It had been 17 years since I was in Amelia Island for a friend’s wedding. When I mentioned the amount of time that had passed and how much the destination had likely changed, Paul Beirnes, vice president, Amelia Island Convention and Visitors Bureau, assured me it had not.

How right he was.

Amelia Island is a hidden gem in Northeast Florida, just a few miles south of the Florida-Georgia state line. Untouched by mass tourism in many ways, the community has kept the heart of its island intact. Downtown Fernandina Beach is adorable, with charming architecture housing numerous shops; boutiques; restaurants; and even the oldest running bar in Florida, The Palace Saloon. For the last several years the community celebrates a Dickens on Centre festival, transforming the area into a Victorian-themed Christmas market with twinkle lights, period characters and festive performances. (It’s on my list for 2024.)

Golf is abundant — as are the boutique bed & breakfast options and breezes from the beach. Upscale properties like the Omni Amelia Island Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island are available for those looking for luxury.

But I mostly enjoyed this trip because of the colossal hospitality I encountered throughout the island.

Though I planned to meet with clients on this trip, when you spend an hour-plus in the car with someone who’s touring you around the island, sharing their favorite local hot spots, you leave as friends. While staying at The Courtyard, I engaged with Kay, the friendliest front desk clerk I’ve recently come to know. I also enjoyed a delicious filet at Bob’s Steakhouse, walking on Fernandina Beach just before sunset, and collecting remnants of shark teeth at Main Beach Park. I smoked cigars at Waterwheel with several unofficial ambassadors of Amelia Island, sharing stories of why they all make it their home. Each person I encountered seemed committed to improving the community while maintaining the undeniable magic the destination possesses.

And I haven’t even told you about Fort Clinch.

Talk about a hidden gem! Fort Clinch State Park lies at the north end of the island and was originally built in the mid-1800s. Restored in 1936, thanks to President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the fort can now be  toured by visitors almost in its entirety. I marveled at the spiral staircases, the long brick hallways, the cannons, the barracks and more. Although I arrived close to closing time, I could’ve easily spent another hour or two walking the grounds, gaining a greater sense of history with every step. Plus, it’s a bargain at only $6.50 for the day!

Additional rich history lies within Amelia Island, including American Beach, created by Abraham Lincoln Lewis as a respite for African-Americans during the Jim Crow era, totaling 216 acres. The nearby Evans Rendevouz jazz club hosted Ray Charles, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and others and is currently under the county’s care to restore and preserve. The island itself is named after the granddaughter of King George I (who never arrived). Finally, Amelia Island claims to be the only U.S. location to have existed under eight different flags.

With so much magic in Amelia, I found it hard to leave. And to me, that’s a clear sign it will still be the same way when I return.

— Carrie Cox, account executive