Amelia Sea and Sands

10/31/2026

The end of another successful season…..TURTLES!

08/31/2026

As summer begins to loosen its grip, Amelia Island eases into fall almost without announcing it. There isn’t a dramatic change in color like you would find in the mountains. Instead, it’s a collection of small changes that make the island feel calmer and more inviting.

The mornings are the first clue. You step outside to a breeze that feels just a little less humid, carrying the scent of salt marshes, sea oats, and the Atlantic. Instead of the heavy, tropical air of July and August, there’s a freshness that makes a sunrise walk on the beach feel effortless.

By afternoon, the beaches are quieter. The crowds have thinned as schools are back in session, leaving long stretches of sand where your footprints might be the only ones for hundreds of yards. Brown pelicans skim inches above the waves, dolphins surface just offshore, and shorebirds dart along the water’s edge.

Evenings are where fall truly makes itself known. The sun begins setting earlier, painting the sky in deep oranges, pinks, and lavender. Sitting on the dunes or on a restaurant patio in downtown Fernandina Beach, you might notice you no longer need the constant hum of an air conditioner. A light breeze drifts through the live oaks draped in Spanish moss, and for the first time in months, eating dinner outside is genuinely comfortable.

The pace of the island seems to slow. Fishing picks up as cooler water brings different species closer to shore. Cyclists and walkers return to the trails at places like Egan’s Creek Greenway, where egrets, herons, and occasionally roseate spoonbills feed in the marshes.

There are still warm afternoons—often in the low to mid-80s—but the relentless heat has softened. You can spend an entire day exploring Fort Clinch, strolling Centre Street, or walking the beach without feeling like you’re racing back to the shade.

Perhaps the best way to describe fall approaching on Amelia Island is this: it feels like the island takes a deep breath. The energy shifts from lively and busy to peaceful and welcoming. The ocean is still warm enough to swim, the sunsets seem to linger a little longer, and every salty breeze hints that the most comfortable season of the year has arrived.

08/09/2026

Here it comes…..another beautiful day on Amelia Island!

07/05/2026

Ahhhhh, it’s been that kind of summer!

03/29/2026

Ahhhhhhh, this is my kind of spring break!

01/01/2026

11/12/2025

A morning walk on the beach starts with a deep breath and this view.

07/31/2025

The George Crady Bridge Is a stretch of pedestrian-only pier that spans nearly one-mile across Nassau Sound, at the south end of Amelia Island. This former automobile bridge, built in 1948, was preserved for public use and renamed in 2003 after state representative George Crady, who led the fort to turn it into a community fishing destination.

The waters beneath the George Crady Bridge support a diverse variety of species. Anglers frequently catch whiting, speckled sea trout, redfish, flounder, black drum, jacks, and even tarpon, especially during the fall mullet run when these large fish gather to feed in Nassau Sound. Notably, the world record for southern flounder - over 20 pounds - was from these waters in 1983. Some fishermen call this the best sheepshead fishing spot in North Florida.

Fishing lines are often baited with fresh mullet or shrimp, which you can catch right along the shoreline using a cast net.

06/28/2025

The best way to start the day is at sunrise…..on the beach!