Picture this: Your favorite road trip playlist is on, and you’re about to stop + stock up on your favorite gas station snacks. Oh — and you’re on your way to Amelia Island, FL for a spring getaway weekend.
To help you plan, we’ve rounded up a local’s guide to Amelia Island. Enjoy, GVL.
Location
Located just off the northeastern coast of Florida (and a ~5.5-hour drive from GVL), Amelia Island recently made Travel + Leisure magazine’s “World’s Best Awards” list for the third year in a row.
Activities
Home to 99 holes of world-class golf, Amelia Island is a golfer’s dream.
And there’s tons to see + do, including:
- Exploring Fort Clinch State Park
- Renting a boat, kayak, or SUP (read: stand-up paddleboard) + take in the backwaters of Amelia Island
- Taking an aerial tour of the island via trike-flying tours
- Going for a beachfront horseback ride
- Exploring the charming, historic district of Fernandina Beach
Explore accommodations and dining recs below to help you dine, play + stay like a local.
Stays
Whether you’re looking for the luxury of an oceanfront stay, the charm of a historic B&B, the familiar comforts of your favorite hotel chain, or your own private vacation rental to call “home”, Amelia Island has something to suit the style + budget of every traveler.
Pick from historic local treasures like The Amelia Schoolhouse, offering 17 guest rooms, a pool, a courtyard with a putting green + an upscale bar named “The Principal’s Office”, or spring for world-class luxury at:
- Omni Amelia Island Resort
- The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island; or
- Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front
Dining
Visitors to Amelia Island have an ocean of dining experiences to choose from. With more than 90 restaurants, you won’t have to choose between fresh seafood or authentic Italian and Spanish cuisine.
And you can soak in the seaside sun with a sip at Mocama Beer Company, First Love Brewing, Amelia Island Brewing Co., or Marlin & Barrel Distillery.*
