Historic Amelia Island, Florida, home to Fernandina Beach, holds claim to the oldest lighthouse, the oldest saloon, and the oldest hotel in Florida. Rich in history, with a preserved 55-block historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, there’s lots to explore on Amelia, Florida’s most northeastern barrier island. With lovely Victorian-era architecture, step back in time to the simpler days of yesteryear -- this is, indeed, quintessential small-town coastal living.
Visit this laid-back beach and golf vacation island with fascinating history, an abundance of nature activities to please eco-tourists, miles of uncrowded beaches, and small-town ambiance.
Were you a wealthy New Yorker back in the late 1880s, you may have been one of the elite who boarded a steam ship to travel to the "queen of summer resorts," Fernandina Beach. In her hey day, the Golden Age, Fernandina was the orginal Florida vacation haven. You would have been in the company of the Duponts, Rockefellers and Carnegies who ventured to Florida by ship for an Amelia Island vacation.
The Civil-War-era Fort Clinch on Amelia Island, offers living history programs and re-enactments, plus unique candlelight tours. Amelia Island is the only place in the U.S. to have flown eight flags (eight claims to sovereignty in its history), including pirates, patriots and Europeans. Amelia Island is a unique Florida historic destination with plenty of posh perks for those seeking five star amenities and a dose of history. Oceanfront luxury resorts (Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Plantation), offer world-class spas, fabulous golf, and miles of beachfront. However, other appealing options include quaint, historic bed and breakfast inns, or camping in nature under the stars at Fort Clinch State Park.
Representatives of the Smithsonian Institute have visited, describing local life in Fernandina Beach as “one of the best examples of small town living in the U.S.” The National Trust for Historic Preservation has honored Fernandina Beach previously for its historic preservation. In fact, the Victorian-era seaport made the National Trust’s list of “12 top vacation destinations in the United States for historic preservation.”
Here’s a glimpse of the description Fernandina Beach was given by the National Trust several years ago, quoted below:
"If you measure history per square mile and add points for spectacular pristine beauty, it's hard to beat Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island on Florida's northeast coast. Wide beaches on the east frame the Atlantic Ocean, where shrimp boats prowl among the whitecaps, whales calve in the fall and sea turtles nest in the summer. The Amelia River and a long sweep of salt marshes, looking like waterlogged western prairies, act as a moat against the mainland to the west. Forested dunes anchor the middle, offering a haven to bird life. Fernandina Beach offers a residential and commercial mix of late-Victorian architecture in its downtown that reflects the city's great prosperity in the late 1880s..."
SIGHT-SEEING ON AMELIA ISLAND
Key historic landmarks to visit are the Amelia Island Lighthouse, the Florida House Inn, the Palace Saloon, and Fort Clinch (see more about these historic sites below). Be sure to take historic district tours, self guided or with museum docents, or via a horse-drawn carriages. WATCH VIDEO, "A GLIMPSE OF AMELIA ISLAND."
You'll marvel at some of the best preserved Victorian architecture on the eastern seaboard. Just wander down sidewalks off the main corridor of Centre Street to see enchanting, historic homes. Gracious Queen Annes, shaded by ancient oaks draped in moss, charming Victorian cottages and bungalows, and sweeping verandahs. Various different architectural styles were fashionable during the Victorian era, in the 1850 to 1910 period. Fernandina prospered during the late 1800s with one of the deepest ports in the southeast. Queen Anne, Italianate, Greek Revival, Folk Victorian, Classical Revival (Georgian) and other styles offer an eclectic mix to admire. Stately magnolia trees, cabbage palms, sagos and blooming hibiscus add to the southern landscape. In this small nostalgic town by the sea, you'll probably try to picture yourself living here, on this island. The allure is powerful.
Do you like to explore haunts? An evening ghost tour departs from the cemetery. Trolley tours, too, are available around key points on the island. A museum, antique shops, art galleries, plus fine dining options, are all within walking distance from historic Centre Street in Fernandina Beach.
With coastal hammocks, sand dunes, saltwater marsh, and the intracoastal waterway, nature enthusiasts can enjoy nature tours via charter boat (or on foot at Fort Clinch and a nature program at Amelia Island Plantation), or bird watching in Egans Greenway. Adventure seekers may enjoy kayaking, charter fishing tours, or horseback riding on the beach.
Or just relax at a luxury beach resort. Be pampered with spa treatments, lounge by the oceanfront pools with a cocktail, then dine at a top resort restaurant such as the Ritz-Carlton’s “Salt” or Amelia Island Plantation’s “Verandah.” Visit the enchanted isle of Amelia, and put your footprint on Amelia Island’s miles of beachfront, soon! Check room availability now at Amelia Island's luxury resorts.
HIGHLIGHTED HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
Featuring a brick fortress of the Civil-War era, the park sprawls across Amelia Island’s northend and is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting Amelia Island. Fort Clinch offers a half-mile-long fishing pier, a vast state park with roughly 8,400 feet of shoreline and about 1,153 acres of maritime hammock, moss-draped live oaks, and coastal grasses. From the park’s entrance at Atlantic Avenue, it’s about a 3-mile drive through shady, wild tree canopy to reach the brick fortress, Fort Clinch, perched at the island’s northern tip on the Cumberland Sound.The fort itself was built in 1847 at the mouth of the St. Mary’s River for protection of Fernandina Harbor’s deepwater port. Fort Clinch was a military post during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, and World War II. The fort is a third system fortification, and can be toured daily for $3. There’s plenty of parking, public restrooms, wooden dune walkovers to the beach, and picnic areas with tables and barbeques, and just $5 a car load to gain entry the state park. Whether you enjoy hiking in the woods (there’s six miles of off-road trails), bird watching, bike riding, fishing, relaxing on the beach, picnicking, camping, or learning about history with a tour of the brick fortress itself, visitors to Amelia Island need to put Fort Clinch on their itinerary. The expansive waterfront vistas from the fort are second to none on Amelia Island. The Fort Clinch campground has a new bathhouse facility, nice and clean with showers and laundry facilities. RV camping and tent camping are available in the park.
Florida House Inn
This cozy, historic inn oozes with charm, and is noted as Florida's oldest surviving hotel. The inn offers 22 guest rooms, many with fireplaces, has a pet-friendly policy, and also provides motor scooters, at no extra charge, to guests who are game to scoot around town. 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.
On Tuesdays, the “Yappy Hour” is a pet-friendly cocktail party held in the courtyard at the Florida House, so bring your dog, if they’re social. On site dining and entertainment is available daily at the The Frisky Mermaid Bar & Grill. Their signature cocktail is the “Frisky Mermaid” described as “a Caribbean sextuplet of rum, liqueurs and a few other secret ingredients.” The Frisky Mermaid features blues artists on Friday and Saturday nights, and blue grass jams on Monday evenings. Got talent? Wednesdays at the Florida House Inn is a singer-songwriter contest. The Florida House Inn is located in the historic district just off Centre Street, at 20 South 3rd Street, and can also be booked for parties and weddings. Just Look for the front verandah draped with eight flags. A special package deal is the Florida House’s dinner, champagne, and carriage ride for two, just $79 for those staying at the inn. This includes two appetizers, two entrees, two desserts, a bottle of champagne, and a horse and carriage ride in historic Fernandina Beach (requires a stay at the inn and advance reservations). Visit their web sites for further information and to book room reservations at www.floridahouseinn.com, and www.friskymermaid.com .
The Palace Saloon
Palace Saloon
|
Amelia Island Lighthouse
|
MORE ABOUT THE “ISLE OF EIGHT FLAGS”…Eight different flags have fluttered in Amelia Island’s ocean breezes -- reportedly the only location in the United States to have been "claimed" by so many. The different flags flown above Amelia's shores began with the French from 1562-1565; Spanish 1565-1763; British 1763-1783; Spanish (again) 1783-1821 with 3 interruptions -- Patriots 1812, Green Cross of Florida 1817, Mexican Rebel Flag 1817; United States of America 1821 to present with one interruption -- the Confederate Flag, 1862.
TRAVELING ON A BUDGET?
Amelia Island can, indeed, be enjoyed by visitors seeking upscale amenities, as well as the more budget-conscious traveler. There’s plenty of public beach access on Amelia Island, with free parking and free entry to the beach, just pack a picnic basket. Amelia Island is an easy day trip from Jacksonville, Florida, and from southeast Georgia. Self-guided tours around the historic district will cost you nothing. Just pick up some free brochures at the Tourist Council (the downtown branch is in the little train depot building at the foot of Centre Street by the harbor).
Note that lifeguards are seasonal (May into September), at the larger public beach access points at Main Beach Park, Seaside Park, Peter’s Point, and Scott Road. Access to Fort Clinch State Park is also a bargain, at only $5 per car load (up to 8 passengers), for access to nature trails for hiking and biking, the fishing pier, and miles of beachfront. As noted above, it’s only $3 per person to tour the historic brick fort itself. Note that public bathroom facilities with outdoor showers are only located at Main Beach, Peter’s Point, and Fort Clinch beach access points. Moderate priced hotels on Amelia Island include the Best Western, Hampton Inn, and Comfort Inn & Suites, check room availability now. Camping reservations for Fort Clinch State Park can be made online via www.ReserveAmerica.com.
GETTING TO AMELIA ISLAND, FLORIDA
With the metropolitan amenities of Jacksonville, Florida just a 30 minute drive, the Jacksonville International Airport provides convenient and low-stress access to Amelia Island, Florida. (For those with a private plane or small company jets, the Amelia Island Airport is located on the island). When driving, take exit 373 off Interstate 95 (near the Florida/Georgia border) – Amelia Island is about 13 miles from the interstate.
_____________About the author -- W. B. Lawson has lived on Amelia Island fourteen years, and writes tourism, lifestyle, and real estate articles about the Amelia Island area. Send eMail to contact@ameliaislandliving.com.