Exploring Amelia Island, Florida

Exploring Amelia Island, Florida

When we say “island”, several pictures come to our mind.  One of those is white beaches with palm trees surrounded by miles of ocean.  Well, that’s not really the case for Amelia Island, Florida. While the Island has white beaches, on one side, Amelia isn’t really surrounded by miles of water.  You can in fact drive through on a trip up or down the coast of Florida easily and not have the slightest clue that you were even on an island.

Speaking of water, there is a lot of water specifically to the south of Amelia Island, Florida, which is known by many as the Nassau Sound.   There’s also a bridge that crosses it a few miles long.  On the other hand, the north end of the island is separated from the mainland by another bridge that crosses some bodies of water like small rivers and big creeks.   On the east, there’s the ocean, while the western side is separated by mostly creeks, marsh, and the Amelia River.   Having this kind of location, Amelia Island never gives you the sense that you will need a boat or an airplane to get to safety, by any means.  Amelia Island, Florida is but a safe place to stay.

Amelia Island, Florida is just small, with 18.2 square miles of land.  Also, it is worldly noted for its slower pace and there aren’t any operas or dinner theaters to visit.  But, again, you don’t need to drive very far just to get most of the things you will need during your stay as there aren’t any freeways, plus the pristine beaches are never more than two miles away.   This is basically what makes the Amelia Island a tourist town.

In case you need the things that the big city has to offer, it is worth noting that there is the Jacksonville, which is a thirty or forty minute drive, depending on where you are going.   Also, the Amelia Island, Florida is composed of three zones: the north end is the city of Fernandina Beach, the middle section of the Island is just Amelia Island, and the majority of the southern third of the island is included in Amelia Island Plantation.   And, if you are after the newer things, the farther south you travel is the greater you’ll discover newer things.   This is for the fact that the Amelia Island, Florida was developed in a southerly direction.

Perhaps one of the things that Amelia Island, Florida doesn’t seem to have to offer in great quantity or interesting format is employment.  It’s by no means the high-tech capitol of Florida, and other than the retail and hospitality industries, there do not seem to be many career opportunities available in the island.  This is the reason that many of the island dwellers make the daily drive to employment in the Jacksonville, Georgia or points farther north and south.

Outside from all those facts about Amelia Island, Florida, the island still remains as one of the perfect destinations for family getaways in the world.  Many locals and visitors alike considered Amelia Island, Florida as a great place to live.  It is where slow pace, no traffic, nice beaches, and great fishing can be found. 

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