Filling Mexican food. 2128 Sadler Road in the Food Lion Shopping
Center. [904-277-2011] $
Florida House Inn - All you
can eat home cooking served family style at long tables with huge
platters of food. 22 S. 3rd Street. [904-261-5310]
$$
You can read about The Florida
House in The Goodbye Lie,
my Victorian romance novel. Or visit the Florida House to
purchase a copy of this very special book.
Marina Restaurant - Great
seafood for 35 years in downtown Fernandina Beach. 101 Centre
Street. [904-261-5310] $$
New China Buffet - Good all
you can eat Chinese. 1750 S. 8th Street. [904-261-6598]
$
O’Kane’s Irish Pub
and Eatery - Pub specializing in Angus Beef, live music nightly.
318 Centre Street. [800-711-3470] $$
Shoney’s - Best breakfast
buffet on the island. 2709 Sadler Road. [904-277-3768]
$
The Veranda - upscale
seafood, steak, chicken, and pork. Reservations recommended.
Located at Amelia Island Plantation’s Racquet Park, 6800 First Coast
Highway. [904-321-5050] $$$
For more information, pick the guide to Amelia Island since. It’s available in shops and
restaurants around town.
I love our little
town. You will, too.
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