Notes from the Road: Amelia Island

An enchanting escape

Amelia Island may be one of the best kept secrets that Florida has to offer.

One thought that kept coming back to me the more I explored Amelia Island is that I kept forgetting I was in Florida! While it is hard to forget with the beaches, the weather and the very real island time, I was constantly surprised with how different it felt compared to other areas of the state I had visited.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the Florida theme parks, the Amelia Island experience begins the moment you exit your car or shuttle. A self-contained world with a beach view, Amelia Island offers planners the opportunity to craft something very special that can only be found within its 13 mile length.

Read More: Case Study: The Art of Crafting Holiday Magic in Amelia Island

Meet and Stay

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island provides visitors with a gorgeous view of Fernandina Beach. Groups can head out to the beachfront to host a small intimate meeting and then saunter over to the poolside for a debrief. The 44,830 sq. ft. of event space lives in its own area, so you won’t have to worry about other guests accidentally wandering through your event. If you would like to craft a series of wellness or leisure activities between events, The Ritz-Carlton Wellness Center has options whether it’s morning yoga, meditation or a pick of the exercise equipment. There are also 446 guest rooms.

Omni Amelia Island Resort is another great choice for planners. With 80,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, the expansive resort provides robust indoor and outdoor event space and 402 guest rooms.

One of the fascinating aspects of Omni Amelia Island Resort was the The Sprouting Project, a state-of-the-art aquaponic greenhouse that provides an assortment of organic greens. The Sprouting Project also includes a group of beehives and a chicken coop, and even better, doubles as an event space that will make attendees feel like they are entering a literal secret garden.

For planners looking for a smaller intimate affair, Residence Inn by Marriott is a great choice. A pet friendly hotel, Residence Inn is two blocks away from the beach! Perfect for guests looking for an extended stay, Residence Inn offers 1,177 sq. ft. of event space and 133 guest rooms.

Another venue right near the beach is Courtyard by Marriott Amelia Island and SpringHill Suites by Marriott. The two venues share 6,060 sq. ft. of meeting space. Courtyard has 105 guest rooms and SpringHill Suites has 134 guest rooms

For planners looking to be at the center of it all, Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front at the edge of downtown is the perfect location to host your next small meeting in Amelia Island. If you happen to be there during the holidays and are taken by the thoughtful decorations, you can thank Celeste, the director of sales, for that! The hotel offers 1,752 sq. ft. of event space and 122 guest rooms.

Eat

A few favorite places for grub that I found along the way include Salt at The Ritz-Carlton. The Chef’s Tasting menu that included scallops, kampachi and wagyu paired with good company pleased both my stomach and my heart.

The Oceanside by Omni Amelia Island had fried fish tacos that I’m still thinking about as I write this story. The meal washed down with a glass of sweet tea was utterly delicious.