September 21, 2022
Looking for a getaway before your family grows? How about a trip to an enchanting, peaceful, barrier island with all the key amenities — great food, perfect places to nap or enjoy a spa treatment, strollable streets and shorelines. Welcome to Amelia Island.
Check in to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, your home away from home for the next three days where luxury amenities are infused with elements inspired by its beachfront setting. Looking for a quaint bed & breakfast? Book the Babymoon Package at The Addison on Amelia located in historic downtown Fernandina Beach. In addition to a 3-course gourmet breakfast and evening social hour with beverages, the babymoon package includes a prenatal massage for mom, a bottle of non-alcoholic champagne, an assortment of hand-dipped chocolates, lavender powder and milk bath for mom & baby, $50 dinner gift certificate, and an Addison on Amelia Island onesie for the little one.
Kick off your babymoon in tropical style with an al fresco lunch at Coquina, The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island’s newest ocean front restaurant where salt not only seasons your food but also lines the rim of your virgin margarita and lingers in the sea salty air. Coquina’s menu is inspired by our Spanish roots when Spain was one of the eight flags that flew over Amelia Island. Try the Crispy Mahi sandwich served with Tomatada and topped with Coquina Aioli. It’s muy delicioso!
There’s so much to see and learn on Amelia Island that you’re gonna want to get started right away. Take a walking tour of historic downtown where you’ll learn why David Levy Yulee is named the Father of Florida’s railroads. Or, climb aboard a climate-controlled van for an Amelia Island Historic Tour that will take you on a journey from the time the Timucua Indians inhabited this area into to the modern day shrimping industry. You’ll also hear how we were once a safe haven for pirates, smugglers, and bootleggers that claimed the island as their own. It’s all good stuff.
What do authentic Korean dishes, American comfort food, and barbeque all have in common? Area 51 BBQ & Grill is the correct answer. You typically can’t find southern fried chicken alongside Dolsot Bibimbap but at this new Amelia Island eatery, ordinary goes out the window. Everything here is “out of this world” good!
Insider Tip: Try the Galbi: Premium juicy smoky-sweet grilled beef short ribs that literally fall off the bone. Mmmm, good.
Sippin’, Shoppin’ and Getting Spoiled
Let’s get this day started! Amelia Island Coffee is located smack in the middle of historic downtown Fernandina Beach and they are always up early. With a variety of hot and cold coffee and espresso drinks, organic teas, freshly baked pastries, and breakfast sandwiches and bagels, I’d say they have all your breakfast items covered. Grab a table or a seat on a comfy sofa and enjoy the eclectic vibe of “the coffee shop”.
The afternoon will be spent exploring all there is to see in downtown Fernandina Beach. Stop in Pelindaba Lavendar and indulge your senses with all things lavender. Step inside Olive Amelia for an array of infused and fused olive oils from all over the world as well as a wide selection of fine balsamic vinegars, spices and gifts. Or, venture into Twisted Sisters to pick up a little something fun for mom and baby! If you’re ready to sit a spell, Fantastic Fudge, Island Time Frozen Yogurt, or Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop are ready to take care of that sweet tooth.
The Amelia Tavern is known for their house-brewed beers on tap but, their menu choices rival their beer choices with a delicious variety of options. Trying to decide what to have for lunch? How about their Fried Shrimp Platter featuring fresh, local shrimp and house made Asian Slaw? Or, you can never go wrong with the A.T. Burger topped with lettuce, tomato, muenster cheese, caramelized onion and special tavern sauce.
Insider Tip: Order a side of Truffle Fries and an A.T. Pretzel served with beer cheese dip and Bavarian mustard. You may not even need to order lunch.
An afternoon couples’ massage is just what you and your significant other need to melt the tension and stress away. The Spa at Omni Amelia Island Resort offers either a 50- or 80-minute dual massage in the comfort of a private treatment room. Once the massage is over your experience continues in a private couples’ relaxation room. If you’re not into massage, lavish your skin with a Cleansing Facial or get your aching feet pampered with a foot massage … so good for the soul (or sole).
Dine in a relaxed, upbeat indoor/outdoor atmosphere and enjoy creative American bistro cuisine. Bar Zin Bistro located on the south end of the island, offers a tapas style menu of comfort food everyone loves. Start with the Charcuterie board served with artisan cured meats and cheeses, house pickled vegetables, local honeycomb, and mustards. The pan seared scallops with wild mushroom risotto is delicious and of course ending it with a mouthwatering dessert is the ultimate trifecta.
A day on the water
The bagels at Aloha Bagel & Deli are so good if you close your eyes you’ll think you’re at your favorite NYC deli. Committed to serving only the freshest most delicious bagels, Aloha Bagel & Deli claims to be the “best little bagel shop on Amelia Island” and I’m pretty sure they are. This cute little Hawaiian-inspired eaterie serves breakfast all day long so you’ll never be late to the table. Try the Nova Bagel, toasted with plain cream cheese, NOVA salmon, tomatoes, capers, and onions. You won’t be disappointed.
A 10am departure aboard Amelia River Cruises will give you a breathtaking view of our island from the Amelia River as well as a local history lesson. You’ll cruise by Fernandina’s shrimp boats, historic Old Towne and Fort Clinch, then over by Cumberland Island where wild horses can be spotted on the beach. Local historian/boat captain will captivate you with colorful stories of this unique part of the world. Reservations are recommended.
Amelia Island is known for pristine, beautiful beaches with ample accesses to get to them. Probably the most visited beach area is Main Beach park offering visitors two sand volleyball courts, a playground, several picnic shelters, restroom facilities, and outdoor showers. However, if it’s privacy, seashells, and shark’s teeth you’re searching for, the beaches surrounding Fort Clinch State Park are not crowded and seem to be where all sharks lose their teeth. Grab a picnic lunch from The Happy Tomato then head off to spend a lovely day by the sea.
Go nuts over Watanut for the best gourmet nuts, pralines, and made-from-scratch-daily pecan shortbread cookies. Augusta, Georgia natives, and Watanut founders, Brian and Kam Kyzer created Watanut for gifting, treating, and celebrating and we’re so happy they opened a store in downtown Fernandina. I’m pretty sure you’ve got a big celebration coming up so pop in to Watanut and pick up some delicious gourmet treats to take home with you.
Recognized with a AAA Five Diamond award, Salt, located at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, is the crème de la crème in dining experiences. Oozing romance, the view over the water is just a hint of what’s to come. Serving fresh fish, aged steaks and unique culinary creations, this fine dining restaurant uses more than 40 salts from around the world to add depth and flavor to its already wonderful dishes.
Insider Tip: This is your last night, why not bump your dining experience up a notch and “Dine with the Chefs”. You’ll receive a unique, private seat in the kitchen with your own customized menu.
These suggestions are just a sneak peek of all Amelia Island has to offer as you plan your Babymoon. Discover more and plan your perfect trip on www.ameliaisland.com for a complete list of places to stay, eat and play. We’re looking forward to seeing your growing family here for generations to come.
Pictured above: Biking through Fort Clinch State Park Wellness is defined as the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health. Whether it’s […]
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