Florida has no shortage of attractive waterfront towns in every shape, size, and color, from lively high-rise-lined coasts to pastel-trimmed oceanfront enclaves. But if you’re looking for old-fashioned R&R, a place with more porch swings than traffic jams, Amelia Island— located on Florida’s northeastern tip—is your Sunshine State spot.
John Grisham calls Amelia Island “perfect for the kind of serious loafing that I have come to appreciate.” That’s not to say the pristine beach escape lacks diversions beyond its thirteen miles of uncrowded shores. Whether your speed is paddleboarding through the salt marsh or strolling along Fernandina Beach’s fifty blocks of shops and restaurants, there’s plenty to do on the island. But take a best-selling author’s word for it: In this cozy corner of the state, you can soak in the nostalgic Florida vibes at your leisure.
Speaking of nostalgic: The towering Victorian manses that pepper the community speak to Fernandina Beach’s Golden Age, when its deepwater port made it a bustling center for commerce in the late 1800s. Thanks to the town’s historic preservation efforts, you’ll find four hundred buildings in the historic district. A must-see is the cheerful Pippi Longstocking House, a green-gabled home where the 1988 film The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking was filmed.
Of course, Amelia Island’s history began long before Sweden’s famous freckle-faced export put the town on the map. Dive into a rich maritime and military past at the Amelia Island Museum of History. Here you can explore four thousand years of island life, from the Timucua Native American tribe that inhabited the isle to the lawless pirates who plundered it, on the water’s edge. Continue time-traveling at the entrance to the Cumberland Sound and the St. Mary’s River at Fort Clinch State Park. Though it never saw direct combat, this defense site served in three U.S. engagements.
Engage your competition on the golf course: Amelia Island is part of Florida’s First Coast of Golf and boasts ninety-nine holes set on stunning and challenging fairways. This includes a new course ideal for rookies, Little Sandy, Amelia Island’s ten-hole short course at Omni Amelia Island Resort. More advanced golfers might opt for playing privileges at the members-only Golf Club of Amelia Island—a demanding eighteen-hole course only accessible via a stay at the five-star Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.
Between barefoot beach walks or a stroll to Fernandina’s beloved Saturday morning farmers’ market, you’ll want to make time for this island’s impressive array of restaurants. More than ninety independently owned eateries make up the culinary scene—so you can share Spanish tapas at España one night, then appreciate the region’s freshest seasonal flavors at Burlingame the next. Indulge in Asian street food at Wicked Bao, run by proprietor and longtime resident Nathalie Wu, then tuck into a tostada dulce with a cafe con leche the following morning at 1928 Cuban Bistro. Or settle in for a truly one-of-a-kind dining experience by joining G&G for At the Explorer’s Table on October 3. The intimate dinner at Walker’s Landing will deliver an international tasting menu inspired by the destination’s moniker—Isle of the Eight Flags.
The rest of the afternoon is up to you. Go for a hike, spot wild horses from aboard an Amelia River Cruise, or take a page out of Wu’s playbook and spend the afternoon surrounded by people and food.
