Things to do in Amelia Island

One of our top day trips from Jacksonville is to spend a few hours in Amelia Island. Just off the border with Georgia, Amelia Island is a barrier island east of I-95, and around an hour north of Jacksonville. In this post, we suggest things to do in Amelia Island.

Things to do in Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach

First off, you’ll need a car to get around Amelia Island. The island may seem compact from a map, but it is bigger than one would think.

Secondly, Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach can be used interchangeably by the locals, so we put both names in here so you won’t be confused.

Without further adieu, here’s a list of things to do in Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach.

Fort Clinch State Park

Location: 2601 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Hours: 8AM to 5PM
Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch

Fort Clinch State Park is a gem. Within the state park confines, there is a brick fort which still has the canon fire and damage from wars past. The fort is bigger than expected, and an extra fee applies ($2.50 per person) if one wants to explore the inside of the fort.

Facing the water, the brick fort has costumed reenactors of soldiers from the day, with certain ammunition demonstrations on weekends.

The state park also has a beach in front of the fort, various hiking trails, and a short drive away, there’s a long boardwalk that can take you out over the water. There’s also lots of wildlife (birds) hanging out by the boardwalk if you are a nature lover.

If you’re lucky enough, you can catch a view of wild horses by the beach across the river in Cumberland Island.

American Beach

Location: American Beach, FL, 32034

Part of the American Beach community/neighborhood, this is a beach with a unique history: American Beach was one of the only beaches open to African Americans during a time of segregation. That’s what made this beach so important and special.

However, beyond that, it’s a normal beach with a historic marker that commemorates its history. The sand is not much different than the one in Amelia Island State Park or in Fort Clinch State Park, for example. But walking on it is basically walking on history, and there is also a nearby museum that has more information on the history of the beach and the community.

Amelia Island State Park

Location: State Road A1A, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/amelia-island-state-park

How many state parks let you ride a horse on the beach? This is one of them, and we speak from experience because we did this on a very windy/rainy day in Amelia Island a few years back, and it was an absolute blast. You will need to book a tour to experience this, so be sure to book ahead, but we highly recommend this. Even with the bad weather, it was an incredible experience.

Beyond that, there are nice opportunities for bird watching, kayaking, and looking for shark teeth on the beach.

Little Talbot Island State Park

Location: 12157 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32226
Cost: $5 per vehicle
Hours: 8AM – 5PM
Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/little-talbot-island-state-park

You can do various activities in this park, but the main attraction is the beach, which is a more natural beach than ones that attract spring-breakers, as it contains things like fallen trees and branches. You can get some great photos, and it’s usually sparsely populated, so it’s great for long, peaceful walks.

Big Talbot Island State Park

Location: State Road A1A North, Jacksonville FL 32226
Cost: $3 per vehicle
Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/big-talbot-island-state-park

As the name implies, the Big Talbot is closely related to the Little Talbot, as they are essentially side by side. If you have the time, it is a nice visit, though either of the Talbots is a great time to spend by the water.

Amelia Island Lighthouse

Location: 215 O, Hagan Ln, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Cost: $5 per adult, $3 per child
Website: https://www.fbfl.us/474/Amelia-Island-Lighthouse-Tour

The lighthouse is tucked away inland a few blocks away from Fort Clinch State Park. Quite an interesting place to visit and worth an hour or so. You can view the grounds around the lighthouse for free every Saturday between 11AM – 2PM. However, if you want to see the inside of the lighthouse, you will need to pay for a tour.

The Beaches

There are plenty of beach access points available throughout the island. Parking can be limited, so try to get there early, but it is free! The good thing about the beach is it is really long and if you’re feeling up to it, you can walk from the resort areas all the way to the end!

Centre Street

This is our favorite part of Fernandina Beach: it’s a classic main street with locally owned shops and restaurants that is reminiscent of an older, simpler time. You will definitely not find a big chain store in this area. There are also some really cool historic buildings along the way, such as:

Palace Saloon – oldest bar in Florida
Fernandina Historic Courthouse – lovely brick building
Post Office – certainly the most beautiful post office we have ever seen, on first glance a building that looks like an Italian mansion

We like strolling around Centre street and the surrounding blocks because it’s quiet and we can support our local businesses. Plus, it sits right on the water, which offers an opportunity to dine with great views.

Hotels in Fernandina Beach

Fernandina Beach has a lot of hotels that are beachfront, and range from big to small. Our favorite one is Omni, which is a ginormous complex and one needs to go on the shuttle to get from one place to another. It has everything you can think of, and has access to the beach.

There’s also the Ritz Carlton and other chain hotels in the area.

Alternatively, one can stay in vacation rentals (there’s many of them), either within walking distance to the beach or with direct access to it.

Amelia Island Suggestions

Do you have any other suggestions on places to go in Amelia Island? Stores that we can visit? We would love to hear from you. Please feel free to leave a comment below!