The first time we met we each thought
we were on a date with some hot model.
Well, not really a date - date.
We just saw a movie and ate dinner together.
Then the plane landed.
This year Jay and I both turned 70 years old. Cause for celebration! Then again, at our age waking up looking at the right side of grass is cause for celebration. We decided we'd mark the occasion by taking a romantic getaway.
We Googled "Most romantic U.S. vacation destinations". What came up was the name of every overcrowded, car horns blaring and sirens screaming, concrete jungle major American city. Hardly our idea of a romantic vacation destination!
After some searching we found the perfect romantic destination - Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island, Florida.
Normally Jay and I are pretty private people but in this post you're in for a real "treat". You're going to get more of a glimpse into the real us and what traveling with us is typically like. And as a bonus, we'll give you our tips for maintaining a healthy romantic relationship with that special someone in your life.
Trust us...we've been around the block a few times.
If there's one thing we discovered about ourselves it's that we allow our lives to become so fast paced that more often than not, we fail to let our partner know how much we love and appreciate them - as easy as it is for us to show that to one another. We were both guilty of it.
But this romantic getaway got us back on track on that front.
Date night is still important.
It's just now
romantic dinners
have become
early bird and
senior specials.
Before you leave on your romantic getaway, take the time to arrange some surprises to spring on your significant other to let them know how important they are in your life.
A couple examples:
CALL US: 1-877-322-1200
Harry & David's flagship store is in New York but they ship to Amelia Island.
What's really handy is that they offer an entire package:
Deliciously Decadent Precious Love Bouquet, Strawberries, and Wine $149.99 - $159.99
Money $aving Tip: Promos & Coupon codes
If you've followed this website then you know Jay eats, lives and breathes golf. And that his pet peeve is alligators roaming the Florica golf courses! I found a golf bag cooler and filled it with items I knew he'd need and use - his favorite golf balls, a new golf towel, a new golf glove, golf tees, pro golf club brush cleaner, a ball marker set, a Swiss Army golf tool pocket knife, a golf club bottle opener, a subscription to Golf Digest.
At the very bottom of the cooler I'd tucked the adoption certificate for the World Wildlife Federation alligator I'd adopted in his name along with a golf shirt I'd silkscreened (above) to go with the adoption certificate.
(If you follow this site then you already know about his pet peeve re: alligators on FL golf courses!)
I attached a gift card to the cooler that said "Thanks for just being you...love you!"
When he went outside for a couple of minutes I snuck everything onto the bed, then went in the bathroom and turned on the shower to watch his reaction through the bathroom door. I love watching his reaction to surprises. He was like a little kid on Christmas morning, examining every item (and playing with it), a smile on his face the entire time. He even laughed when he got to the gator adoption certificate and shirt. By the time I got out of the bathroom he was wearing the shirt. So little effort on my part to make him so happy...that's what love and fulfilling relationships are all about. It's not about what you get - it's about what you give.
Feel free to use the surprises you'll read about that we came up with for each other or come up with your own for that special someone!
Never go to bed angry
at each other.
Stay up and argue until you forget what it was you were arguing about
in the first place.
By then you'll be too tired to care anyway,
Old age memory loss can be a blessing in disguise.
When it comes to romance on Amelia Island,
where you choose to stay is number one.
There are plenty of high price tag romantic places to stay on Amelia Island, the #1 choice of them by couples being Omni Resort & Spa,
Photo credit: The Weekend Fox
Although they come with a high price tag, several of them do offer romance packages to help ease the cost a bit. Like this one from Omni Resort...
When looking at options we asked ourselves if the cost of the accommodation even given the romance package deal was worth the money? Only you can decide that and what best suits you as far as accommodations go.
Here's a list of Island facilities that offer romance package deals:
Looking for a hotel on the beach? Book the Romance Package at The Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. $$$
The Fairbanks House: Offers 2-7-night packages with details like wine, chocolate-covered strawberries and romantic dinners. These packages are available in romantic rooms, suites, and cottages with king beds and Jacuzzi tubs. $$$
The Addison on Amelia Island: Provides romance vacation packages that include options like local events, attractions, and activities, as well as luxury add-ons such as floral arrangements and chocolates. $$$
Beach 5 Villas: Dozen roses and a bottle of bubbly. Crystal champagne flutes. $175
The Ritz-Carlton: Offers a luxury romance package that includes champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a rose petal turndown, and daily breakfast for two in the Coast restaurant. This package is available for a limited time and requires a promotional code for booking. $$$$
These accommodations don't offer romance packages but are recommended by couples:
Check out the boutique hotel, Hoyt House. $$$
We found a way to have the best of both worlds, the only difference being a lack of swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Now what if I told you we got the best of both, a 6 night/7 day stay for a total of $1015.18 including all taxes and fees?
That averages out to $145.02 per day or $169.19 per night if you're trying to do the math in your head.
(Nope, it's not an RV park. We left the Beast in NY and drove Jay's Land Rover to Florida.)
We booked a studio cottage at Sea Cottages of Amelia: 2528 Sadler Rd, Fernandina Beach, FL
We didn't shoot the following video but if will show you Sea Cottages of Amelia.
This is what the interior of our studio cottage looked like:
In order to get a full kitchen at Omni Resort you have to rent a pricey villa. Our kitchen had a full sized refrigerator and convection microwave but no stove. Easy enough fix...
I brought along 2 hot plates I used to make breakfast in bed twice for Jay. About $17 each from Amazon.
Our studio cottage was clean, comfortable and everything in it was relatively new. The place is safe -- set back off the highway and isolate, the walkways well lit at night. Parking was free. It was peaceful and quiet. While not directly on the
beach, the beach was only 1 mile away. Not once during our visit did we see anyone on that stretch of beach, despite it being a beautiful beach. It was like having your own private beach.
And those expensive golf carts Omni wants you to rent from them?
When guests reserve a electric street legal golf cart (LSV) of any size with eWheelz they get 10% off! Use promo code “seacottages” on their site or give them a call and mention Sea Cottages at (904) 310-4432
Golf carts are a great way to get around Amelia Island on any of the 35MPH roads! They are fun, breezy, and a great way see the sites.
That's right...unlike the Omni golf carts you can drive these on any of the roads that have a 35mph speed
limit or less! That means you can drive your cart from Sea Cottages to and around downtown as well as down to the beach. Plus we got our 10% off the rental price we wouldn't have gotten from Omni,
What the pricey resorts and hotels seem to have tried to hide (I spent hours finding this information!) is that non guests are able to use some of their amenities! They don't advertise this to speak of on their websites.
We took advantage of at least 3 of Omni's amenities/facilities and didn't pay any more for them than an Omni resort guest would have!
This well hidden secret is what will enable you to have the best of both worlds - really nice and affordable accommodations combined with high end amenities at the luxe resorts and hotels.
We're so in sync
with each other that we
don't finish each
other's sentences...
We finish each other's
eye rolls.
An Island landmark, Leddy's Porch ia known as the island's best spot for weekend brunch - famous for its buttermilk biscuit and sausage gravy, house made soups, its signature buttermilk fried chicken, and of course
I'm sure in reading the accounts of our trips one might get the impression our travels all go off without a hitch. Uh not exactly...as you're about to see in traveling with us. WARNING: Drama ahead!
Morning: We wanted to hit the ground running so scheduled breakfast at THE most romantic restaurant on the Island according to couples - Leddy's Porch inside The Florida House Inn. 22 South 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach. $$
their Bottomless Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. Although we didn't partake of those due to the first activity on our itinerary. But do give Leddy's a whirl for a romantic breakfast of really good food.
Breakfast for the 2 of us came to $31.03 and we had more than enough to eat so the price is really reasonable as well.
Our first activity was scuba diving. If you're not a certified scuba diver, then just go snorkeling. If you do have an interest in learning to scuba dive and get PADI certified there are a couple of places both on and near the island in which you can do this:
Scuba Station Inc.: 1401 Park Ave. Suite B, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034. Phone: (904) 321-1770
Reef Runners Scuba: 409 Summerset Drive, Saint Johns, FL (719) 396-5433
Just FYI your scuba instruction takes place in a swimming pool, not the open ocean.
General costs for scuba certification typically range from $300 to $700 for the PADI Open Water Diver course, depending on the location and the dive center.
Photo credit: Scuba Station Inc.
Scuba gear is included in getting scuba certified by Scuba Station Inc. They offer full dive kits, BCDs, bailout bottles, and other essential equipment for their certification programs.
The waters around Amelia Island are a fantastic place to go scuba diving and a well kept secret among divers familiar with them. This is because most divers will head for the nearby Keys or Bahama for 'primo diving'.
Amelia Island has several natural reefs within six to nine miles from shore, perfect for diving. The reefs are home to a variety of fish and sea life, making them a rich environment for divers. The offshore waters off Fernandina Beach offer some of the best sites for scuba diving, with prime diving locations that are far less crowded than South Florida or the Bahamas. This means the reefs are generally in better condition as a result of less diver traffic.
In addition, visibility in the reefs can be surprisingly good, especially when the incoming currents are present.
That being said, you might want to invest in a good pair of puncture resistant gloves and wear them while diving around Amelia Island. (You'll see why in a minute...)
Florida divers recommend and wear Hexarmor 9013 hospital waste gloves that are needle stick proof, you can find them all over the net for $30. It stops anything that wants to get thru to your hand.
But they won't stop a back of hand spine which almost never happens anyways. They last about 100 to 130 dives.
It's not that the gloves wear out. It's the high tech Foam Nitrile finger tip coating that get's thin.
The most important glove feature is that "balance" between "too sticky, too slick, and just RIGHT". If the palm is glossy plastic like hardware store garden gloves, it's hard to hold a grip on most things, The foam nitrile are "just enough" grip and slip. It will take about 4 dives to 'break them in.
On with our dive...
It was so good to be diving again so we were having a wonderful time on the reef together, this big 'ol turtle even coming over to say hello.
I'd turn away for Jay for just a second when...
Suddenly I hear him screaming through his regulator. I whirl around to see him enveloped in a cloud of blood, cradling his hand and the divemaster racing toward the two of us.
Pat told me
I'm don't listen.
Or maybe she didn't --
I wasn't paying attention.
He'd gotten himself stung by
a lionfish.
This after I'd just told him "There's lionfish warnings posted so wear your gloves and be careful where you stick
your hands down there!"
Neither of which he'd done.
Lionfish stings are incredibly painful. I know of 2 divers who'd been stung by one. The first diver told me his bad appendix hurt far less before it was removed than his lionfish sting did.
The second diver told me he'd severely burned his hand pouring (literally) boiling water over it repeatedly in an attempt to get his pain to a tolerable level while neutralizing the venom.
For most people, although incredibly painful, the pain of a lionfish sting normally subsides within days, and complications are uncommon.
Then again, Jay isn't most people. He's allergic to some venoms and carries an epi pen.
How venomous is a lionfish sting? Their spines can deliver a neuromuscular toxin similar in toxicity to cobra venom. But it's worse than cobra venom in some respects, especially if the person stung has an allergy to venomous stings.
Lionfish stings can cause a range of symptoms, from localized pain to systemic reactions. The venom can lead to severe pain, swelling, inflammation and redness at the sting site, tingling, numbness, muscle weakness, temporary paralysis, sweating, nausea, vomiting, fever, headache. In some cases, the pain can be so intense that it causes the victim to go into shock, leading to symptoms like anxiety, confusion and unconsciousness. When the venom reaches the central nervous system it can even cause hallucinations. People who have allergic reactions to the venom can experience even more severe symptoms, including difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis.
To make matters even worse, a lionfish sting can cause bleeding and Jay is on the blood thinner Coumadin.
So he's ringing the dinner bell for every shark within a quarter mile radius of us bleeding the way he is.
Oh goodie. Potential shark feeding frenzy in which we're on the menu
The divemaster and I are frantically towing Jay to the surface when Jay goes unconscious. I have my hand over his regulator to keep it in his mouth. Thank the Lord we weren't so deep that we had to do any decompression stops! Jay comes back around - good, means he likely passed out from the pain.
At least I'm hoping that's the case.
After what seemed like an eternity we get him to the surface and into the Kodiak. As the divemaster races us toward shore, I'm pulling 5 barbs out of Jay's hand, pouring disinfectant over it and wrapping it to try to stop the bleeding.
It's already looking something like this, swelling and getting red very quickly.
On the one hand it's great Jay's a doctor so can give us an accurate assessment on his physical condition, at least while he still has his wits about him. Too early to tell if he's have a reaction to the lionfish venom but he's the best judge of that if he feels a reaction coming on.
"Where's your epi pen?" I ask, intending to inject him.
"Back at the cottage. With my wallet." he replies.
But of course they are! Why would you be sure to bring your epi pen along knowing you'd be swimming among venomous lionfish???" And why would you leave behind your wallet with all of your medical and insurance information and DEA and NPI cards in it, in case of an emergency? Oh say, like this potentially life threatening emergency...
OK we can fix this. We get an ambulance waiting for us on shore to race Jay to the hospital, I drive the Land Rover back to the cottage to grab his epi pen and wallet, then drive to the hospital to meet him.
Simple plan, right? Not with Jay.
He's the most stubborn man I know. Once he's made up his mind about something, trying to change his mind is akin to trying to shove a mule across ice.
HE doesn't need any ambulance and won't get in one so don't even bother calling one. HE is the doctor, HE is the one who was stung and can assess his own physical condition. WE'RE not doctors so can't and therefore, HE is calling the shots.
WE are going to drive back to the cottage together, grab his wallet and WE will then drive to the hospital. End of discussion as far as Jay is concerned.
Both the divemaster and I have noticed that Jay's breathing has been becoming more labored, in all probability because the venom has gotten into his central nervous system. If that's the case there's no point in arguing with him as to do so will just delay the medical attention he needs STAT and his brain may not be firing on all cylinders.
He did at least agree to let me drive us back to the cottage. I raced inside, grabbed his epi pen and wallet, tossed them through the open car window to him - at which point he rolled up the car window nearly amputating my own hand in the process, locked me out of the Land Rover, climbed into the driver's seat and took off like a bat outta hell for the hospital. Leaving me standing there.
Nope, brain not firing on all cylinders. We're in trouble here. Luckily for me there's only one hospital on Amelia Island so I phoned their ER and alerted them to watch for Jay's arrival and filled them in on what was going on.
Are we having fun yet?
I know he's going to be in no shape when he returns (IF he returns!) to carry on with our itinerary as planned and I have to figure out what to do to effectively help him manage his pain level while neutralizing the venom in his body at the same time so I swing into action.
Priority #1 - Phone the Omni Resort Spa where I'd booked a couples massage for later in the week, explain to them why I needed to reschedule and PLEASE is there any way they could fit us in that same day or the next? Those gals went above and beyond to accommodate us and helped me solve the next problem.
Priority #2 - Was there a hot tub non resort guests could use on the Island? They even set up the arrangements for me to do this. Omni Resort has several hot tubs, one of which non guests are allowed to use and it's even hotter than the other hot tubs they have. BAZINGA! SCORE! The hotter the water, the more effective it will be.
They even provided me with a list of accommodations on the Island that had hot tubs and would allow non guests to use them:
Residence Inn by Marriott Amelia Island: Features a pool and hot tub that can be used by non-guests.
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island: Provides access to their hot tub facilities for non-guests.
The Villas of Amelia Island: Also provides access to their hot tubs for non-guests.
Additionally, you can purchase day passes to use the hot tubs at various hotels in Amelia Island, allowing non-guests to enjoy the amenities. Contact the facility directly and inquire about them.
Plan B - Reshuffle the itinerary, moving all low energy, non physical activities to the next couple of days at least. You can follow this reshuffled itinerary or come up with your own itinerary here. Your choice.
Knowing how his past allergic reactions have gone, I strongly suspect he's going to be hungry (at least temporarily) when he returns because by this time the nausea and vomiting will have set in, his stomach will be empty.
If you're going to follow this reshuffled itinerary, ladies we're up to bat. I moved the surprise BOHO luxe picnic I'd scheduled for later in the week. If he was even up to it, all he'd had to do is lie on the beach and eat. And if he wasn't up to doing that and just needed to rest in the cottage ok too. Flexibility!
There is a company on the Island that will set a luxe beach picnic up for you but you'll pay between $600 and $900 for 2 people for them to do it.
We can do it ourselves for far less money and spend those hundreds of dollars elsewhere on something FUN.
Here's what I brought from home for this picnic that you might want to consider bringing with you:
-
Canopy tent like the one at left
-
Beach umbrella for added shade if needed
-
2 large pillows to sit on and optional throw pillows
-
Cooler and picnic basket with plates, utensils, 2 wine or champagne glasses,napkins.
-
2 bed tables to put food on - optional but Amazon has the 2 pack for $22
-
Decorative items like candles, florals, etc. Use colors like
white/cream/ivory and pale blue to get a soft, romantic BOHO look.
If you don't have a canopy and bed tables don't sweat it, use a blanket on the sand instead.
You can pick up gourmet picnic basket goodies with fresh cheeses, artisan bread, and local treats from the Fernandina Beach Farmers Market or from Marché Burette: 87 Amelia Village Circle, Fernandina Beach.
Marché Burette has a wonderful indoor market where I got everything needed.
The Marché Burette market
Ladies, if you rented one, remember you have that eWheelz golf cart you can drive from Seaside Cottages into and around town! And to the beach!
I'd remembered seeing a thermos like the one at left at one of the shops in downtown so I stopped and picked one up. It will keep water hot for 24 hours and the opening on it would be large enough for Jay to stick his hand in it to soak.
That's the weird thing about lionfish bites...the pain will fluctuate between tolerable to a level where it's so excruciating you want to amputate your own limb. The one thing
that helps bring that pain level down while helping to neutralize the venom is very hot water.
I'd also taken an inventory of what we had on hand as far as OTC medications that Jay might need. He carries a medical kit with him but it was in the Land Rover so I just stocked up as best I could so we were covered.
While I'm doing all of this, (nurse) Mary and I had a couple of very brief conversations to get information they needed. During our last conversation I'd asked her to tell
Jay to stop and get some Hydroxyzine on his way back and bring it with him.
Mary said: "Well I don't know if the doctor will prescribe that for him but I'll ask him."
"Mary? You have his wallet there?"
"Yes."
"Open it up, look at the 3rd slot down on the left side of it and pull those cards out."
I can hear Mary doing that...then say to another nurse in the background "THIS GUY'S A DOCTOR! No wonder he's being such a pain in the a** and telling us how to do our jobs!"
(Gotta love nurses! They're so much smarter and on the ball than doctors are...)
I said to Mary "You've got his number now... Well do me a favor and tell the pain in the a** to prescribe himself some Hydroxyzine and pick it up on his way back, please?"
Mary: "I most certainly will speak with his doctor about prescribing him some! Off the record, any tips for us on how to deal with this guy to make our job here easier?"
Me: "Just tell him you're regularly phoning me and telling me everything he's saying and doing verbatim and that I said if I find out he's giving you nurses any grief he knows what to expect when he gets back."
About 30 minutes later Mary calls me back, laughing. "You were a COP?!! No wonder he calmed right down when I passed your message on to him! He's been sweet as pie to us ever since. And he has a twin brother that's also a surgeon? You mean there are TWO OF THEM that are like him?!! God help us...
Well I just wanted to call and thank you for the advice. And he'll be bringing the Hydroxyzine with him."
The next call from the hospital was from Jay himself. "They're releasing me. They were going to keep me overnight for observation but I guess when they found out I was a doctor they decided to release me.
(I nearly told him "They're not releasing you because you're a doctor! They're releasing you because you've been a pain in their a**!)
Anyway, I'm ok. But honey? I'm STARVING! Would you be a sweetheart and have some lunch ready for me when I get back please?"
"Have the nausea and puking stopped?"
"Yeah. How did you know about that? Did Mary tell you?"
"Nope. Just an educated guess."
"OK see you in a bit..."
I'd be willing to bet poor Mary was preparing his release paperwork at the speed of light...
GREET EM, TREAT EM, STREET EM as the ER saying goes.
Long story short, he loved his luxe beach picnic even though he was still in a considerable amount of pain that had begun to spike again during the picnic.
Hand in thermos of hot water while I drove us to our spa appointment.
Photo credit: Omni Spa
I'd initially booked a Table for Two couples massage at the Omni Resort & Spa that included chocolate covered strawberries and a choice of beverage after a relaxing Swedish massage together. Included in this experience is a complimentary upgrade of aromatherapy or CBD targeted relief cream.
I told the massage therapist get the CBD cream ready and plenty of it. For those unfamiliar with them, CBD creams are designed to provide targeted relief from soreness, skin health, and recovery. They work by interacting with the body's endocannabinoid receptors, which can reduce inflammation, calm irritated skin, and ease tension without entering the bloodstream.
Never having been to a spa before, on the ride over Dr. "Pain In Our A**!" begins getting bucky with me about going to this spa appointment.
"Well, let's see DR. KNOW-IT-ALL! It was YOU and YOUR OWN STUPIDITY that got yourself, me, the divemaster and all the divers on that boat into this FIASCO to begin with so maybe you just aren't as smart as you THINK you are about what's good for you! We're keeping the spa appointment, END OF DISCUSSION!"
Be in a relationship long enough and you both get to the point where you instinctively realize when you've put one foot over that invisible line in the sand your partner has drawn - that you should never cross - and unless you have a death wish, you'll elect to ZIP IT and go along with the program. Jay very wisely ZIPPED IT at that point.
And when our massages are done and he's sitting there sipping champagne while stuffing chocolate covered strawberries in his face...
he says to me "When are we going to do this again? Let's book another couple's massage before we leave, ok?"
He even purchased some CBD cream to take with him for later that night. After telling me for years "That crap doesn't work!"
(Believing as most doctors do that only THEY can fix anything and if it doesn't appear in the AMA's ICD-10-CM or the PDR it's not a viable treatment option.)
And I probably shouldn't tell this on him but I will. I found out later why he bucked me on the spa.
He thought he'd be nude, his junk exposed to the massage therapist. Yeah, that from a surgeon who saw other people's junk on the job every day!
Ok all together now! 1...2...3...
For his next
spa appointment...
What to get the man who has everything
& doesn't want the massage therapist seeing his junk
EYE ROLL!
We had some time to kill before dinner and Jay was doing ok so we took a chance on booking a ride on something we'd seen tooling around town. (Walk ups welcome but reservations strongly recommended)
Jeffers Carriages: Corner of Front Street and Centre Street, Fernandina Beach. Phone: (904)738-1519
We'd done plenty of horse drawn carriage rides before...but never an ELECTRIC carriage ride.
Jeffers Carriage Company is a pioneering electric carriage enterprise, proudly holding the distinction of being one of the first of its kind in Florida. Serving the locales of Amelia Island and Northeast Florida, the company offers a unique and unforgettable experience through historic rides with an experienced chauffer.
Jeffers offers several different tours so choose which tour works for you!
Believe it or not, we scheduled the Kids Scavenger Hunt tour to take Jay's mind off his hand.
Our chauffer got quite the kick out of that.
Find pirates, flags, butterflies, ostriches, and other cool stuff. Your chauffer will also point out the sweet shops and kid-friendly restaurants. We asked him to skip the kid friendly restaurants and
only point out the most romantic adult restaurants. (See? We did our homework to only bring you the best spots)
Our ride was thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining. Definitely recommend a Jeffers Carriage tour.
Our tour lasted almost an hour (although their website says 40 minutes) and cost $40 each. They will take no more than 6 people on a tour. Walk ups are welcome.
The tours depart from the corner of Front and Center Street in Fernandina Beach.
Evening: Date night at at Indigo Fernandina: 20 S 2nd St, Fernandina Beach. $$$
After the fiasco the day started out as, Jay wanted to make it up to me with a downtown date night and dinner at Indigo.
Nestled in a charming 1906 cottage in downtown, Indigo Fernandina (formerly LeClos), introduces a fresh and elevated dining experience focusing on Southern coastal cuisine.
Start out with the butter-poached Lobster Mac n Cheese followed by the sweet & tangy Beet Salad. Entrees of Duck, Filet, Salmon, Lamb, Snapper, and Sea Scallops. All exemplify the chef’s commitment to exquisite flavors.
Our experience from beginning to end was nothing less than fabulous!
Tip: Sit out back, it's cozy and quiet.
Perfect date night dining experience in every respect!
Monday CLOSED
Tuesday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Thursday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Friday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Sunday CLOSED
Money $aving Tip: Indigo Restaurant in Amelia Island offers a $48 Prix Fixe Special, which is a curated dining experience that combines elegance and quality. Additionally, during occasional Amelia Island Restaurant Weeks diners can enjoy special dishes and cocktails from various participating restaurants, including Indigo. This event showcases local restaurants' signature dishes, providing a great opportunity to experience the culinary offerings at Indigo and other establishments on the island.
Congratulations! You made it through Day 1 with the two of us! Ready to continue?
Getting lucky at our age means we remember
where we parked the car.
The Morning Table breakfast buffet offers an extensive variety of locally sourced items beautifully crafted by the FloraBelle culinary team.
Seasonal additions from their
Morning: Breakfast at FloraBelle at Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa: 39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach
Absolutely the favorite breakfast buffet on the entire Island! $$
aquaponic resort farm, The Sprouting Project, complement this daily offering:
coffee | tea | Florida juices | fresh-cut fruit | berries | yogurts | gluten-friendly cereals | seven-grain granola | smoked salmon applewood-smoked bacon | blueberry-maple sausage patties | old-style country sausage herb roasted potatoes |muffins | omelets | daily breakfast bowl | cheese | cured meats | biscuits & gravy | bread & butter bar gluten-friendly breakfast breads | bagels | jams & preserves | honey | all-butter croissants
$33 per person for all-you-can-eat. Reservations definitely recommended. (904) 432-1468
Open daily from 6:30 am to 11:00 am from Monday to Thursday, and from 6:30 am to 12:00 pm on Friday to Sunday.
Venture down the Amelia River to Cumberland Island with Amelia River Cruises: 1 N. Front St, Ste #3, Fernandina Beach to see dolphins, manatees and the wild horses that inhabit Cumberland Island.
Wild horses on Cumberland Island
Relax on the Amelia River while encountering wildlife such as playful dolphins, wild horses, sea turtles, and a variety of shore birds.
Picturesque waterways, historic landmarks, maritime forests, primitive seashores, and marsh grasses greet you while certified captains deliver captivating stories of local history.
Open year-round, they are fully accessible, pet-friendly, and have onboard restrooms. You are welcome to bring your own food
and drinks onboard.
We did see one manatee, a mama dolphin and her baby and the herd of wild horses, including a white stallion.
In waters once ruled by Pirates, enjoy the “tales and tails” of traveling the same path that divided Spanish Florida from the United States, when the naturally deep water port and quick access to the Atlantic Ocean, made the seaside Victorian Village a passageway for smugglers and a prized catch of many nations.
The tour lasted 2,5 hours and cost us $35 each.
Afternoon: Lunch at Timoti's Seafood Shak: 21 N 3rd Street, Fernandina Beach. $
Timoti's is a laid back, super casual, counter service restaurant that serves only willd caught fresh seafood. To us, it tasted as though it had been caught that same morning. Customer favorites include their poke bowls, lobster rolls, shrimp basket, Baja box and crab burger.
Both indoor and outdoor dining are available but most of the dining is outdoors, There's also a pirate playground for kids.
Monday - Saturday 11-8pm | Sun 11-3pm
Since we'd begun exploring downtown Fernandino Beach on our electric carriage tour, we decided to pick up where we'd left off and explore downtown more.
If you want to take advantage of a COMPLIMENTARY guided walking tour of downtown, then visit the Amelia Island Museum of History: 233 S 3rd St, Fernandina Beach.
Docent led Eight Flags Tours take place daily at the museum and are included in the price of admission – Monday through Saturday at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm, Sunday at 2:00 pm.
Walking tours take groups up Centre Street and into the Silk Stocking District introducing them to the many great historical figures who influenced the architecture and business on the island. These tours can be modified for children.
Museum Open: Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 4 pm / Sunday: 1 pm – 4 pm
Adults Ages 18-64 $10
Childre Ages 5 -17 $5
Senior Ages 65+ $8
Active Military Thank you for your service $8
Student With Valid ID $5
Money $aving Tip: FREE Friday hours at the museum 5 pm to 6 pm!
Explore downtown's Centre Street with its with beautifully preserved Victorian-era storefronts, boutiques, and restaurants. It's a great place to stroll, shop, and enjoy the local atmosphere.
Begin at the harbor-front and make your way down and around historic Centre Street to see it all. There's 50 blocks for you to explore.
Stop at the Welcome Center and let the experienced and friendly staff provide you with up-to-date information on attractions, events, dining, and everything Amelia.
The Welcome Center is open 364 days a year.
We browsed so many unique shops like the Cinnamon Bear Country Store, Eight Flags Antique Market, Sand & Sage Mystic Shoppe, Fernandina Market Place, Fernandina's Fantastic Fudge, Peterbrooke Chocolatier, and our favorite, Ship's Lantern.
You can see a complete downtown directory here.
Evening: Dinner at Cafe Karibo for a unique, casual and affordable gourmet experience. $$
27 N 3rd St., Downtown, Fernandina Beach.
Dine under the oaks on the beautiful patio or have a seat in the indoor cafe. We opted for the patio and what a treat! From the fountain, to the nicely spaced tables, to the friendly greeter and efficient wait staff we were already impressed.
The food was par non and the desserts alone made the trip worthwhile. Try the Blackened Mahi topped with a Crab Cake. It's crazy good! It's Blackened Fresh Mahi Mahi Fillets topped with a Crab Cake and Tropical Fruit Salsa over Coconut Scented Basmati Rice, Sautéed Seasonal Vegetables and Lemon Cream. $32.99
Mon: 11am-3pm
Tue-Thu: 11am-9pm Fri-Sat: 11am-9:30pm
Sun: 9am-3pm
Money $aving Tips: Cafe Karibo offers a prix fixe menu with a sharing charge of $15, excluding tax and gratuity.
Dining Month Menus: Available from Tuesday to Saturday, 5 PM to 9 PM, with a sharing charge of $12.
Morning: Being a New Yorker, Jay loves his NY bagels and I found a breakfast spot I was pretty sure he'd like - Aloha Bagel:
432 South 8th Street, Fernandina Beach
Our hearts still race
when we hold hands...
mainly because we forgot
to take our heart meds.
Aloha Bagel has just about any flavor of bagel and just about anything you could think of to put on them.
Varieties included plain, garlic, poppy, cinnamon raisin, cheddar, multi grain sesame, cranberry, onion and blueberry.
We had a cheddar bagel breakfast sandwich of egg, bacon or ham and cheese. It hit the spot! The price for the sandwich-style bagels included a drink, which was nice.
Jay claims they're every bit as good as NY bagels, if not better.
You also have the option of building your own bagel vs. ordering off the menu. Very reasonably priced too!
Open 7 days a week from 6:30 am to 2:00 pm.
OK golfers...FORE! Jay's hand was doing much better. Although he claimed he didn't think he could do 18 holes of golf, he thought he'd make it through 10 holes - Omni Resort & Spa's shortened 10 hole Little Sandy course.
Just FYI...Omni Resort & Spa has a number of different golf courses. Most are members and guests only but Little Sandy is open to the public to golf.
Little Sandy golf course
More on the Little Sandy course in a bit but first we had lunch at Marsh View Bar And Grill at the resort:
39 Beach Lagoon Road, Fernandina Beach.
The fare is typical of what you'd expect to find at a golf clubhouse...but you can't beat the outdoor dining terrace under a canopy of live oaks! Yes, you can dine here if you're not a Member or resort guest.
Marsh View Bar & Grill offers a menu of southern-inspired, casual fare in a venue overlooking vistas of the marsh, Intracoastal Waterway and ninth hole of the Oak Marsh Golf Course. Lunch menu
Ok for you golfers back to the Little Sandy course.
Little Sandy features 10 holes nestled around Red Maple Lake, ranging from 30 to 125 yards, and an 18-hole putting course. Playing through a picturesque lowland oak marsh habitat, Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa's new short course provides a traditional, yet fun-focused golf experience for all ages and abilities.
Playability and a fun atmosphere are emphasized to cater to families and those new to the game, but the course also offers strategic tests of golf and bold and contoured greens that will challenge more experienced golfers. One notable feature is the 10th hole that plays to an island green presenting a dramatic close to the round, even featuring a “hole-in-one” pin.
Walk-ins accepted and note: This is a walking course (no golf carts).
Pricing
Adult Guest (18 and over): $53 per round, includes rental clubs
Adult Non-Guest (18 and over): $58 per round, includes rental clubs
Ages 11-17: $18 per round, includes rental clubs
Ages 10 and under: complimentary with paid adult round
Hours of Operation
8 AM - 5 PM
Some of the world’s best golf architects have created 117 of the world’s most challenging holes on Amelia Island courses so Jay was stoked to get out on Little Sandy.
Take your pick of courses!
Amelia River Golf
(904) 491-8500 http://www.golfclubameliariver.com
The Golf Club of Amelia
(904) 277-8015 http://www.golfclubofamelia.com
Fernandina Beach Golf Club
(904) 310-3175 https://www.fernandinabeachgolfclub.com
The Golf Club at North Hampton
(904) 548-0000 http://gcnorthhampton.com
Omni Amelia Island Plantation
(800) 834-4900 www.omniameliaislandplantation.com
Long Point
904-277-5908 www.ameliaislandclub.com
Don't panic non-golfers. We've got you covered with an activity you can do instead of golf.
Amelia Island is known for pristine, beautiful beaches with ample accesses to get to them. Probably the most visited family beach area is Main Beach Park, offering visitors two sand volleyball courts, a skate park, playground, several picnic shelters, restroom facilities, and outdoor showers. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
If you get hungry, wander next door to Sandbar Amelia Island for a burger and drink, just as you are. Menu
Evening: Dinner at Coast at the Ritz Carlton. 4750 Amelia Island Pkwy, Amelia Island $$
Coast offers a fresh new take on coastal cuisine with a seasonal menu that includes local seafood, steaks, fresh pasta, salads and small plates created with great passion. The newly reimagined casual restaurant offers indoor and terrace dining and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
7:00 AM-11:30 AM, 11:30 AM-3:00 PM, 5:00 PM-9:00 PM
During dinner a couple of Jay's friends (the wife and I became friends) from Sarasota, FL walked into the restaurant! What a small world! We invited them to join us at our table.
Not 20 minutes later another couple who are friends of ours from Ft. Myers walk into Coast. Wow, what a small world! They join us at our table as well.
When the third couple walked in I looked at Jay and said "OK spill it. What's going on here?"
Photos credit: Cruisin Tikis
Jay had rented a private cruise tiki hut for all of us to party on!
Cruisin Tikis Amelia Island: 3 S Front Street, Fernandina Beach.
Step onto a floating oasis complete with your own licensed captain, ice filled cooler, fresh water sink, some really nice snacks and a jammin' Bluetooth sound system that we cranked loud enough for likely the entire island to hear. Those Millennials and younger generations think they have anything on a bunch of Boomers? PFFFT! IN THEIR DREAMS! We'd be tucking those little kiddies into bed before we even got rolling into some serious partying.
Cruisin Tikis offers several different cruises, including the sunset cruise we were on. Our tour lasted 1.5 hours and the price started at $85.
We had a BLAST together and when our tiki cruise ended, we just took the party into downtown Fernandina Beach, closed the joints there down, then moved the party to the hotel suite of one of the couples.
None of us got to bed by 5 am at the earliest. Best night ever!
At least until later that morning...
I love crawling into his arms, kissing his neck & saying those three little words into his ear...
"And another thing ..."
I don't think either one of us could have dragged ourselves out of bed to have breakfast at a restaurant. (No, we weren't hung over...just exhausted)
So I made us a romantic breakfast in bed. Well, at least as romantic as it could be when you fall asleep with your face planted in your scrambled eggs.
I don't know what the hell we were thinking...we can only attribute it to old age onset of dementia...but we decided to go ahead with our planned itinerary - beginning with a 1 hour bike ride in the Florida heat and humidity to Fort Clinch State Park, 2601 Atlantic Avenue, Fernandina Beach.
What partying too hard at 70 will get ya
Self induced pain and suffering aside, the trail to Fort Clinch State Park is gorgeous with wildlife everywhere you look. We saw multiple kinds of birds, armadillos, turtles, deer, and the usual gator warning signs with accompanying gators.
We've seen quite a few forts in our days but Fort Clinch definitely rates in the top 3. What a scenic, interesting place!
Admission to the park and Fort combined is uber cheap, we paid $4.84 each so by all means take a guided tour as you'll learn so much more during your visit!
Our docent (dressed in a Civil War uniform) was very funny, so knowledgeable he had no problem answering any question, was full of stories and tales and remained in character the entire time. He really helped make the visit an interesting one!
While at the Fort we learned that apparently hunting for shark teeth is a big pastime on the Island, especially around Fort Clinch beaches, a gold mine for shark teeth.
Jay and I decided to give it a try after getting some pointers from the soldiers at the Fort. An impromptu competition somehow found its way into our hunting for shark teeth. Whoever found the biggest shark tooth, the other would have to give him or her a neck and back massage that night.
Jay enjoyed his massage. He found a good sized shark tooth that he was immensely proud of. So the next time we were in town, we stopped at the jeweler and I had his trophy tooth put on a neck chain for him. (He hasn't taken it off since.)
Hunting for shark teeth is actually pretty fun. There's even a company on the Island that will teach you about hunting for shark teeth and take you out to do just that. Amelia Shark Tooth Adventures: 2671 1st Avenue, Fernandina Beach
(Hunting for shark teeth isn't like say, hunting for seashells.)
The cost of a tour with Amelia Shark Tooth Adventures costs $85 per person, for military $75 per person.
Tours run Monday through Thursday. Weekend availability upon request.
PLEASE NOTE: While no permit is currently required to hunt and collect shark teeth, there is a code of conduct that is adhered to in doing so. You can read Ethics, Laws and Permits here.
Times of tours are dependent on when the low tides come in.
There's also a great website called Fossilguy.com where you can learn about hunting for shark teeth.
Afternoon: This is a different kind of lunch but we loved it! Story & Song Neighborhood Bookstore Bistro/Center for Arts & Culture: 1430 Park Avenue, Fernandina Beach. $$
Welcome to Amelia Island’s Indie bookstore, where you can shop for books, sip delicious coffee, signature wine, or craft beer, pick up a creative greeting card and unique gift, and/or dine on a delicious breakfast or lunch. Enjoy the ambiance of the bistro and outdoor patio while dining on specialties, including the Little Paris Bookshop Quiche of the Day, Ina’s Chicken Salad Croissant, A Walk in the Woods Wheatberry Salad, American and Mediterranean paninis, and homemade soup.
Books, food and drinks all in one spot. You can't go wrong if you love to read and eat like Jay and I do.
The Bistro also has programs during meals, like Lunch for Literature Lovers and Restaurant Week, where you choose 2 signature menu specials and complimentary beverages for $15.
Regular Bistro menu and hours: Monday-Saturday 10am – 2pm | Sunday 11am – 2pm
Want to take home a souvenir of your romantic getaway that you make yourselves as a couple?
Just a few minutes away from Main Street, you can pop into
the Perfect Wick Candle Bar and do just that. (I'd post their address but they're in the process of moving to a new store.)
This $38 experience allows you and your partner to create a custom scented candle together. During the 1 hour candle-making class, you'll mix a few scents to develop a smell that will always remind you of your romantic weekend on Amelia Island.
(We tried to make ours smell like the ocean breezes of Amelia Island. I think we got pretty close. We made a very plain candle so we could decorate it the way we wanted when we got home, with seashells we'd collected on the beach.)
We think it’s a sweet experience to bring home a souvenir that you make together!
Evening: Have dinner at the Crab Trap: 31 N 2nd Street, Fernandina Beach. $$
Located in the historic Seydel building.
We fell in love with this place at first bite! Seriously our fave restaurant on Amelia Island that we wished we'd tried earlier in our trip. But we returned the following night for dinner!
Portions are huge and the seafood is done to perfection. Of course, Jay had the appetizer alligator tails as he's bound and determined to clear gators off of the FL golf courses by eating them one at a time if necessary. He also got his 75 cent apiece oysters that he loves.
The first night we ordered the Low Country Seafood Boil - superb. The following night we ordered the Seafood Tower - to die for. For dessert, try their Lemon Tropical Cake!
Large menu selection of seafood dinners, chicken, steak, pork, handhelds, desserts and weekly specials:
MONDAY: AYCE FISH N’ CHIPS – $24
TUESDAY: SNOW CRAB BY THE POUND – $15
WEDNESDAY: PRIME RIB NIGHT – $34
THURSDAY: 20% OFF ALL LOW COUNTRY BOILS
FRIDAY: $0.75 Cent Oysters
SATURDAY: AYCE SNOW CRAB LEGS – $65
SUNDAY: AYCE FRIED SHRIMP – $20
Riding horses together on a beach at sunset was one of the items on our bucket list. Jay was about to spring another surprise on me - a private horseback ride on the beach at sunset.
HOURS
Monday - Thursday: 11:30 AM - 9 PM
Friday + Saturday: 11 AM - 10 PM
Sunday: 12PM - 9 PM
Amelia Island Horseback Riding: 4600 Peters Point Road, Fernandina Beach. 904-753-1701 or text Robin at 904.753.1701
They also offer Proposal Rides!
Just to be clear on this point: Jay wanted just the 2 of us to be able to ride on the beach but all of the rides are guided, even the private and proposal rides.
The prices of the rides vary but are normally between approximately $125 - $175.00 per person, per hour.
We did have a romantic sunset ride even though as Jay put it "3's a crowd".
Never go to bed angry
at each other.
Stay up and argue until you
forget what it was you were
arguing about in the first place.
By then you'll be too tired to
care anyway,
Old age memory loss can be
a blessing in disguise.
Morning: Breakfast at Marché Burette: 87 Amelia Village Circle,
Fernandina Beach.
A charming breakfast spot that combines a gourmet market with a
cafe, Marché Burette serves fresh, high-quality dishes like smoked salmon bagels and eggs Florentine. Their pastries are homemade. The inviting atmosphere and outdoor seating enhance the dining experience.
Additionally, it hosts a Steak Night every Friday and Saturday.
Step back in time at the grocery and wine shop featuring gourmet products from French Farm, Savannah Bee Co., Pelican Bay, Peterbrooke Chocolates, Nancy's Candy and more.
Jay was feeling the need for speed now that he was feeling better and wanted to jet ski. Luckily for me the Island jet ski company only offers guided tours! He wouldn't be able to get himself in too much trouble. Hopefully.
I had to groan when I read this on their website: "Our Tours Aren't Just For The Young People That Want To Get On A Jet Ski And Blast Around And Do Donuts (Yes We Do Some Of That But It's So Much More)"
The young people??? I had a 70 year old that wanted to blast around and do donuts on a jet ski!
Amelia Jet Ski Rental offers 1 hour or 2 hour jet ski eco tours. For $195 ride solo or together on a premium Yamaha WaveRunner as you follow one of their expert naturalist guides through scenic routes around Amelia and Cumberland Islands. Be on the lookout for playful dolphins, gentle manatees, and a variety of coastal birdlife as you cruise across sparkling waters.
To be on the safe side, I insisted we get a 2 rider jet ski as there was no extra charge for riders on a 2 person jet ski and he'd be less likely to get himself into some kind of trouble.
We had a fast enough ride to satisfy him and he behaved himself.
It was cool to actually go on Cumberland Island where we'd seen the wild horses and white stallion. (Although we didn't see the white stallion again)
At left is the route the 2 hour eco tour takes.
If you do jet ski the tour be sure to bring along sunglasses and sunscreen because you'll be in the sun a lot during the ride.
Evening: We found another great restaurant that fit the romantic dinner bill - Lagniappe (pronounced Lan-yap): 4810 A1A First Coast Highway, Fernandina Beach. $$
The 2 hour jet ski tour route
The Louisiana French Creole use the term “lagniappe” to describe something that’s “a little something extra,” and that’s exactly what chef owner Brian Grimley knows it takes to transform a dish from mere food into an experience you never forget. Inspired by the culture and flavors of New Orleans, Charleston and Savannah, Chef Grimley’s Lagniappe Restaurant combines the traditions of the French Creole with unique twists on Southern culinary staples using only the freshest local ingredients.
We both had the Artisan salad: Artisan greens from bacon's select produce, blue cheese, craisins, pecan pralines, roasted sweet potato, and tupelo honey dressing. $14
Jay ordered the Grilled Prime NY Strip: Crispy brabant potatoes, broccolini, bourbon butter. $38
I ordered Blue Corn Crusted Catfish: Hoppin' John, crawfish étouffée, pickled collards. $30
Chef Grimley dazzled our taste buds for far less than $60 per entree - and without any of those annoying fine dining sauce squiggles on the plates to make it look like there's more on the plate than an hors d'oeuvres sized entree, three quarters of which is fancy garnish.
After dinner take a sunset stroll on the beach.
We've been friends so long
we can't remember
which one of us is
the bad influence.
The atmosphere was both cozy and romantic. The dim lighting, flowers on each table, and soft music in the background created a perfect ambiance for a lovely brunch date.
Last day on the Island and we're kind of bummed. We don't want to leave yet.
Morning: Breakfast at Pogo's Kitchen. 1408 Lewis St, Fernandina Beach
The food was flavorful and exceeded our expectations. and the menu had a variety of options .
The service was highly attentive without being annoying.
Since it was our last day on the Island I was going to drop his last surprise from me on him. He'd always shown an interest in the fact I've hang glided since my college days, asking me questions like "What's it like up there just soaring like a bird?" So I decided his last surprise would be to let him find out for himself what hang gliding was like.
Unfortunately there's only one business on the island that offers hang gliding and they only have motoriazed hang gliding. Ideally I wanted to be able to just rent a non motorized hang glider and take Jay up myself on a tandem ride. But even a motorized flight would give him an idea of what it was like and that was better than nothing so I'd booked a 1 hour flight for him.
Florida Adventure Sports 3990 Centurion Way #5202, Fernandina Beach. (904) 430-3800 $$
From Adventure Sports YouTube channel...
They'd no sooner landed than Jay was shouting at me "I WANT TO GO AGAIN!"
OK, go again. LOL
Their rates aren't that expensive.
I forget now exactly what I paid but I believe it was around $109 per flight? But don't quote me on that.
Whatever the rate was it was worth it just to see how excited he was and his enthusiasm for hang gliding.
Motorized hang gliding is perfectly safe and is a great way to get a bird's eye view of Amelia Island.
Adventure Sports has a perfect 5 star rating from its customers, which translates to proficient, experienced instructors on staff and a great safety record.
Afternoon: Lunch at the Patio On 5th & Ash: 416 Ash St, Fernandina Beach. $$
The Patio at 5th and Ash is an American Bistro offering the freshest, local seafood, chicken and pasta dishes, soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers. Dinner after 5pm with daily specials.
Photo credit: Patio On 5th & Ash
We ordered a charcuterie board (which was excellent) and decided that was enough to eat for us. We were full!
Daily happy hour specials, a full bar, and a welcoming atmosphere perfect for a date day or date night.
Jay had taken the initiative to schedule a second spa appointment for us after lunch.
This time I swear he raced his massage therapist to the massage table.
It was all I could do to keep from laughing listening to him talking with his massage therapist. Couples massage? I don't think he even knew I was in the room with him.
Jay: "So what does the aromatherapy massage do? How does that work? What do the exotic oils have in them?"
"How does the Lymphatic Body Massage work? How does it affect the lymphatic system?"
"You're kidding! You mean a massage can help a pregnant woman?! How far along does she have to be or can you do it any time during her pregnancy?"
"What does lavender inhalation do?"
I looked over at him and asked "Why are you suddenly so interested in and I'm quoting you "Crap that doesn't work?"
CUE THE CELL PHONE VIDEO CAMERA AND RECORD THIS FOR POSTERITY!
Jay: "OK so I was wrong."
Money $aving Tips: Omni Hotels & Resorts Specials: Check their official website for specials, offers, and packages that may include spa services.
Check for promo codes.
Next up, miniature golf. Island Falls Adventure Golf. 1550 Sadler Rd, Fernandina Beach.
Known for its 18 (and a half) inventive and beautiful holes surrounded by waterfalls, bridges, and tunnels, this course is complemented by an outdoor sound system and light snacks: soft drinks, slushies, candy, Ice cream.
For a little added fun, raise the stakes as we did. Loser buys the ice cream after the game.
This means I buy the ice cream being Jay's practically a pro golfer but that's the great thing about being a
couple - you can be "competitive" with each other without being competitive with each other. It's all in fun.
The cost to play at Island Falls Adventure Golf is approximately $13 per round.
It is open on weekdays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and weekends from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Money Saving Tips: Trip.com offers ticket prices and deals for Island Falls Adventure Golf, allowing you to book online and discover potential discounts.
Groupon: Provides savings and discovery for various activities, including Island Falls Adventure Golf, which may include discounts.
Evening: For our last dinner on the Island we decided to splurge and go to Burlingame: 20 S 5th Street, Fernandina Beach. $$$$
Burlingame is one of the premier fine dining restaurants on Amelia Island, if not THE premium restaurants. Very popular so you must have reservations.
Burlingame Restaurant offers relaxed fine dining in the Historic District. Seasonal menus created by a talented young local chef delivered by attentive and unpretentious servers in a casually elegant setting are the makings of your special dining experience. Dinners will be served in the three quaint dining rooms Monday to Saturday. Or just enjoy a beer or glass of wine at the bar or on the louvered pergola deck beneath the magnolias and towering live oaks.
Try their house specialty, Lamb Bologonese. You won't be disappointed. And don't skip an order of fried Brussel sprouts either!
Over dinner we were lamenting over having to leave Amelia Island the next day when Jay had what appeared to be an epiphany.
"Wait a second! We're RETIRED! Who says we have to leave tomorrow?!!
I don't want to leave. How
about you? Let's just stay for at least a couple more days. Call Sea Cottages and see if our cottage is still available or if it's rented? I don't have their number in my phone..."
That's the great thing about being old and retired...you can pretty much do whatever you want when you want.
Just like that we extended our Island stay .
So you'll get a bonus itinerary here...
With age comes
new skills --
You can laugh, cough,
sneeze and pee
all at the same time.
And we've mastered
remote controls...
Beautiful outdoor seating area with a stunning beach view for starters.
The menu offered a great variety of options - from classic breakfast dishes like eggs benedict to seafood options like crab cakes and shrimp & grits.
The food was not only delicious but also nicely plated.
Service was exceptional as well.
Morning: Breakfast at Sliders Seaside Grill. 1998 S Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach
Time to get out on the water and do some self guided exploring by kayak! We prefer paddling by ourselves but if you want a guided kayak tour you have some options on Amelia Island.
We used Amelia Adventures for our kayak rental but they also do guided tours of several locations.
3 S Front St, Fernandina Beach
There are plenty of great places to kayak around Amelia Island, even if you're a novice kayaker.
Amelia Island Kayak Tours (Amelia Adventures) offers 6 different guided tours:
Each adventure provides different landscapes, wildlife, and experiences. If you can't decide which tour is right for you, staff will go over everyone in your party, their individual kayak
Turtle sunning itself on Lofton Creek
experience and skill level and can suggest the tour they feel you and/or you group would most benefit from.
Be aware that tour meeting times are coordinated with local tides to ensure you paddle with and don’t work against the current.
Prices vary by guided tour but are around $65 per person at the lowest end of the scale.
To rent a kayak (no tour) is $49 per person for 2-2.5 hours.
Paddles and lifejackets furnished and they will deliver to your chosen waterway.
We chose to tour Lofton Creek by ourselves because it's a freshwater black water inlet with calm water (Jay still had hand and joint pain) and is protected from the coastal
weather so easier paddling. More wildlife too. It's a good waterway for novice kayakers, FYI.
Afternoon: We felt like eating lunch at a gas station. No, I'm not kidding. T-Rays Burgers used to be an Exxon station. 202 South 8th Street | Fernandina Beach
The Washington Post spoke about the restaurant & USA Today named T-Rays on the list of the 50 Best Burger Joints in America.
We agree with USA Today - the burgers are out of this world.
Besides burgers T-Rays serves salads, sandwiches, sides and lunch entrees and they also offer daily specials.
We had the Big T Burger combo - only $13.50. We could barely finish it but oh was it tasty going down!
After lunch we had some shopping to do so hit the Island thrift shops.
We'd found a pirate train ride in nearby St. Mary's, GA and managed to get reservations.
Participants were to dress in pirate costumes so we were on the hunt for our costumes. We were shocked at how many thrift and secondhand shops Fernandina Beach had! I think we hit every one of them but then found Corner Copia.
Evening: Dinner at España. 22 S 4th Street, Fernandina Beach.
España is a Spanish restaurant known for its incredible paella and creative tapas (with many fresh seafood options).
The restaurant interior transports you to coastal Spain and there's also an outdoor patio on which you can eat.
The fig jam and goat cheese crostini were phenomenal as was the paella, which comes in an enormous bowl meant for sharing. As far as drinks are concerned, the sangria was amazing.
All in all, España made for a great night, with great food and a romantic atmosphere.
Monday – Friday 5 PM - 9:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday 4 PM - 9:30 PM
We'll be besties until
we're old and senile.
Then we'll be new besties.
Morning: Breakfast at Beach Diner Fernandina Beach.
2006 S 8th St, Fernandina Beach
Nestled just steps from the shore, Beach Diner Fernandina Beach is a delightful oasis for brunch enthusiasts.
The friendly ambiance helped us feel right at home.
With its affordable prices and local vibe, Beach Diner is truly a gem on Amelia Island. For brunch lovers, this spot is an absolute must-visit!
MON – SUN: 6:00am – 2:30pm
We drove the 35 minutes to St. Mary's, Georgia where our pirate train trip would take place that afternoon. In the meantime, we wanted to nose around the town - just because we like exploring small towns.
St. Mary's is home to St. Mary's Submarine Museum. 102 W Saint Marys St, St. Marys, GA
Just a small place but two floors loaded with information and exhibits. There are 2 floors, the first floor is dedicated to diesel subs and the second floor is dedicated to nuclear subs. They have records on just about every sub that was ever in the U.S. Navy and they even have a working periscope.
Rates
-
Adults: $5
-
Ages 6-12: $3
-
Active Duty, vets, retirees, students age 13 and up: $4
-
Under 6: $0.00
-
Hours of Operation
-
Tuesday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
-
Wednesday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
-
Thursday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
-
Friday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
-
Saturday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
Photo credit: thegeorgiatrain.com
It was nearly time for our pirate train ride so we headed to Kingsland Station.
440 S. Lee St., Kingsland, GA - 30 minutes from St. Mary's.
A seat in coach (open air car) will run you $18 (adult) and $10 for kids 3 to 11.
A ride in the cupola caboose runs a hefty $285.
The ride lasts 1 hour.
Whoever was playing Capt. Jack Sparrow was nearly a dead ringer for Johnny Depp. The likeness was amazing.
The railroad runs several different themed trips during the year. Check their website for details.
All train tickets include FREE access to see the amazing train layout being built by the Golden Isles Railroad club as part of their evolving Kingsland Station Train Museum.
We were going to stay one more day but Jay got a call that we had to return for a family emergency so we packed up and hit the road for home.
I hope you enjoyed our trip to Amelia Island !