Vacations in Amelia Island

Situated near the Northeastern Coast of Florida, is a small tourist island with a native population of about 15000 inhabitants. Called Amelia Island, the destination is fast becoming a popular tourist region due to several signature hotel chains and groups that have opened hotels and condos here.

Amelia Island has recently been awarded  the 4th rank in the Top 10 Islands in North America List by Conde Nast. The island offers more than 13 miles of uninterrupted sandy beaches with occasional glimpses of nature parks and historic monuments. Offering a myriad of activities, the island is a tourist hot spot and is a must visit destination for families and couples alike.

Getting there and around: The island lies 32 miles to the north east of Jacksonville in Florida; and the nearest airport that services Amelia Island is the Jacksonville International Airport which is located about 30 minutes away by car.

The best way to explore the island is by car and there are several car rental agencies on the island which rent out cars at reasonable prices.

Accommodation: The island has several luxury hotels located along the coast in addition to several budget hotels that suit the middle class traveler. There are a few run of the mill Victorian Lodges that offer accommodation and breakfast for travelers and if desired, guests can choose from several condos that operate on an All Inclusive board basis.

What’s to see: Amelia Island is just like a bee hive which has enough honey to feed all the bees and has more to offer for outsiders. The entire island is filled with so many attractions to visit that a single day to explore the isle may not suffice.

The North Western Coast of Amelia Island houses one of the most beautiful fortresses in all of Florida. Built in the 17th century, the 1000 acre Fort Clinch is one of the most popular historical landmarks of the island and is also located close to Fernandina Beach, the cultural center of Amelia Island.

Fernandina Beach was once a small Victorian village which doubled as a port for ships visiting the island. Today, the area has changed into a vibrant downtown neighborhood and houses several upscale hotels, restaurants and attractive shops in addition to century old houses and inns.

While you are here, you can visit one of Florida’s oldest hotel, the Florida House Inn which is believed to be haunted. You can also catch a cab drive to Central Street where it’s possible to drive through a historical district filled with more than 500 homes and buildings that have found places in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Amelia Island Plantation is considered to be the best holiday resort on the island and offers unlimited fun for the entire family with its private beach, water sporting activities and a private 18 hole golf course.

A visit to Amelia Island is never complete without visiting the Little Talbot Island State Park which is located on Big Talbot Island. The park is touted to be one of the few remaining natural preserves in Florida and offers visitors over 5 miles of beautiful beaches in addition to several forested dunes and salt marshes. The Big Talbot Island also houses the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary which is dedicated to caring for injured birds and animals.

If you have enough time on your hands, you can also consider visiting the Amelia Island State Park which is located close to Fort Clinch. There are several tourist agencies on the island that offer sightseeing tours to the Kingsley Plantation, Talbot Island and to Downtown Fernandina Beach.

Families can enjoy a never ending list of fun filled activities on Amelia Island which include beach biking, dune bugging, fishing, kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, sunset sailing and yachting. There’s so much more and so little time. Enjoy your holiday at Amelia Island and return back home with memories to last a lifetime.