What are the best things to do in Amelia Island? Is it crowded? And more importantly, where on earth is Amelia Island? These were pretty much the first questions Kevin asked when he saw this stop listed on our cross country road trip adventure from California to Florida.
Amelia Island is located just 45-minutes by car northeast of Jacksonville, Florida. It makes the perfect sunny getaway for families looking for less crowded beaches as well as a romantic and quiet spot for couples. We decided to do a day trip to Amelia Island while visiting our family in Florida over the holidays.
This was the first time our twin babies Ava and Aidan would meet the family and they seemed to love every minute of being the center of attention! Well, at least our boy Aidan did.
During our time in Jacksonville, we wanted to see the sights. A trip to Amelia Island seemed like the perfect place to relax and unwind. After driving across the entire country, I can tell you that a 45 minute drive seemed like a mere blink of an eye! So we made the easy trip to Amelia Island for the day. Here are our top 3 picks for your next trip.
3. Climb Through Fort Clinch State Park
Fort Clinch is one of the best preserved Civil-War-era forts in the country, thanks to work in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It was built in 1847, after the end of the Second Seminole War, and was a Union garrison during the Civil War. Today, it’s open for visitors to wander around on their own. And if you’re lucky, you’ll see the fort’s large staff of volunteers in full Civil War garb doing re-enactments. The day we were there, it was pretty much just us. We’re told the re-enactments are more frequent on the weekends or during special events.
There is a tiny museum before you enter the fort. We spent about 30 minutes inside the museum, but you could quickly zoom through this part if you’re more of a ‘skimmer’ on Civil War history (Um, guilty here!). However, we thought the most enjoyable part was just walking around and peeking inside the different rooms — imagining what it must have been like for the soldiers based here. We also recommend heading to the top of the fort where you can look out over the St. Mary’s River, which forms the border with Georgia.
To reach the fort, you’ll drive 3 miles through Fort Clinch State Park. It’s a gorgeous drive and felt like our time in Savannah just a few days prior, as we passed under oak trees draped in Spanish moss. Admission is $6 (cash only) per vehicle into the park. And $2.50 per person for fort admission. The fort is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2. Explore Amelia Island On An Electric Bike Tour
Traveling with a group that ranges from Ironman competitor to couch potato enthusiast? An e-bike tour of Amelia Island might be the perfect choice for you. It’s a choose your own adventure tour — where you can either keep the electric bikes running at low speed or full blast.
The ride covers about 12 miles total, but it certainly won’t feel that way with the help of the electric engines powering you up hills and blasting you down side streets. We booked this tour on Airbnb Experiences, which we’ve been doing more and more during the pandemic. We joined our guide Joe, who has spent most of his adult life working on Amelia Island with his wife in the hospitality industry.
He certainly knew his stuff as he showed us around some of the island’s top sights including the Amelia Lighthouse, views of Cumberland Island and the 131-year-old Captain’s House in Old Town Fernandina Beach, also known as Pippy Longstocking’s house. It was used as the backdrop for the movie and remains one of Fernandina Beach’s most photographed homes (by mostly 90s kids I’m sure!).
In total, the tour lasts about 2.5 hours and covers most of the major sites. If you’re looking for local recommendations on where to eat, Joe will have plenty of suggestions. Tours run most days and can be booked directly on Airbnb. Cost: $50 per person.
1. Our Top Pick For Things To Do In Amelia Island: Wander Old Town Fernandina
Without a doubt, our favorite part of Amelia Island was Old Town Fernandina. This is the heart of the community — where you’ll find a main street lined with coffee shops, boutiques and great restaurants. We were starving after our biking tour and wandered Centre Street looking for a place to eat. We eventually picked Amelia Tavern, based on its extensive menu and fun atmosphere.
The place specializes in craft beers made on site as well as amped up Southern comfort food. Kevin of course couldn’t pass up the opportunity to have mac n’ cheese topped with fried chicken. A light lunch, clearly! But hey, he earned it after all this biking.
I went on a soft pretzel binge, ordering not only the giant soft pretzel (a must) but a braised bbq sandwich served on a soft pretzel.
After lunch, stroll down Centre Street where you can check out all of the shops. Kevin personally loved The Book Loft, an old-fashioned bookstore that has been around for over 30 years.
If you’re looking for a book store with an entire section dedicated to “adult pirates,” you’ve found your spot.
Before leaving old town Fernandina, you should peek inside the Palace Saloon, the oldest bar in Florida. According to local lore, it was the last bar in Florida to close on the eve of Prohibition. The Palace survived through Prohibition by selling gasoline, ice cream, near-beer and cigars. Today, you can wander inside and imagine all the rough and tumble tales of its past. Or do what we did… use the bathroom before heading back home to see the kids!
Looking for other itineraries to plan out your next vacation? Check out our full section dedicated to our road trip adventures. Thinking about spending more time in Florida? We recommend reading all of our Florida coverage, including our top picks of things to do in St. Augustine for families.
