Amelia Island. I recommend it.

At the end of June, following our amazing night at the NKOTBSB concert, Ann, Lindsey, and myself piled into the car with our luggage and some snacks and headed to Amelia Island for a few days of R&R.  I had never been to Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach, so I had no idea what to expect, but I had read the town wins awards for being the best small beach town to live in, etc.

We were surprised to NOT take the interstate for much of the drive - a lot of it was on highways through smaller Georgia towns.  That wasn't so bad, it did break things up a bit.

The island itself is small, but very cute.  The beach is long, and there are almost NO hotels/condos on the beach - it's all houses/beach cottages, which gives it a homey feel, more relaxed and less touristy.  The beach is clean, with soft sand, some shells and no seaweed (at least while we we there).  Beach parking is free everywhere - HUGE plus!

The historic Fernandina Beach area is too cute - walkable, with nice shops and restaurants. There's a state park on the island, a lighthouse, and loads of outdoor space for kids to play.  


It was an incredibly relaxed trip - so relaxed, in fact, that for two nights we were in the hotel by 9:30 PM, curled up with books and watching movies.  On some trips, that would seem like a waste - but it seemed natural, comfortable, and relaxing.  I hardly ever get to totally switch off at home, so being in bed with a book, snack, and movie was very nice.  We also caught a movie in the theater on a rainy day, drove/explored randomly, ate some yummy seafood meals, and walked around historic Old Fernandina Beach.  We found a beach side bar that had live music, great atmosphere, and a lovely view of the dunes. 

Because there are so many places I want to visit/see, it's rare I will vacation somewhere twice, but I would definitely go back to Amelia Island, no question.  Next time - totally taking the dog.