FERNANDINA BEACH,  FLORIDA

July 3, 2021

Fernandina Beach, Florida is as far northeast on the Atlantic Coast as you can get in the Sunshine State.

It is on the south bank of the St. Marys River that divides Florida and Georgia.  Perched on the north end of Amelia Island, it is a natural deep water seaport.

It was one of Florida's first major cities.  The downtown area of the town preserves and displays many of the old historic buildings.  

The history of Fernandina Beach is so confusing that only a history professor can understand it fully.

It is the only United States location to have been under eight different flags.

Its fortunes rose and fell with the fate of Spain, France, England, The Confederate States of America, the English American Colonies and the United States of America.

Fernandina thrived in the years just before and after the U.S. Civil War, and up until just after 1900.

Fort Clinch was built in 1847, and in the 1850's Fernandina became the eastern terminus of Florida's first cross-state railroad.  The railroad was built by Senator David Levy Yulee. It's western terminus was Cedar Key.

The historic district of Fernandina has been carefully preserved.  Many houses and buildings remain as proof that this was a very prosperous town.

Tourists came by steamboat from New York and other northern cities to stay in the city's beautiful hotels.

The shipping industry boomed with outgoing cargoes of lumber, naval stores and phosphate, and incoming loads of tourists.

By the early 1900's, however, the tourism trade had moved south to St. Augustine, and Fernandina became somewhat isolated.  Today it is a bustling little town of about 11,000 souls.

It is a self sufficient place with a solid paper industry, a shrimp fleet, and plenty of service industry jobs generated by the affluent retirement and second home communities of southern Amelia Island.

FERNANDINA BEACH MOTELS

Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island are blessed with a variety of lodging places.  Accomodations range from the simplest of Mom and Pop motels to the Ritz Carlton (which is fantastic!), and prices vary accordingly.

I have a few suggestions to make:

• Amelia Schoolhouse Inn was originally built in 1886 and was completely restored in 2018 and is now a 17 room boutique inn in the heart of downtown Fernandina.  Many of the original wood floors, brick, windows and more have been meticulously renovated. Tel: 904-320-0918.  

• Holiday Inn Express, Days Inn, Comfort Inn and other national low cost chains have locations at the I-95 exit.
  
  
• The Amelia Island Williams House is one of several wonderful bed and breakfast inns located in the historic downtown area of Fernandina Beach. The rooms are large, and feature whirlpool tubs. A southern breakfast is served, and wine is served on the verandah at sunset. Tel: 800-414-9258. 

FERNANDINA BEACH ATTRACTIONS

• Amelia Island's annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival is Fernandina Beach's biggest event. It is held every year the first weekend in May, attracting more than 100,000 visitors. The art show is well attended and has over 300 booths. The Festival features live musical entertainment at the riverfront stage, shrimp dishes cooked in many different ways, and plenty for kids to do. Friday night has fireworks, and the harbor is invaded by a pirate ship.
  
  
• The Amelia Island Museum of History is well worth a visit. The museum has articles from the Timucuan tribe, the Spanish and French explorers, and mementoes from the other diverse cultures that are the heritage of Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach. 233 South Third Street, Fernandina Beach. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, and Sunday 1 pm-4 pm. Telephone 904-261-7378.

• Fort Clinch State Park is one of the best preserved 19th century forts in the United States. It is part of the Florida State Park system. It was used during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars, although it never saw combat. 
  
  You will enjoy the daily tours of the fort. Re-enactors dressed in period uniforms will chat you up and you will feel like you took a time machine back in years.  The park also has a wonderful campground.

Fernandina Beach Florida is about 11 miles east of I-95 Exit 373. This exit is about 10 miles south of the Georgia-Florida border.

Travel east through Yulee on SR-A1A, also known as The Buccaneer Trail, and shown as Highway 1A on this Google map.

Continue on SR-A1A east to Amelia Island, then follow the road as it bends north into Fernandina's historic downtown section.

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