Amelia Island is a unique Florida historic destination with plenty of posh perks for those seeking five star amenities and a dose of history. Visit this laid-back beach and golf vacation island with fascinating history, an abundance of nature activities to please eco-tourists, miles of Atlantic coast beachfront, and small-town ambiance. With lovely Victorian-era architecture, step back in time to the simpler days of yesteryear -- this is, indeed, quintessential small-town coastal living.
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 historic district on the National Register of Historic Places, there's lots to explore on Amelia, Florida's most northeastern barrier island.
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. The Civil-War-era Fort Clinch on Amelia Island, offers living history programs and re-enactments, plus unique candlelight tours.
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."
SIGHT-SEEING ON AMELIA ISLAND
Key historic landmarks to visit are the Amelia Island Lighthouse, Fort Clinch, the Florida House Inn, and the Palace Saloon (see more about these historic sites below). Be sure to take historic district tours, self guided or with museum docents, or hear about local history as you ride in a horse-drawn carriage in Fernandina Beach.
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 architectural styles were fashionable during the Victorian era, in the 1850 to 1910 period.
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. (Heritage tourism article continued below...)
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With coastal hammocks, sand dunes, saltwater marsh, and the intracoastal waterway, nature enthusiasts can enjoy nature tours via charter boat from the Fernandina Harbor marina (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!
HIGHLIGHTED HISTORICAL LANDMARKS
Fort Clinch 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. 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. The fort itself was built in 1847 at the mouth of the St. Mary's River for protection of Fernandina Harbor's deepwater port. 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. 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. Watch video of Fort Clinch State Park by visiting Amelia Island Living's network site featuring videos, photos, blog & more...
Amelia Island Lighthouse
One of the top historic landmarks on Amelia Island is the Amelia Island lighthouse, perched high on a bluff above Egans Creek. If you'd like to see Florida's oldest lighthouse, then book a tour to visit the grounds of Amelia Island's lighthouse in Fernandina Beach, Florida, built in 1839. The unique location of Amelia's lighthouse, being three quarters of a mile inland (more sheltered from inclement weather), has helped preserve the structure. In fact, it is the furthest inland lighthouse in Florida. It is the only lighthouse in Florida from the "Territorial Period" that has survived without major rebuilding. Another unique feature of the Amelia Island lighthouse is it being one of only two remaining lighthouses in the state designed by Winslow Lewis, the American lighthouse builder. It also showcases a very rare granite spiral stairway. Lighthouse grounds tours can be arranged through the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center located on Atlantic Avenue in Fernandina, call (904) 277-7350. Tours are only available on the first and third Wednesday each month. Watch Amelia Island lighthouse video or read full feature article about the Amelia Island Lighthouse with more photos, in Amelia Island Living eMagazine's tourism column published September 1, 2007.
The Palace Saloon
The oldest continuously-operating drinking establishment in Florida is the Palace Saloon. Try the signature cocktail, "Pirate's Punch," a popular rum drink at the saloon located on Centre Street in Fernandina's historic district. It's hard to miss the Palace Saloon, as you'll see the life-sized pirate statue outside the saloon doors at this landmark on the island. The building housing the Palace, called the Prescott building, was constructed in 1878. Amelia Island was the stamping ground of pirates, sea captains, and sailors and The Palace was the "ship captain's bar." The saloon's 40-foot bar is a wonderful relic from the turn of the century, surrounded by mosaic tile floors, embossed tin ceilings and murals painted on the walls. The founder of Anheuser-Busch, Adolphus Busch, reportedly assisted in designing the elegant bar, lit with gas lamps. The Palace offers live musical entertainment. For further details, visit their website at www.thepalacesaloon.com.
Florida House Inn
This historic inn is noted as Florida's oldest surviving hotel. The inn offers 22 guest rooms, many with fireplaces, has a pet-friendly policy. 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. (Note that since the Florida House has a bar on site and another bar is also located next door, expect possibility of hearing nightlife when staying overnight at the inn). Visit their web sites for further information and to book room reservations at www.floridahouseinn.com, and www.friskymermaid.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.
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About the author: W.B. Lawson of Florida Fine Living Media, Inc., writes lifestyle, tourism, real estate and community articles, published in Amelia Island Living eMagazine and also blogs on the social network AmeliaIslandLiving.NET, “Life in an island town…”. SUBSCRIBE TO AMELIA ISLAND RSS FEEDS.
Contact W.B. Lawson via eMail at FloridaIsland@gmail.com.