Downtown Amelia Island: Top Things to Do with Kids
Downtown Amelia Island: Top Things to Do with Kids
By Brianna Leonhard • January 22, 2022
Amelia Island is one of our top five favorite beach spots, whether traveling with or without kids. Why? Three reasons: the beaches are beautiful, downtown Amelia Island is packed with things to do for families, and everything is ten minutes away from everything! We have stayed on all sides of the island and we have not one complaint. If you are planning a beach trip on the Atlantic side you need to check out Amelia Island!
The table of contents (above) can help you navigate to a specific topic you are looking for. We have tried to cover anything you could need to know to plan a trip to Amelia Island.
Our friends and family ask us a lot of questions about Amelia Island because they know we travel there every year. We thought you may have similar questions about your trip. So, here are the top four that get asked most often:
# 1: What is the difference between Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach?
We actually could not answer this question the first time we went down there. We were a little confused when we saw that our reservation was for Fernandina Beach, FL instead of Amelia Island. So, we’re here to set the record straight for travelers who are new to the island.
Fernandina Beach is the name of a city on Amelia Island. You cannot visit Fernandina Beach without being on Amelia Island. Likewise, you can’t really go to Amelia Island without going to Fernandina Beach (unless you avoid the beach and downtown).
So, Fernandina Beach = Amelia Island.
#2: Does Amelia Island have a downtown area?
Short answer: yes! However, there technically is not a “downtown Amelia Island” like everyone thinks there is. Instead, Amelia Island hosts downtown Fernandina Beach! See above for a confusing explanation. Once you are on the island itself, you can follow signs to the historic district or downtown. This area has a ton of food, shopping, and activities for singles, couples, families, and even people with pets!
#3: What is there to do in downtown Amelia Island?
The downtown scene on Amelia Island plays host to local ice cream shops, souvenir shops, wonderful fresh-caught seafood, and one of the most charming book stores around. In addition to typical downtown shops, travelers can also experience the historic district of Amelia Island as well as the most beautiful harbor view. After enjoying dinner at one of their fantastic restaurants you can settle in on a nearby bench and watch the sun go down on the harbor. Still not convinced? Check out our list below for some specific recommendations.
#4: What is there to do in downtown Fernandina Beach?
Just in case it was not clear in one of the paragraphs above, downtown Fernandina Beach is in fact the “downtown Amelia Island” that everyone refers to. So, what is there to do in downtown Fernandina Beach? Allow me to plagiarize myself! The downtown Fernandina Beach scene is home to amazing local seafood, homemade ice cream, charming local stores, and even fresh bowls of water outside for the pups walking by! Oh, and charm. There is an abundance of charm on these cobblestone walkways.
The best things to do in downtown Amelia Island with kids
Okay. Here is the actual list you have all been [reading] for. All of the things on this list are in the heart of downtown Amelia Island (which is actually downtown Fernandina Beach). Bonus: they are also perfect activities for families. Downtown Amelia Island is perfectly doable with toddlers or young kids who can walk. It is not that big and their public parking lots are very convenient.
However, we started taking our kids when they were babies. So, we have also navigated it with a jogging stroller (there are a lot of cobblestone type sidewalks) and baby carriers. Either way, it’s a perfect destination for a family vacation! Check out some of the suggestions below as you plan your trip!
Downtown Amelia Island shops
The shops downtown have something for everyone to enjoy! The Amelia Island travel website has a dedicated page for the shops they host downtown. This page breaks down each shop so that you know exactly what to expect. You can check it out here.
A few of our personal favorites for families are: Monkey Barrel (a children’s apparel and toy store), The Cinnamon Bear Country Store (homemade ice cream, souvenirs, clothing, and a huge toy section), Corner Copia (a pirate specialty store that also sells used books and children’s toys/books) and Book Loft (a two-story book store with a children’s section).
Downtown Amelia Island restaurants
Downtown Amelia Island restaurants are truly some of the best on the whole island. We’ve tried those on the outskirts (like Timoti’s) and those on the water (like Brett’s Waterway Cafe) and those within the sidewalks of downtown (like Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro) and not one of them has been less than we expected.
We have travelled to Amelia Island quite a few times over the years. We have dined as a couple and also as a family of 4. If you’re looking for a categorized list of the best restaurants in Fernandina Beach then you should head over to our post [here.] We break them down by location, type of food, kid-friendly or not, and even price point! Seriously, use our experience to help plan your meals more easily.
Historic Downtown Amelia Island
A visit to the historic district is one of our favorite things to do in Amelia Island because of the variety of photo opportunities! They beautiful old buildings, a water front backdrop, and preserved historical sites from the 1800s. To help you enjoy and understand some of historic downtown Amelia Island, you can visit their two locally owned and operated museums (see below).
Another awesome option they offer is a walking tour of the historic district. This tour includes a tour of a few historic homes, an interesting discussion on pirates, and a tour of the streets while you learn some awesome history about Fernandina. Click here to book the tour!
–Amelia Island Museum of History
The Amelia Island Museum of History is a great, indoor activity for a hot summer day (or a cooler offseason day). I would recommend this tour for ages 6+ due the amount of listening and being still that is required. The guided tour only lasts an hour but that is a long time for little ears to listen and little mouths to stay quiet.
The tour is docent-led and features all of the historic events and people throughout Fernandina’s history. However, you can also visit the museum without the guided tour and do some quiet exploring on your own. In either case, I would not recommend this event for families with toddlers.
Address: 233 S. Third Street, Fernandina Beach, Fl 32034
Cost: $10 per adult/$5 for kids ages 5-17/kids under 5 are free (but not really recommended)
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10AM-4PM, Sunday 1PM-4PM // Led tours are given at 11AM and 2 PM Monday-Saturday and at 2PM on Sunday.
Website: Check out their website!
–The Maritime Museum of Amelia Island
The Maritime Museum is located in historic downtown Amelia Island. It is actually very close to the Museum of History! This museum is a great place to explore with kids who love pirates and buried treasure. Your tour guides are the actual treasure hunters! Cool, right?
During the tour you will hear some awesome first-hand accounts from these treasure hunters. They dive off the Florida coasts looking for shipwrecks and “buried treasure.” What they have found so far is very impressive. Our 4 year old is very interested in pirates so he actually enjoyed this museum. I would generally recommend it for ages 6+.
Address: 115 South 2nd Street Fernandina Beach, Amelia Island, FL USA 32034
Cost: $5 for admission // Children under the age of 10 are free
Hours: Friday and Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM.
Website: Check out their website!
Central Park playground
Theoretically you could walk to Central Park playground but we did not want to go on a long adventure with our toddlers. So, we drove! Central Park playground is one of the best things to do in Fernandina Beach if you need to kill some time before or after a meal. The park includes walking trails, a giant playground, and large grassy areas to run in.
The playground itself has double swings, many slides, a climbing jungle gym, and a variety of imaginative play areas. It also has many shaded areas if you need something to do during the summer. Our kids asked to go back here multiple times during our visit. They enjoyed it as much as they enjoyed the beach! They’re obviously pretty easy to please.
Address: 1200 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Hours: Open from 8AM-6PM daily
Cost: Free
Other things to do in Amelia Island
Downtown Amelia Island (aka downtown Fernandina Beach) is full of things to do and places to eat. There are also a wide variety of activities available to those willing to travel outside of the downtown scene. Spoiler alert: it is about a ten minute drive from downtown to the beach so you don’t have to go far.
Below, you will find our favorite Amelia Island beach destinations, local parks with playgrounds, historical sites, and stand-alone playgrounds! They are grouped in that order so feel free to skip to what you are looking for.
Amelia Island Beach #1 : Main Beach Park
Main Beach Park truly is the “main beach” on Amelia Island. This beach area has always been one of our favorite things to do in Amelia Island because the beach is so clean and easily accessible. Main Beach Park offers clean restrooms, a shower station, playgrounds, and picnic tables. There are also plenty of benches nearby if you just need to catch your breath or want to eat lunch with your toes in the sand.
The walk from the parking lot to the sand is also an extremely easy walk. They have carpeting that allows for wagons, strollers, coolers, etc to be easily rolled out onto the main part of the beach. I would consider this the most well-known Amelia Island beach, though it is never crammed with too many people like you see on the gulf coast beaches. Is you are interested in collecting shells this is a perfect spot!
Ignore the quality of the image above (it was raining and blowing mist) but I want you to see how close the parking lot is to the actual beach. The white truck you see in the background is the main parking lot. You can’t beat that walk!
Dog Friendly: Yes!
Address: 32 N Fletcher Ave, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Website: Check it out!
Amelia Island Beach # 2 : Peters Point Beachfront Park
Peters Point Beachfront Park is on the southern half of the island which almost guarantees that there will be less people there. Almost all of the touristy things are on the northern half of the island so most of the travelers tend to stay on that side. However, Peters Point is a true hidden gem down south. The beach is beautiful, they have ample parking, clean restrooms, and indoor showers!
Can you drive on the beach at Peters Point?
Yes! You can drive out on the beach if you have 4×4 but make sure you know a little about tides before you do that. We have not tried this because we don’t have a capable vehicle. However, from what I’ve heard there is a required permit to be able to drive on the beach.
There are many family-friendly amenities at Peters Point Beachfront Park which is why it made our list of things to do in Amelia Island. There are plenty of boardwalks that take you directly out to the sand. Our toddlers had no problems walking from the car to the beach. We also enjoyed a picnic lunch on their picnic tables! We would highly recommend any beach on Amelia Island but this one is definitely top on the list.
Address: 4600 Peters Point Rd, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
Hours: 5AM-12AM
Cost: Free!
Amelia Island Beach # 3 : American Beach // Burney Park
American Beach is a historical site on Amelia Island founded in 1935. It was the first African-American beach founded in Florida! You can find history markers all around the beach access that give you a glimpse into some of the area’s history. We have found this to be one of the least populated Amelia Island beach destinations.
Amelia Island State Park
Amelia Island State Park is a perfect mix of natural wildlife and Florida beach. The activities are really endless but could include: shelling, bird watching, fishing, horseback riding on the beach, picnic lunching, and cycling. We took our kids so that my 3 year old could try fishing from the shore. Our 2 year old and I stayed farther up in the sand while looking for fun shells.
This is the only park that offers horseback riding on the beach. We could not participate because there is a minimum age of 13 required to ride. It costs $100 per person for everyone who wants to ride (that is 13 or older). The ride starts at Kelly Seahorse Ranch, which is also where you will book your ride. They offer tours at 10, 12, 2 and 4.
If you have older kids and some money to spend, I would highly recommend this experience! We got to see them ride past us when we were there last time and it was amazing to watch!
Address: State Road A1A North Jacksonville, FL 32226
Cost: $2 per person via the drop box. Exact change required.
Hours: 8AM to sunset every day.
Website: Check it out!
Fort Clinch State Park
We first visited Fort Clinch thinking that we were only going to see a historical fort. Little did we know, there is so much more to do there! They offer reenactments, canon firing, and tours throughout the buildings. They even have rooms staged with replicas and actual artifacts from the time period. The 1400 acre park also offers hiking and biking trails, glimpses of gopher tortoises, a nature walk, camping, fishing, shelling, and shark-tooth hunting.
They have picnic tables, a playground, and restrooms on site. This park can easily be an all day event, especially for kids who are a little older. Our toddlers lasted about 2.5 hours and then took a pretty long nap! Warning: they have a reenactment that involves firing the canons. These are a bit loud! Our 2 year old did not like the noise but our baby was totally fine.
Address: 2601 Atlantic Ave. Fernandina Beach FL 32034
Cost: $6 per vehicle to park, “admission” is free!
Website: Check it out!
Amelia Island Lighthouse
If you are looking to visit a really cool piece of history then this is a must-see! This lighthouse was built before Florida was even a state. It’s the oldest in the state and is the only one from that period that has not had to be rebuilt due to damage.
To tour the lighthouse, they ask that you visit the Atlantic Recreation Center or call 904-310-3350 to book your tour. On the day of your tour, you will drive to the Center (2500 Atlantic Avenue) and board a bus that departs at 10AM. Do not be late! These tours run on the first and third Wednesday of each month. The tour includes a history lesson and the opportunity to see the inside of the lighthouse up close. It does not include a trip up the stairs inside the lighthouse.
The lighthouse grounds are open to the public every Saturday from 11AM-2PM without a scheduled tour. However, you cannot go inside the lighthouse on Saturday without a pre-booked private tour. Private tours are available to be booked on weekends ($250) and weekdays ($200) for 10-25 people.
Address: 215 O’Hagan Lane (accessible from North Wolff Street)
Cost: Free on Saturday from 11-2 // $5 per adult and $3 per child for Wednesday tours // $200-250 for private tours
Website: Check it out!
Pirate Playground
We LOVE this playground! We have been to this playground with babies, new walkers, and with toddlers/younger kids. It was a hit at any age! This playground is more of the “imagination” type playground than it is the traditional swing/slide playground.
First of all, it is gated and completely enclosed with a fence that wraps around the perimeter. That always makes us feel a little more at ease. The playground includes a music area, a water table, a sand box, wooden houses/structures for imaginative play, a jungle gym/rope climbing area (see picture above), a swaying boat, swings, and picnic tables.
There are plenty of things to do to keep your littles (and even the adults) entertained for at least an hour or two. Pirate Playground was probably one of our kids’ top three favorite things to do in Amelia Island!
Address: 2500 Atlantic Avenue, Amelia Island, FL 32034
Cost: Free!
Website: Check it out!
Looking for Amelia Island Tours?
One of the best things to do in Amelia Island is a guided tour through a museum, downtown, or even a lake. The historic downtown Amelia Island tour listed above is definitely our favorite but there are a variety of other options to choose from.
If you are looking for an awesome guided tour then you should check out our post ->here<- that can help you choose the tour that is best for your family.
What part of Amelia Island is best?
Obviously this is very much an opinion question. Our favorite part of Amelia Island is the northern half of the island. There are so many things to do In Fernandina Beach and the beaches up there are so clean and pretty. The beaches on the southern half of the island are not quite as easily accessible as the northern beaches. We are always looking for convenience when traveling with kids so we do not venture down there as much!
There are a quite a few nature areas in the southern half though. So, the southern part of the island may be more your style if you are looking for less touristy things and more fishing spots/hiking trails.
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