The Sunshine State has seemingly limitless opportunities for a great family vacation or romantic getaway, but if you haven’t yet visited Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, you are missing out! Here are some of our favorite things to do in Amelia Island so you can enjoy the island like the locals do. Show
No matter the season, Amelia’s pristine beaches, historic charm, and outdoor adventures — all just a 5-6 hour drive from Atlanta — make it a quintessential Florida destination. We think Amelia Island is amazing — and you don’t just have to take our word for it! In 2021, Amelia Island was voted No. 3 among the “Best Islands in the Continental United States” by readers of Travel+Leisure magazine, one of the most popular travel publications in the world. The prestigious annual awards honor the top travel destinations, hotels, and companies worldwide. THE COOLEST PLACES TO STAY IN AMELIA ISLAND
BEAUTIFUL BEACHES & OUTDOOR ADVENTUREFamilies Fly Free is a program that has introduced hundreds of families to the joys of flying free using travel rewards – including our family! Want to learn how to save thousands of dollars making your travel dreams come true? Click here to grab 7 Secret Hacks that the owner personally uses to fly her family for 4 for free all over the world! SAMPLE THE MANY PUBLIC BEACHESAmelia has oodles — and by that, we mean 40+ — of public beach access points, making it easy to enjoy the waterfront no matter where on the island you’re staying. Quite a few of the beaches here allow dogs, too! Just make sure you keep them on their leash. Fernandina’s Main Beach Park is where all the action is. You’ll find locals and visitors alike enjoying the picnic tables, grills, gazebos, volleyball courts, children’s playground, restaurants, mini-golf, an outdoor skate park, public restrooms, and showers. Of course, the main draw is the beach! There are four lifeguard stations at the beach here, and they’re manned everyday from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Slather on the sunscreen and head out into the waves! GO HORSEBACK RIDING ON THE BEACHSpeaking of beaches, is there anything quite as romantic as a ride with ocean views? Make date night unforgettable by booking a ride with Happy Trails Walking Horses or Amelia Island Horseback Riding. Amelia Island Horseback Riding offers daily rides, sunrise rides, and sunset rides, too. Happy Trails offers 1-hour rides along some of the 13 miles of shoreline with their Tennessee Walking Horses, which are direct descendants of Roy Rogers’ famous horse, Trigger. CHECK OUT THE STATE PARKSFor a relatively small island, Amelia is packed with some amazing Florida State Parks. We recommend Fort Clinch, Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, and Amelia Island State Park. These state parks offer a variety of ways to enjoy the island’s natural beauty. You’ll find lush forests, beach access, hiking and biking trails, fishing, camping, and plenty of chances to spot native wildlife. BIKE THE ISLAND TRAILSMaybe you’re a mountain biking enthusiast, or maybe you prefer to cruise and enjoy a more leisurely ride? There’s room for both and everything in between, thanks to the miles of bike trails that cover the island. Renting a bike is easy, and we recommend having a camera at the ready — you’ll want to capture the amazing views along the trails! Flying into Jacksonville FL? You’re going to need a car. Great rates and comparisons on all major brands, including Enterprise and Hertz make Discover Cars our favorite travel tool. Click here to compare rental car prices. EXPLORE BY KAYAK, CANOE, HYDRO-BIKE OR SUPWhether guided or unguided, the many waterways that encompass this barrier island are ideal for kayaks, canoes, and SUP exploration. Amelia Island is home to plenty of rental options for those who want to take in the natural beauty of the area by water. Have a group? Consider a guided tour in a war canoe — which is an extra long, stable, fast-movie canoe. You can all explore together during a half-day, all-day, or overnight trip. Want something a little on the sillier side? How about renting a hydro-bike from Amelia River Cycle! It’s an adventure the whole family will enjoy. PLAY GOLFAmelia Island is home to some of the most popular golf courses in the southeast. LINKS Magazine Named Amelia Island one of the “Top 25 Golf Islands in the World” — making it the only destination from the United States to make the list! Here you’ll find the Fernandina Beach Golf Club, the Amelia Island Golf and Country Club, the Golf Club of North Hampton, the Golf Club of Amelia Island, and so many more! Amelia Island is the perfect place to play for golfers of every skill level. TAKE A RIVER CRUISEA great way to take in the beauty of Amelia Island and the surrounding area is aboard a river cruise. 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. The tours are offered during the day, and at sunset — which would be a wonderful time to be on the water. In the summer, they offer educational shrimping eco-tours that the whole family would love. ENJOY A BOAT TOUROne of the best things you can do to take in all the beauty of the island while learning more about it at the same time, is to take one of Amelia Island’s boat tours. Riptide Amelia Island offers private and group kayak tours, CraigCat tours (CraigCats are small, powered catamarans), and boat tours. Amelia Island Charters offers family fishing trips and private wildlife nature tours. On the Water Adventures takes you on private guided nature tours through the creeks and rivers of Amelia and Cumberland Island. And Amelia Island Adventures offers many different guided kayak tours, and boat tours. SPOT SOME WILDLIFEAmelia Island is an ecotourist’s dream because of its pristine landscapes and abundance of Florida wildlife. A walk along any trail or beach is full of opportunities to see sea turtles, dolphins, cranes, alligators, crabs, rabbits, deer and more. Consider taking part in the Fort Clinch Nature Walk held every Saturday at Fort Clinch State Park, weather permitting. The guided nature walk around Willow Pond Trail winds through a coastal maritime hammock down to freshwater ponds. It’s a great way to learn about native plants and animals. The nature walk is free with park admission ($5 per vehicle). STAY FIT AT EGANS CREEK GREENWAY PARKIf you’re the type who likes to keep up with their exercise routine while on vacation, you’ll love Egans Creek Greenway! The Egans Creek Greenway is located on the northern end of the island, and consists of over 300 acres of protected land along Egans Creek. It’s perfect for hiking, biking, birding, and photography. And for those who want to do some working out too, check out the new fitness station along the greenway where you can add some cardio into your walking or biking routine. SEA TURTLE WATCHINGWhile it’s extremely rare to see sea turtles nesting or hatching on the beach, it is common to see cordoned-off nests in the summer. So if you can’t easily see baby sea turtles, what’s the next best thing? Watching a nest excavation! Visitors are allowed to observe Amelia Island Sea Turtle Watch volunteers conduct nest excavations — which is basically an inventory of all the remaining nest contents after the hatchlings have crawled out to sea. Some things you may witness include unhatched eggs, empty egg shells, and sometimes — live hatchlings! Watching the excavations is open to the public, and volunteers will share information about the nest and sea turtles. If a live hatchling is found, they’ll release them and you will be able to see it! Excavations usually begin in early- to mid-July and continue until all nests have hatched. BIRD WATCHINGYou’ll want to keep your binoculars and camera handy in Amelia Island’s parks and beaches, where you’ll have the chance to see a variety of species, including pelicans, skimmers, plovers and pipers. Amelia Island State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, and the Egans Creek Greenway are popular birding destinations. Fort Clinch is the northern-most island location in Florida, and is considered a must-see destination for birders, since it lies on Audubon’s 115-mile designation of the Northern Atlantic Migrant Stopover. PLACES THE KIDS WILL LOVEPIRATE PLAYGROUNDVoted the island’s best playground on Trip Advisor, Pirate Playground at North Beach Park is accessible to children of all abilities. Young ones will love the unique play structures that also incorporate history, art and music into the experience. There are benches for parents, and restrooms close by. It is the best playground around, and one your kids will love. MINI GOLFTake your pick from a selection of mini golf sites, including Island Falls Adventure Golf, where we’ve been going for the past 10 years. After a long day on the beach, it’s a classic way to unwind after dinner! They also offer soft drinks, slushies, candy, ice cream and light snacks — so it’s pretty much a kid’s dream outing. HISTORIC REENACTMENTS AT FORT CLINCHA state park with beautiful natural scenery, Fort Clinch is perhaps best known for its historic interpretation performances that take visitors back to Amelia Island during the Civil War. Visit the fort the first weekend of the month to see a whole garrison of soldiers who will teach you about fort living, including cannon firing and other battlefield skills at one of Amelia Island’s coolest historic sites. FISH OFF THE PIER AT AMELIA ISLAND STATE PARKThe mile-long George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier is dotted with devoted anglers every day of the week, but especially on weekends. Cast a line with the locals and enjoy gorgeous views of the Nassau Sound. On the Line Bait and Tackle shop is open for visitors using their walk-up window, offering a great variety of fishing bait and tackle supplies, snacks and refreshments. TAKE THE FERRY FROM LITTLE TALBOT TO JACKSONVILLEIf you’ve got little ones who love “things that go,” they’ll be charmed by the St. Johns River Ferry. The St. Johns River Ferry is a car and passenger ferry that connects the north and south ends of Florida State Road A1A in Duval County, linking Mayport Village and Fort George Island via a pleasant sail across the St. Johns River. The ferry departs every half hour. Continue south to Jacksonville for a day trip to the city’s best family-friendly attractions. HISTORIC DOWNTOWN FERNANDINASHOPPING AND STORYTIME AT THE BOOK LOFTLocated in historic downtown Fernandina, The Book Loft is sure to charm readers of all ages. The Book Loft boasts a multi-genre selection of local and national favorites, plus children’s story hours and author signings. In addition to fiction, nonfiction, classics, cooking, and inspirational titles, they have a selection of books on Amelia Island and its pirate history, as well as the history of Florida, and the Civil War, plus many autographed first editions. In the loft upstairs, you can find older hardback fiction at half-price, and their resident ghost! (Her name is Katherine, by the way.) IMBIBE IN A NIGHTCAP AT THE PALACE SALOONGrab a drink at The Palace Saloon, also known as Florida’s oldest bar! There is a lot of history in this place, and it’s worth stopping in for a pint or a nightcap. Read up on its history before you go, so you can really appreciate all the ghosts you’re sure to be sharing a drink with. SELFIE AT FERNANDINA HARBOREnjoy the views of the Amelia River along South Front Street – and take a picture while you’re there. Fernandina Harbor is the perfect place to snap a sunset shot. After a walk admiring the views, make sure to try out the Salty Pelican for dinner. GET A HISTORY LESSON THE THE AMELIA ISLAND MUSEUMFrom Native Americans to pirates to the Spanish, Amelia Island has a fascinating history of residents and rulers, and you’ll learn all about it from the docents of the Amelia Island Museum of History, located in a renovated community jailhouse. The museum is the first spoken history museum in Florida, and offers Ghost Tours and Pub Crawls, in addition to their walking tours and museum tours. Head a few blocks up the street to check out its partner museum, the Fernandina Beach Shrimping Museum and Welcome Center, for a deeper dive into the community’s maritime history. ADMIRE THE HISTORIC HOMESFor even more history and local charm, don’t miss the Museum of History’s annual Holiday Home Tour, which showcases downtown’s finest Victorian homes, all professionally decked out for the season. It’s a great way to see the beautiful homes, and get in the spirit of the season. Held the first weekend in December, the Holiday Home Tour is an annual tradition, with proceeds benefiting the Amelia Island Museum of History. PATRONIZE THE LOCAL BUSINESSESDowntown Fernandina is the perfect place to spend a few hours shopping at local boutiques for the perfect date night outfit, charming antiques, or nautical-inspired home decor. There are lots of local businesses and shops, and you’re sure to find something that you absolutely must have. VISIT AN ART GALLERYThere are several art galleries located downtown that are definitely worth a visit. 2nd Story Gallery and Studios features artwork by local artists, and you’ll find work in oils, acrylics, and photography on display. Art on Centre features works from living American artists using various mediums in a contemporary theme. And Shady Ladies Art is a new art studio and gallery downtown where you can enjoy great art and conversation. ENJOY THE LOCAL FARMERS MARKETWe love to stop by the Saturday morning Fernandina Beach Market Place to stock up on snacks and treats before heading to the beach. Farmers, growers, and entrepreneurial individuals sell locally grown and produced goods to those living in, and visiting, Amelia Island. The farmers’ market is open EVERY Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., year round, rain or shine. The Fernandina Beach Arts Market is the newest addition to the scene — and is located adjacent to the Farmer’s Market. Held on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of each month, this market features arts and crafts, and is a great place to pick up a souvenir to remember your trip. HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALSISLE OF EIGHT FLAGS SHRIMP FESTIVALWho knew you could throw such a big party in honor of such a little sea critter? The Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival features a pirate costume contest, a beauty pageant, a parade, a Shrimp run, exhibitors, arts and crafts, a kid zone, and more. Don’t miss the “Decorated Shrimp Boat” contest! This community event has been drawing people from across the southeast down to Amelia Island for over 50 years. SHRIMP DROPNo need to see the ball drop to welcome the New Year — Amelia Island has you covered with their very own maritime-themed Shrimp Drop! Enjoy live music, activities for the kids, and a fireworks show before watching a sparkling shrimp fall to welcome the new year! DICKENS ON CENTREEnjoy Christmas Victorian-style at Dickens on Centre! Held on a December weekend, this special event transforms historic downtown Fernandina into an English village, complete with costumed carolers. This free event features themed entertainment and performances, visits from Saint Nick, and a variety of vendors selling seasonal gifts. There’s also a Holiday Cookie Tour too! The cookie tour takes you through the historic bed and breakfasts in the area, and you’ll get to see their holiday decorations while enjoying a cookie at each stop. Sounds yummy! WILD AMELIA NATURE FESTIVALAs an island teeming with fascinating ecology, you won’t want to miss the Wild Amelia Nature Festival that takes place each May. The festival features wildlife exhibits, conservation exhibits, activities for the kids, a silent auction, and live music. Take guided eco-tours and a narrated river cruise, peruse the eco-expo, and top it all off with a rehabilitated sea turtle release! AMELIA ISLAND JAZZ FESTIVALThere’s no better way to celebrate Jazz music than with a visit to the Amelia Island Jazz Festival. The festival features a week of performances by acts both large and small in venues throughout the community. Held in October each year, the festival presents world-class jazz in many styles — including swing, bebox, Dixieland, big band, Latin, and contemporary. WHERE TO EATWE SCREAM FOR THIS ICE CREAMLooking to cool off with a sweet treat? We can’t resist a stop at DeNucci’s for some soft serve ice cream every time we visit the island. Their brightly colored building has a walk-up window, and little playground that the kids will love. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and they serve Nathan’s hot dogs, sandwiches, and wraps too. SNAG A PICNIC TABLE AT TASTY’SIf you’re looking for some of the best burgers and shakes in town, you’ve got to make a stop at Tasty’s — a gas station turned burger joint, located downtown. Tasty’s is all about the burgers and fries, but they also have a couple of local seafood options too! With plenty of outdoor seating, Tasty’s is a great place to stop after a bike ride back from Main Beach or Fort Clinch. PERK UP AT AMELIA ISLAND COFFEELooking for a caffeine boost? Try Amelia Island Coffee where they have locally roasted coffee, organic tea, pastries, and breakfast and lunch items. Located in the heart of downtown Fernandina on Centre Street, AIC is the place to go for free, high-speed internet and friendly conversation. LUNCH LIKE A LOCALSavoring lunch on Cafe Karibo’s terrace is a must for any visit to Amelia Island. A large garden patio shaded by huge oak trees makes for a relaxed setting for you to enjoy their creative, handmade fare. They serve salads and sandwiches for lunch, and have some great seafood options for dinner. Consider stopping by for Sunday brunch here to try their Crabby Eggs Benedict, or Kung Pao Shrimp Soft Tacos. We love their fresh, bright menu and local brews! SHOP AND SAVORTucked inside an inconspicuous health food store — Nassau Health Foods — is a little local gem, The Mustard Seed Cafe. Preparing natural, organic daily specials, you can tuck into a bounty of nutritious dishes that taste as good as they look. They offer breakfast and lunch, and have a bakery and smoothies, too. Vegan and gluten-free options are available here. MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO FLORIDA
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Daniel is a career IT and data analytics professional who recently set out on the adventure of a lifetime. Does Amelia Island have a nightlife?She may be a small destination, but Amelia Island still offers a large variety of settings for a tasty libation. From beachfront bars like The Sandbar & Kitchen or Sliders Seaside Grill to the upscale Lounge at David's Restaurant, you'll find a great mix of options for an evening cocktail.
What is Fernandina Beach known for?Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry.
Is alcohol allowed on Fernandina Beach?No motorized vehicles, fireworks, alcohol, hazardous materials, or fires are permitted. Dogs are welcome as long as they are leashed and their waste is not left on the trails. Fishing is permitted from bridges, but lines must be attended at all times and may not be tied off to bridge structures. Traps are prohibited.
What is the difference between Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach?Is Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island the same thing? No, Fernandina Beach is the name of the city, and Amelia Island is the name of the whole island. Most people consider them the same thing, but sometimes Fernandina Beach refers only to the Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach area.
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Things to do in fernandina beach at night
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