A FLORIDA BEACH ALL TO YOURSELF
Amelia Island in Florida has 13 miles of pristine and practically uncrowded beaches
Wor sightseeing, as well as non-guided waverunner rentals.
To experience the underwater world off Amelia Island — known for its abundance of marine life, including sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays and sharks — divers can explore natural and artificial reefs, as well as shipwrecks. The island is home to a dive club and full-service dive shop for equipment rentals and PADI dive certification.
But no visit to Amelia Island is complete without horseback riding on the beach — it’s one of the few places in the U.S. where this is possible. At Kelly Seahorse Ranch, located on a 200-acre preserve, you might spot dolphins while sauntering along the coastline. Happy Trails Walking Horses and Amelia Island Horseback Riding also offer private horseback riding along the beach from Peters Point Beachfront Park.
Amelia Island, connected to the mainland by two bridges, is only a 30-minute drive from the Jacksonville International Airport, with direct flights from Toronto via Air Canada. It’s also easily accessible from Interstate 95. ith 13 miles of unspoiled, uncrowded beaches, it’s possible to have a stretch of sand all to yourself on Amelia Island.
Located on the northeastern tip of Florida, Amelia Island is 13 miles long and two miles wide, with preserved parklands at its northern and southern tips. Surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, Intracoastal Waterway, Nassau Sound and Cumberland Sound (one of the East Coast’s largest and deepest inlets), the island is edged with natural Appalachian quartz beaches and rolling sand dunes as high as 40 feet.
And, with more than 40 public beach access points along its 13 miles of coastline, visitors can choose a different stretch of beach each day — whether enjoying a quiet walk in the cool morning air, soaking up the midday sun or beachcombing for seashells and sharks’ teeth as the sun begins to set.
These beaches are also home to endangered sea turtles during the summertime, and in the winter months visitors might spot the rare Atlantic right whales, which migrate more than 1,000 miles to the waters off Amelia Island to give birth and nurse their calves.
While it’s possible to have a stretch of sand all to yourself, those looking for a lively atmosphere can head to the island’s iconic Main Beach, which offers picnic shelters, outdoor showers, a playground, two beach volleyball courts, a skate park and a large grassy area for throwing a frisbee or playing a game of catch. It’s also family-friendly, with a flat walkway leading from the parking lot to the sand — ideal for those carrying strollers, beach toys and umbrellas.
Aside from soaking up the rays, there are several ways to further explore the island’s liquid assets. Windward Sailing, for example, offers privately chartered sunset cruises, while Backwater Adventure Tours takes visitors out on the water in their own two-person catamaran (with a guide leading the way).
The waters surrounding Amelia Island are teeming with blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, tuna, cobia, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, grouper and red snapper — luring boaters and anglers alike. Visitors can bring their own boat or book a fishing charter; Amelia Boat Rentals also provides rentals for fishing, cruising