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Amelia Island:
A Place Of Charm, Beauty And History

A relaxing Florida luxury destination

As the morning mist rises beneath the broad limbs of moss-draped live oaks, Amelia Island takes on a haunting, hushed beauty that is a harbinger of the glories of the day to come. This is a world apart, where the pace of life slows down and allows the spirit to grow.

Home to just a few thousand people, this thirteen-mile stretch of sand, palm, pine and hammock is an easy half-hour drive from the more metropolitan attractions of Jacksonville. Visitors and residents alike cherish the small-town feel of Amelia Island. It is a place where people know one another—and welcome visitors as if they did.

With carriage rides, homemade ice cream and confectionary shops, antique emporia, and elegant dining, the island is an idyllic place where couples can relax and share precious time together.

Gleaming quartz-sand beaches line the island and welcome the warm, gentle waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Dunes rise as high as forty feet and form the perfect backdrop for a day at the beach.

This is a sporting paradise, with nearly one hundred holes of golf, dozens of tennis courts, inland and offshore fishing, sailing, birding, kayaking, swimming, and much more—all enjoyable rear-round in our subtropical climate.

The Charms Of Fernandina Beach

At the north end of the island lies the picturesque village of Fernandina Beach. More than fifty blocks of the town center are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, boasting one of the finest collections of meticulously maintained Victorian homes in the Southeast. Called the “queen of Southern resorts” by American Resorts magazine as long ago as 1896, Fernandina Beach remains one of our great undiscovered national treasures.

Fernandina Beach - and the entire island itself - is dotted with fine shops and restaurants representing a wide range of cuisines and atmospheres. The town was the birthplace of the modern shrimping fishery, and seafood fare can be found in abundance.

An Island Of Festivals
Amelia Island is also home to many festivals, tournaments and abundant wildlife. Every year, the island hosts The Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, one of the nation's most renowned vintage-automobile events. It typically features more than 250 rare classics from seldom-seen private collections. The first weekend in May means the start of the annual Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Visitors sample an unending variety of shrimp, prepared at the many booths assembled along the water of downtown Fernandina Beach. Distinctive arts-and-crafts displays also reflect the historic seafaring heritage of the island.

The island’s wildlife also attracts many visitors from around the country and the globe. Nature lovers enjoy guided nature tours, hiking, and frequent sightings of dolphins, sea turtles, wild horses and more.

Isle Of Eight Flags

Amelia Island is also known as the "Isle of Eight Flags." Since 1562, flags have flown over the island representing France, Spain, Great Britain, Spain (again), the Patriots of Amelia Island, the Green Cross of
Florida, Mexico, the Confederate States of America and the United States. At Fort Clinch State Park, visitors can see a Civil War fort that overlooks Cumberland Sound. The first weekend of every month, the fort features live reenactments with powder artillery demonstrations and marching drills and more.

With its rich history, irresistable charm and breathtaking views, Amelia Island is - more than anything else - a storybook come to life.