Amelia Island Museum of History
Experience history exclusively through the narrations of docents, walking tour guides, lecturers and instructors who revive 4,000 years of Amelia Island's astonishingly impressive history, personalized by museum artifacts and the Victorian seaport architecture of Fernandina Beach. From aboriginal Indian settlements to 18th-century plantations, the history of the "Isle of Eight Flags" is portrayed through live interpretation. Amelia's tales are complemented with historical objects and archaeological finds. The museum also conducts walking tours of the Historic District. (904) 261-7378.
|
|
Amelia Island's Natural Treasures
The Island's meandering salt marshes and moss-covered trees host more than 250 types of birds. Marine and other wildlife range from bobcats and red foxes to alligators and manatees.
|
Boating
Amelia Island offers boating on the Atlantic, on Cumberland Sound and on the Amelia River/Intracoastal Waterway. Sailing is a popular past-time for residents. The Island has several marinas for launching and housing boats, and is a popular way station for owners transporting boats north and south with the changing seasons
|
Sea Horse Ranch
A rare opportunity to ride horses over miles of deserted beaches. Call Kelly Seahorse Ranch at (904) 491-5166.
|
The Beaches of Amelia
The southernmost of the "Golden Isles" chain of barrier islands, Amelia's beaches are its most alluring attraction. Its 13 miles of pristine beaches, framed by 40-foot dunes capped by sea oats, are rated among America's ten most beautiful.
|
|
Camping and Hiking
Camping is available at Ft. Clinch State Park, which offers campgrounds with power and facilities on both the Cumberland Sound and Amelia River sides of the park. Attractions Directory
|
Fishing, Flounder Gigging, and Nature Boat Tours
Amelia Island offers a wide variety of angling opportunities for fishermen ranging from the newcomer to the sport to the serious to the professional. For additional information and reservations, call Capt. Chuck Tuell at "No More Lies" Fishing Charters [for fishing] at 904/277-8617 or Capt. Ben Evans [for fishing or natural history boat tours] at "Hot Ticket Charters" at 904/321-1668. For a truly unique night-time fishing experience try flounder gigging with U.S. Coast Guard Licensed Captain Mac Daniel. Attractions Directory
|
Fort Clinch State Park
The First New York Volunteer Engineers toiled to complete this Civil War Fort overlooking Cumberland Sound in 1864. Along with live interpretations at the fort, it is an 1,086-acre outpost of pristine beaches and dunes, nature trails, ponds and salt marshes and offers the Island's only camping. Fort Clinch Fishing Pier extends 1,500 feet into Cumberland Sound. (904) 277-7274.
|
Old Town - The "First" Fernandina
America's "Spanish Hussy," frequented by pirates, once flaunted more than 50 bordellos and saloons. Posada San Carlos, an inn best known for its role as Pippi Longstocking's house in the film of the same name, crowns the bluffs of Plaza San Carlos where Spanish settlers defended the Island in 1788. (904) 261-7378. Attractions Directory
|
The Palace Saloon
One of the most colorful watering holes on Centre Street--hand-painted murals, a hand- carved 40-foot mahogany bar and pressed tin ceiling enrich Florida's oldest saloon, circa 1878. This former haunt of the Carnegies and Rockefellers still serves a potent Pirate's Punch. (904) 261-6320.
|
|
Golf
Amelia Island offers five courses to fit the budget and skill level of any golfer. From the Fernandina Beach Municipal Course, which is open to the public, to the elegant and exclusive Long Point on Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island courses offer challenge and enjoyment to match or exceed that offered by many more widely known, and congested, golf resort communities.
|
|
|
|
Amelia Island Lighthouse
Considered the oldest structure on the Island, the 1839 sentinel stands 64 feet tall and features a third order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation and is observable 19 miles out to sea. (904) 261-7378.
|
Bosque Bello Cemetery
Lined with sprawling oaks and cedars, this 1878 cemetery was the burial ground for soldiers from the Revolutionary, Spanish American and Civil wars. (904) 261-7378.
|
Fernandina Harbor Marina
The Fernandina Harbor Marina sits at the end of Centre Street in downtown Fernandina Beach - birthplace of the modern shrimping industry. The adjoining shrimp boat dock is a sunset sensation as fleets of shrimp trawlers arrive home. (904) 261-0355.
|
Fernandina's Historic Victorians
Fifty blocks of shady streets lined with gracious 19th-century Victorian "cottages," the exclusive Silk Stocking District recalls Amelia's golden era. Adorned with opulent turrets, gables, bays, gingerbread rick-rack and fishscale decorations, Amelia's architecture ranges from Queen Anne, Italianate, Chinese Chippendale, and Florida Vernacular to "Mississippi Steamboat" masterpieces. Unique, even among Fernandina's historic Victorians, is The Fairbanks House. This 10-room, 8,000 square foot mansion, once called "Fairbanks' Folly" because of its opulent excesses and fascinating history, is now operated by Hosts Bill and Theresa as one of Amelia's most popular bed and breakfast inns.
|
Historic Centre Street - Fernandina
Once a bustling Victorian seaport, picturesque downtown Fernandina Beach now harbors a treasure trove of history, antiques, fashions and collectibles. Multi-colored brick buildings dating from 1873 to 1900, gas lantern replicas and wrought iron benches and cobblestone walks lead to the shrimp boat-anchored marina.
|
St. Michael's Catholic Church
St. Michael's Catholic Church, which is located in Fernandina Beach's 50 square block Historic District, is named in honor of Father Michael de Aunon, O.F.M., who was martyred in 1597 at St. Catherine's Island, Georgia, during the Indian Rebellion against the Franciscans. St. Michael's was dedicated in 1872.
|
The Florida House Inn
Florida's oldest surviving tourist hotel. Built in 1857, this authentically restored Florida Vernacular estate epitomizes Amelia Island's romantic Golden Age of tourism. Among its guests from yesterday were Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and Jose Marti.
|
The Net House
(Burbank Trawl Makers/Standard Marine)
The world's largest producer of handmade shrimp nets, the Burbank family plies their craft the old-fashioned way--with needle-wielding fingers flying almost too fast for onlookers to photograph. With buyers from Africa to South America, they supply more than 2,500 nets yearly. Tours can be arranged through the Amelia Island Museum of History. (904) 261-7378.
|
The Old Railroad Depot
Florida's first cross-state railroad had its terminus in Fernandina Beach and laid the tracks for a quarter century of wealth and prosperity. Located at the tip of Centre Street, the 1899 red train station now houses the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. (904) 261-3248.
|
|
|
