People who live in Orlando sometimes just want to get away from the theme park crowds and I-4 traffic. When you don’t have eight hours to drive to Key West, there’s a great alternative on the northeastern coast of Florida.
Located a short drive north of Jacksonville and right on the border with Georgia is a little place called Amelia Island. This 13-mile long island is home to some of the most pristine and well-maintained beaches in the Sunshine State and one of my all-time favorite locations for a weekend getaway.
About a 15 minute drive from Interstate 95, Amelia Island feels like it’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville. When you arrive on the island, you’ll notice a number of businesses using the phrase “Isle of Eight Flags.” This southern barrier island has had eight different flags to fly over it since 1562: France, Great Britain, Spain, the Patriots of Amelia Island, the Green Cross of Florida, Mexico, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. The city of Fernandina Beach, located on the island’s northern end, has the distinction of being the only municipality in the U.S. to have flown eight different national flags.
Some visitors to the island spend their entire stay in downtown Fernandina Beach. The beautiful tree-lined historic district contains dozens of old Victorian-style homes, many of which are still used as private residences. Several of the homes have been converted into quaint bed and breakfasts. The innkeepers are very accommodating and oftentimes act as a personal concierge, offering guests tips on where to eat and arranging recreational activities at nearby state parks.
Along Centre Street, the main drag in Fernandina, are dozens of shops, restaurants and bars. And the best part…there’s not a chain in the bunch. Each is locally owned and operated. If you’re looking for a good pie, give Arte’s Pizza a try. It’s a hole in the wall and doesn’t look like much from the outside. But the wood-fired pies have become legendary in these parts.
A couple of unique book shops also line Centre Street. With its warm exposed brick walls and antique furnishings, The Book Loft is the perfect spot to pick up a good read that might be out of print. A few doors down at Books Plus you’ll find new releases as well as stationary and small gifts. Books Plus is part of a dying breed of independent book sellers.
If your sweet tooth starts acting up while shopping, you’ll find plenty of options on Centre Street. Fernandina’s Fantastic Fudge has been in operation since 1988 and makes all of their delectable products on-site. If you’re there at just the right time, you might even see the workers pouring the fudge hot out of the kettle. The smell gets me every time. The newest sweet kid on the block is on North Fourth Street. Patty Cakes Bakery opened up a few months ago and provides a variety of delicious baked goods from cupcakes and muffins to croissants and scones.
Visitors to Amelia Island can spend several days exploring Fernandina Beach and shopping on Centre Street. But the rest of the island provides unmatched beauty and plenty of recreational activities. I’ll highlight a few of those in Part Two of Amelia Island: The Perfect Weekend Getaway next week.
