How to Take a look at Charming Fernandina Seashore, Florida

Outside of the famed shores of Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Daytona, Florida’s more compact beach towns welcome travelers from near and significantly for laid-again, sunny getaways.

Take Fernandina Seashore, for illustration. Sitting on the northeastern border involving Florida and Georgia, this seaside desired destination brings a thing diverse to the table: a pleasant mix of Southern charm, hundreds of years-aged historical sites, and, as its title indicates, image-best stretches of sand and sea. 

Fernandina Beach front was when a playground for swashbuckling pirates, Prohibition-period bootleggers, and a host of other exciting people. Today, there’s a rich and quirky neighborhood with a loved ones-friendly ambiance that attracts on some of Florida’s most effective attributes to craft a relaxing escape whole of wonderful food items, exclusive tales, and loads of actions to delight in. 

Relevant: 15 Greatest Beach front Towns in the South

Greatest Factors to Do in Fernandina Seashore

Fernandina Beach is one of a few communities that make up Amelia Island, a barrier island off the coastline of Jacksonville which is just 13 miles very long. The island may possibly be smaller, but it has 40 community seashore accessibility factors, which includes Key Seashore Park, just one of Fernandina’s most preferred hangouts thanks to its oceanfront mini-golfing training course, skate park, numerous picnic shelters, and tons of lawn area.

Nevertheless you could very easily devote your total holiday vacation soaking up the sunshine by the sea, hop on a kayak, boat, or paddleboard tour with Amelia Adventures to explore the nearby rivers and creeks. Maintaining an eye out for community wildlife like dolphins, manatees, and around 400 fowl species is element of the pleasurable. 

At the Amelia Island Museum of History, you can discover about the area’s tumultuous past, such as how possession of the lands passed from just one team to the up coming, earning the island its nickname as the “Isle of Eight Flags.” The museum also gives quite a few docent-led going for walks tours of the Historic District of Fernandina Seaside so you can totally appreciate this enchanting downtown, such as its spectacular examples of Victorian-period architecture. History buffs and mother nature lovers alike will value a go to to Fort Clinch Point out Park with its 19th-century fortress and quite a few mountaineering and biking trails. 

Many thanks to Fernandina Beach’s fascinating earlier, there is no scarcity of entertaining legends and ghoulish tales about this place, so join the guides at Anchor Trolley and Transport to listen to about the town’s spooky heritage on a nighttime ghost tour. The enterprise also gives daytime trolley excursions of the Historic District.

No matter which activities you pick, a visit to Fernandina Seashore isn’t full right up until you just take a stroll down charming Centre Avenue. Serving as the primary hub of downtown lifetime, Centre Avenue is lined with art galleries, eclectic outlets, places to eat, and a lot more — primarily housed in uncomplicated brick structures that maintain Fernandina’s historic search.

Fernandina Seaside Motels

To totally immerse by yourself in the beauty of Fernandina Seaside, book your continue to be at a single of the historic properties that have been transformed into quaint inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Hoyt Home is a top-rated preference, giving 10 guest rooms full of vintage Florida elegance and high-class contemporary amenities. In the meantime, Fairbanks Residence, which is situated on a person acre of perfectly manicured grounds, caters to grownups searching for an upscale B&B working experience in the heart of the historic district.

Other B&Bs that come really advised include The Addison on Amelia Island, Blue Heron Inn, and Amelia Island Williams Home.

Tourists who desire resort life will also locate many choices nearby: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island features the brand’s usual degree of wonderful, depth-oriented services, even though Omni Amelia Island Vacation resort is yet another captivating alternative for the luxurious traveler. Both equally qualities come with onsite golfing programs made by PGA players and relaxing spas.

Ideal Time to Stop by Fernandina Beach

Like Paris, Fernandina Beach front is often a great notion. The “best time” to check out only depends on what style of experience you’re hunting for due to the fact, contrary to other well-known seaside locations around Florida, Fernandina Beach’s northern site makes for more pronounced seasonal alterations. 

Though the sizzling summer time months draw the largest crowds (and priciest home premiums), they also supply the ideal beach front weather conditions and several gatherings to maintain you hectic, which include Seems on Centre, a no cost outdoor live performance collection. If slightly cooler temperatures do not deter you from dipping your toes in the water, spring and even fall are also superb options for a beachy holiday with significantly much less crowds because school is still in session. 

Even a wintertime pay a visit to has its perks. When compared to most of the U.S., Amelia Island winters are gentle, so the location can however offer an escape from the legitimate cold up north. This time of calendar year is also ideal for birdwatchers as quite a few migratory species make their way to the island. For an more dose of enchantment, December in Fernandina Beach also will come with holiday lights and festive shows throughout the downtown district. 

With tons of pleasurable festivals taking place year spherical, it may be well worth examining Fernandina Beach’s occasion calendar prior to you program your check out. The metropolis is finest regarded for its Isle of 8 Flags Shrimp Festival held every spring (Might 5-7 in 2023) to rejoice the city’s long-standing shrimping background (Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the present day American shrimping marketplace) with a parade, adorned shrimp boats, and tons of delicious seafood. 

Exactly where to Take in and Consume

Ready to try some of the area’s renowned seafood? Head to Timoti’s Seafood Shak for a basket of shrimp, oysters, or the refreshing catch of the working day geared up to your liking with a side of coleslaw, fries, and hushpuppies. The Salty Pelican is a different area favored for seafood, whipping up Florida classics like crabcakes and fried gator bites (okay, not exactly seafood), together with the cannot-pass up tuna nachos. Verandah is also a noteworthy cafe thanks to its traditional Southern seafood and home-built pasta served in a elegant placing. 

For a high-quality dining experience that will fulfill each seafood enthusiasts and additional carnivorous travelers, reserve a seat at Bob’s Steak & Chop Property, known for generous cuts of key steaks. Other popular eateries include Fernandina Beach’s internationally impressed restaurants like España Cafe and Tapas, which specializes in Spanish and Portuguese dishes Wicked Bao, with its variety of Asian avenue foodstuff and Hola! Cuban Cafe, serving regular delicacies from the island for breakfast and lunch.

With Amelia Island’s bootlegging background, it is no surprise that there are tons of areas to seize a top quality cocktail in Fernandina Seashore. A pay a visit to to The Palace Saloon is non-negotiable. Opened in 1903, it’s the oldest bar in Florida —  it even managed to continue to be open all through Prohibition. Go for the cocktails, but remain for the superior enterprise and dwell songs. In the meantime, whiskey aficionados should really make their way to The Sandbar & Kitchen area, in which they’ll find just one of the most significant whiskey collections in Florida with much more than 1,200 bottles. 

For a fun introduction to Fernandina Beach’s culinary scene, e book a Booze & Bites tour with Amelia Island Downtown Tasting Tours. Or skip the food items and go straight for the company’s cocktail tour. 

Finding There

Though Fernandina Beach front Municipal Airport is only minutes away from the city centre, flight support out of this small airport — and its distinctive plane-shaped terminal — is minimal to non-public jets or modest plane. The good thing is, a 45-minute travel southwest will get you to Jacksonville Worldwide Airport, the closest and greatest selection for travelers traveling on any big provider.