Hosted: Amelia Island — The Occupational Mom

Apr 18

Apr 18 Hosted: Amelia Island

Hey guys! We’re back from another fabulous weekend getaway and this time from gorgeous Amelia Island, FL! We enjoyed food at fabulous restaurants, enjoyed amazing experiences and even had the opportunity to stay in a luxury 3/3 townhome with views of the ocean! But first, let’s familiarize you with Amelia Island, shall we?

[Descriptions below are taken directly from the Amelia Island Convention & Visitors Bureau]

Amelia Island is located off the northeastern tip of Florida and is the southernmost of the sea Islands stretching from California to Florida. Amelia has captivated generations of travelers with its stunning natural beauty, unique history, outdoor adventure, independently owned eateries, and charming seaport character. Just 13 miles long and two miles wide, the island is edged with natural Appalachian quartz beaches framed by rolling sand dunes. From Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach and the bustling Amelia River Marina, to preserved parks, trails and green spaces, and uninterrupted, pristine Atlantic beaches in between, wherever you discover Amelia Island, it’s love at first sight.

Amelia Island is also incredibly rich in history! Visitors can learn about the islands intriguing past at every turn, from pirates and Spanish treasure fleets to the Civil War, Golden Age and beyond. Exploring notable sites, museums, and the National Historic District in downtown Fernandina Beach, it’s easy to see why Amelia has exerted such a powerful pull throughout the century.

Not sure if there’s anything to do other than visit the beach? Well, there sure is! In fact, Amelia Island is home to an active theater community, museums, concerts, galleries, culinary treasures, and acclaimed music festivals. So, whether you’re interested in attending a live concert, discovering a new artist, tickling your taste buds, or exploring local architecture, you’ll find Amelia Island knows how to put on a show.

Looking for great food? You’ve come to the right place! Amelia Island is home to an eclectic and authentic mix of cuisine, ranging from the freshest Florida seafood, to flavorful Italian and Spanish specialties. Diners can choose from waterfront seafood hangouts, fine dining restaurants presided over by extraordinary chefs, or the quiet intimacy of a romantic bistro.

Now that you’ve learned a bit about Amelia Island, let’s chat accommodations. Whether you prefer the luxury of an oceanfront resort, the charm of a historic bed and breakfast inn, the familiar comforts of your favorite hotel brand, the privacy of a beach view condo, or an evening camped out under the stars, you’ll find Amelia Island to be very accommodating.

Four our hosted weekend, Miller Rental’s on Amelia Island was generous enough to provide us with two nights in an exquisite 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom townhome located on South Fletcher Avenue, offering stunning ocean views directly across from the beach on beautiful Amelia Island. This luxurious retreat boasts convenient access to shopping, dining, and spas, all within a 5-minute drive, and is situated directly across from Sliders Restaurant for easy dining options.

As you step into the townhome, you'll find the first two bedrooms, bathrooms and laundry area. The master bedroom features a king-sized bed, ocean views, and a lavish en-suite bathroom. The en-suite bathroom boasts dual vanities, a soaking tub, a spacious walk-in shower, and a massive walk-in closet.

Adjacent to the master bedroom is the second downstairs bedroom, perfect for accommodating families or groups. This bedroom features a twin bunk bed and a trundle bed, comfortably sleeping up to three people. Ideal for children or additional guests.

Head upstairs to discover the heart of the home, where the spacious kitchen, living room, balcony, and third bedroom are located. The kitchen is equipped with modern appliances, sleek countertops, and a convenient wine fridge. We also enjoyed the balcony which provided ocean views while sipping on our morning coffee..

The third bedroom upstairs is complete with a queen-sized bed and access to a full bathroom.

This property also had a single car garage equipped with darts, a piano and ring game, which my family enjoyed for a bit after dinner!

Downstairs Second Bedroom With Attached Bathroom

View Of upstairs From Third Bedroom Entrance

Single Car Garage With Piano, Darts & Ring Hook Game

Click here for Miller Rentals on Amelia Island

During our weekend visit, we enjoyed hosted meals at three different restaurants: Sliders Seaside Grill, Timoti’s seafood Shak & Bantam + Biddy. Let’s dive in and show you what we had at each place!

First up- Dinner at Slider’s Seaside Grill. This restaurant is Fernandina Beach's only oceanfront tiki bar and dining. We were able to walk to Sliders from our townhouse, which was AMAZING. It was literally a two minute walk! You simply can not beat that! Upon entry, we noticed that Sliders had an amazing playground and sandbox for little ones which was SO awesome! It allowed us to fully relax and enjoy our meals and drinks while our kiddo burned off energy. We loved that the playground was fenced off with only two points of entry and both were visible. We even requested a table next to the playground which was easily accommodated.

We absolutely loved sipping on our cocktails while enjoying the ocean breeze and listening to live music! My husband and I shared a baked lobster and crab dip appetizer and for our main entrees, he enjoyed the crab topped flounder while I enjoyed the seared scallops with gouda grits. Our girl of course went for the mac n’ cheese and broccoli with a chocolate milk.

Sliders was a great option for dinner, drinks and listening to live music, so I highly recommend if you are looking for a great place to hang out for a few hours while sipping on a cocktail and enjoying the ocean breeze.

Check out Sliders Seaside Grill

The next day we enjoyed lunch at Timoti’s Seafood Shak and it was AMAZING. Timoti's Seafood Shak is dedicated to serving fresh local and wild-caught seafood on Amelia Island. Timoti's is passionate about serving the freshest locally procured ingredients available while supporting the local fishermen, farmers, and brewers. Guests order their meals at a window and can dine outside in a fun atmosphere. Favorite menu items include shrimp, oysters, fish, clams, lobster rolls and fish tacos.

Another amazing feature- A PLAYGROUND! My girl was in heaven and myself and my husband were thrilled to be able to sit and relax with our drinks while she played. I wish EVERY restaurant had a playground, I swear parents would order more food and drinks since we would actually be able to relax for a bit! Ha!

At Timoti’s we enjoyed the FRESHEST and most delicious seafood. Seriously! Hubs ordered a Po’Boy Pilsner beer and I opted to try the T’s vodka lemonade (which was DELICIOUS!). We both shared the shrimp & avocado ceviche which was on special for the day. Our little one had two chicken tacos, hubby had the poke bowl and I opted for a lobster roll, but in a wrap since they offered both options. All items were incredibly fresh and exploding with flavor! I would happily order any of them again! They were THAT GOOD.

The atmosphere at Timoti’s was seriously laid back and chill. All seating is outside, but don’t worry, there’s plenty of shade, picnic tables to share with other patrons and a great playground for little ones.

Check out Timoti's Seafood Shak

On our way out of Amelia island we stopped by Bantam + Biddy and enjoyed breakfast. Bantam + Biddy is a modern southern diner featuring scratch cooking in a community setting that provides customers with a casual, family-friendly eatery featuring regional, all-natural and pastured poultry.

They had a fabulous coffee menu which surprised me considering many restaurants and diners only offer two options- regular or decaf. I was thrilled to be able to order a vanilla latte with my meal! I ordered a protein scramble with goat cheese which came with a side of fruit. Hubs ordered a protein scramble with goat cheese, avocados and jalapeños added and our little one opted for a single pancake and side of scrambled eggs with fruit. I LOVED that their fruit side was filled with berries and fresh bananas, not just melon like most restaurants.

Our meals arrived quickly and were honestly very big portions! We opted to sit outside on their covered patio area to enjoy the nice weather. We loved that they had a lit fireplace and were also pet friendly, as we noticed a few other patrons with their pups under their tables.

If you’re looking for a great Southern diner with a fabulous coffee menu and a casual, family-friendly vibe, you need to stop by Bantam + Biddy during your visit to stop by one of their three other locations- Chattanooga, Atlanta, ATL airport.

Check out Bantam + Biddy

As mentioned above, there is no shortage of fun activities and experiences to enjoy when visiting Amelia Island and we would have done 20 more things if we could, but with only a weekend, narrowed it down to three! Fort Clinch State Park, Paisley Grace Makery and Amelia River Cruises for a sunset cruise!

First up- Exploring Fort Clinch State Park. This state park is home to one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in the country. However, it’s important to note that the historic fort is only one aspect of this diverse 1,400-acre park. My family enjoyed taking our time learning about the fort’s history at the museum before entering the fort and exploring it at our leisure. We were also able to chat with actors roleplaying as soldiers who were stationed at the fort in 1864. After exploring the fort, we headed over to the beautiful shoreline to look for shark’s teeth and seashells.

If you are looking for a relaxing activity to do with your family while also stepping into the past and learning about history, I highly recommend planning a few hours to visit this state park. Also- if you plan to visit on the first weekend of every month, a soldier garrison fires cannons and demonstrates other battlefield skills!

Check out Fort Clinch State Park

Do you love art? How about creating your own pieces? If so, you MUST check out Paisley Grace Makery. With over 750 projects to choose from, you can truly create something unique. Unleash your inner artist at Paisley Grace Makery, located in Fernandina Beach, FL. Whether you’re visiting with family, planning a girls day or even going on a date, embrace your creativity with workshops, craft kits, and hundreds of handmade pieces to choose from!

The staff is incredibly helpful and will assist and walk you through the entire process of creating your piece from helping select colors and stains to applying stencils and providing helpful tips along the way!

My family absolutely loved our experience, which was about two hours in total, but we would have happily stayed longer! I will cherish the fun memories made while making our pieces together every time I look at them in our home!

Check out Paisley Grace Makery

Are you a fan of sunsets? How about watching the sunset from a river cruise? If so, you need to book a trip with Amelia River Cruises. This fabulous, one-hour sunset tour is designed with families in mind! Narrated tour imparts fascinating tidbits about the area’s past. Breathe in the soothing sea-salt air as you marvel at the radiant sunset painting the horizon right before your eyes; this is truly an experience to treasure forever.

They gladly welcome pets and guests may bring their choice of food and drinks onboard, including alcohol. The boats are designed to be fully accessible, complete with bathrooms and diaper changing tables.

We LOVED learning about the local history while observing the local wildlife including wild horses that live on Cumberland island! Truly a sight to behold!

Check out Amelia Island Cruises

A BIG thank you to Amelia Island for hosting my little family for the weekend! We had a fabulous time and absolutely can’t wait to visit this beautiful and culturally-rich island again soon!