amelia island

10 Things to do on Amelia Island This Winter

Select Registry - December 21, 2021

Sink Your Toes into the Sand

amelia beach

On this first official day of winter, few things sound more appealing than sinking your toes into the sand. As it happens, that is one of our favorite things to do on Amelia Island – and this winter is a great time to savor the sensation of sandy grains between your toes. 

Amelia Island is located off the eastern coast of Florida, just north of Jacksonville.  With daytime temperatures averaging in the 70s during the winter months, it’s the perfect antidote to those cold arctic blasts that often plague the rest of the country.  

Like much of Florida, there are plenty of things to do on Amelia Island, including exploring more than 13 miles of beach.  Even with so many things on offer, one of our favorite things to do on Amelia Island is to sit back, relax, and enjoy the stunning beauty of Florida’s coast from a Select Registry Bed and Breakfast.  

Join us in experiencing the very best things to do on Amelia Island this winter, while enjoying some of the best hospitality around.  Book your room at a Select Registry Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast today! 

out on the water

The Best Things to do on Amelia Island

There are plenty of great things to do on Amelia Island – and the best part is it doesn’t always involve big crowds.  While parts of Florida, like Daytona and Miami beaches, are notable for their throngs of crowds up and down the beach, you’ll find it’s a bit different on Amelia Island.  Here, you’ll have plenty of time to savor the uncrowded beaches, paddle through the pristine waters, admire the abundant wildlife, and enjoy a getaway that lives up to every second of the hype. 

While we certainly wouldn’t blame you if all you wanted to do was sip a delicious cocktail and curl up with a good book overlooking the beach, there are plenty of things to do on Amelia Island, and it’s a beautiful paradise worth exploring.  As you get ready to plan your trip this winter, here are a few of our favorite things to do on Amelia Island:

  1. Rain or shine, spend time on the beautiful beaches found here.  Walking the beaches, and maybe even taking in a sunrise or two, is one of the best things to do on Amelia Island, and for a good reason. 
  2. Enjoy a few rounds of golf. Amelia Island is a great destination for golfers of all abilities – and the surrounding scenery just adds to the experience. 
  3. Visit the nature preserves around the island, such as Amelia Island Nature Center, and enjoy watching wildlife in their natural habitat.  It’s a peaceful way to enjoy an afternoon, and therefore one of our favorite things to do on Amelia Island. 
  4.  Don’t skip the opportunity to explore the historic downtown of Fernandina Beach. with its eclectic variety of shops, delicious restaurants, art galleries, and more, visiting this charming town is one of our favorite things to do on Amelia Island.
  5. Foodies will be well-satisfied on Amelia Island!  You could spend days tasting your way around the island’s delicious restaurant, not to mention great bars and a distillery. 
  6. Attend local festivals, like this February’s Amelia Island Jazz Festival and the annual Amelia Island Book Festival, or maybe this spring’s Isle of Eight flags Shrimp Festival.
  7. Get out on the water!  With places like the Intracoastal waterway, Cumberland Island National Seashore, and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge to explore, it’s no wonder kayaking is considered one of the best things to do on Amelia Island. 
  8. Visit the stunning Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, home of the Kinglsey Plantation, and learn more about this island’s incredible history.  It’s also home to 46,000 acres of salt marshes, coastal dunes, and hardwood hammocks, and one of the most beautiful things to do on Amelia Island. 
  9. While you’re on Amelia Island, make a point to visit Big and Little Talbot Island State Parks.  Little Talbot Island is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Florida, where you’ll find beautiful beaches, maritime forests, dunes, and salt marshes.  It’s a beautiful place to explore on a bike. 
  10. Enjoy an afternoon of horseback riding on the beach at Amelia Island State Park
sunset on beach

The Best Places to Stay on Amelia Island

When it comes to finding the best places to stay on Amelia Island, there is nothing that compares to the accommodations found at Select Registry-branded properties.

Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts are unique in the world of lodging.  Instead of an impersonal hotel stay with standardized accommodations and a semi-warm buffet breakfast, Select Registry-branded Inns offer you a warm welcome, a delicious made-to-order breakfast in the morning, and an opportunity to experience your chosen destination in a way few other travelers can boast. 

Moreover, each of these amazing places to stay on Amelia Island offers you an authentic taste of Florida’s culture & history, and a true chance to experience the area like a local.  Backed by an industry-leading inspection process and unrivaled in hospitality, it’s no wonder our Select Registry Bed and Breakfasts are rated as the best places to stay on Amelia Island. 

Don’t let the winter blues win this year. Plan your getaway to Florida’s pristine coast, and enjoy all of these amazing things to do on Amelia Island with us this winter!

Amelia Island Bed and Breakfasts

The Addison on Amelia Island

The Addison on Amelia Island is conveniently located one block from Centre Street, within walking distance of the main street through the downtown historic district with boutique shops, restaurants, galleries, and marina. The Addison on Amelia Island has three buildings, the historic house built in 1876 and two antebellum style buildings added in 1996, that surround the professionally landscaped courtyard with brick walkways and a three-tier fountain.

Each of the fourteen ensuite guest rooms are appointed with luxurious linens, down pillows, Turkish towels, comphy robes, green bath amenities, air conditioning, and ceiling fans to guarantee a restful respite and great night’s sleep. Oversize jetted tubs are available in most guest rooms and the guest rooms on the first floor of the historic house provide walk-in showers. Curl up in front of the gas fireplace (in season) in each of the king rooms in the historic house and in the parlor. All guest rooms offer cable HDTV with HBO, free Wi-Fi, bottled water, hair dryer, iron and ironing board, and mobile device charging station, and clock radio.

The Fairbanks House

Featured in The Best Romantic Escapes in Florida and awarded membership in Select Registry for 22 consecutive years, Fairbanks House aims to please. This 8000 square foot 1885 Italianate villa is located in the historic district of Fernandina Beach, home of Amelia Island’s tours, attractions, shops and restaurants, and an easy bike ride to 13 miles of pristine beach.

The mansion, three cottages and pool rest on an eco-friendly landscaped smoke-free acre featuring native plants and a butterfly garden. Oversized rooms and suites – some with kitchens and multiple beds – are furnished with a blend of today’s comforts and yesterday’s beauty. Gourmet breakfasts and daily social hours with beverages and hot hors d’oeuvres can be enjoyed and savored throughout the property.

Amelia Island Williams House Bed & Breakfast

Come fall under the spell of the Williams House Bed and Breakfast, one of Amelia Island’s grandest historic homes. Romance, relaxation, and history combine at this magical southern Victorian inn, truly a treasure in this sleepy, seaside village just off Florida’s northeast coast.

Enjoy spacious verandas, flower gardens, huge live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Enjoy the authentic elegance of historic Florida. Come and relax in an era of times gone-by amidst crystal chandeliers, beautiful antiques, and amazing craftsmanship. Be sure to ask for dining, tour and other entertainment suggestions …..our entire Amelia Island bed and breakfast staff is dedicated to your enjoyment of the remarkable Amelia Island. Our attention for detail will leave you wanting for nothing and feeling completely pampered.

exterior inn

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