It is often said that Amelia Island is one of Florida’s “best-kept secrets.” After a visit to this 13-mile-long, two-mile-wide stretch of barrier island, one of many in the Sea Island chain along Florida’s northeast coastline, you may understand why. Not your typical beach town, Amelia Island’s cooler, more seasonal weather, deep harbor waters, and an enviable history make it one of the more distinctive and fascinating places in Florida to experience.
As the massive influx of people arrives in the Sunshine State with the promise of its paradise-like lifestyle (and no state income taxes!), Places like the trendy Miami Beach or dreamy Florida Keys come to mind. Yet, this coastal city at the northernmost tip of the state is a contender with the neighboring cities for setting down roots.
The local economy comprises strong professional services, manufacturing, government, retail, and hospitality industries, as well as thriving year-round tourism. Surrounded by the Atlantic to the east, Intracoastal waters to the west, Cumberland Sound at the northernmost tip of the island, and the powerful currents of Nassau Sound embracing its southern border, this seaport island boasts breathtaking coastal beach scenery.
There are a multitude of watersport activities such as boating, fishing, surfing, swimming, and kayaking. In addition to biking and walking on the sandy shores, horseback riding is also allowed on most beaches. Easily accessible, Appalachian quartz beaches and dunes cover the perimeter, and 10% of the island consists of nature preserves.
Modern, resort-like hotels flank the coastal edges, such as the Omni Amelia Island Resort and The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island, with their ultra-lux amenities including spas, high-end dining options, and shopping. Theater, art, and music are plentiful, as well as the many amateur and championship-level golf courses and golf clubs. As you take a stroll or enjoy a leisurely bike ride through Amelia Island’s laid-back streets, you’ll feel a deep sense of its past.
Historic downtown Centre Street has over 400 structures dating back to the 1800s, including the Palace Saloon, the oldest of its kind in Florida. Among the mix of high-end, Mediterranean contemporary structures and old-world remnants, culture can also be found in any one of over 100 restaurants and eateries, many of them serving the day’s catch of seafood. Shrimp is synonymous with Amelia Island, and it boasts the biggest seafood festival in the world, “Eight Flags Shrimp Festival,” with hundreds of thousands of people descending on the island each Spring.
The rest of the island’s lush beauty is dotted with unique, historic establishments and cultural edifices that reflect a port harbor touched by French, Spanish, British, and US Civil War influences.
Nicknamed the “Isle of Eight Flags,” the bustling seaport stopover had several attempted conquests by these same countries, including infamous pirates like Blackbeard and Luis Aury, who were frequent visitors on their quest to plunder the seas of the southern shores of a fledgling America. The city is named after the daughter of Britain’s King George II, Princess Amelia. Amelia Island Lighthouse, the oldest in Florida, shines its light 16 miles out to sea, safely guiding distant travelers to the alluring seaport island.
While Amelia Island is a popular tourist destination, there are several desirable communities on the island, ranging from luxurious oceanfront single-family homes, condos, and townhouses to intracoastal properties set against marshes and maritime forests. Many of these areas have master-planned communities with a variety of amenities available to choose from. Amelia Park in Fernandina Beach, for example, has something for everyone as there are walking paths, trails to the beach, and a town square for festivals, concerts, and public events. Old Town Fernandina is one of many neighborhoods on the island’s north end and has a distinctive Spanish appeal, with historic homes dating back to the 19th century.
Newer communities, like Seaside, have magnificent homes built on lots that afford plenty of space between neighbors. The Amelia Island Plantation neighborhood, located on the island’s south end, is a master-planned community and luxury resort. Its proximity to marshland and forests allows visitors and residents to view the abundant wildlife that also makes the island their home.
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