Fly-In to Amelia Island, Florida
FL—Amelia Island is located on the east coast of Florida, about 25 miles north of Jacksonville. It is a resort community full of fantastic beaches, water activities, luxury hotels and resorts, cultural attractions, great places to eat, and excellent shopping adventures.
What is Amelia Island?
Amelia Island is located just off the coast of Florida across the Amelia River. It’s 13 miles long and anywhere from a quarter of a mile to two miles wide, similar to the size of Manhattan Island. However, Amelia Island only has a population of about 25,000. It’s 25 miles north of Jacksonville and 23 miles south of Kingsland, GA. Amelia Island receives slightly more than 700,000 visitors yearly for the beaches, food, shopping, and outdoor recreational activities.
How do pilots get to Amelia Island?
Amelia Island is served by Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB). It resides two miles from the beaches of Amelia Island and is operated by Fernandina Beach City. The airport started its life in 1943 when the US Army Corps of Engineers broke ground on a new airport that was to be used for training purposes. At the time, the airport was designated an outlying field for F-4U Corsair training. The training and military use commenced through World War II. Once the war was over, the airport was transferred to Fernandina Beach City. When the airport was transferred in 1947, the property included 1,116 acres and the buildings and runways.
Today, the airport encompasses 850 acres after some parcels were sold for development. It is a public-use airport that is open seven days a week all year and has three active runways, including Runway 04/22, Runway 09/27, and Runway 13/31.
Runway 04/22 is 100 feet wide and 5,300 feet long. Runway 09/27 is also 100 feet wide and 5,001 feet long, and Runway 13/31 is 100 feet wide and 5,152 feet long.
Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport (FHB) is 16 feet above sea level and does not have a tower. However, staff are available from 7 AM until 5 PM. Pilots can contact Unicom on 122.7 and 100LL, and Jet A is available.
The airport is home to Bent Wing Flight Services, which is the FBO on-site. Additional businesses include Fernandina Beach Aircraft Maintenance, Florida Adventure Sports, A-Cent Aviation, Advanced Aerotechnologies, which offers avionics maintenance, and Skydive Amelia Island.
What Adventures are on Amelia Island?
Amelia Island offers plenty to do for singles, couples, and families. First on the list might be the beaches and water. Amelia Island has many beach parks and over 40 public beach access points. Some favorite beaches include Fort Clinch State Park, Main Beach Park, Seaside Park, Peters Point Beachfront Park, and Amelia Island State Park. Most beaches have restrooms and parking. However, it’s best to check before going.
Water Adventures
Since Amelia Island is right on the water, daytrippers, weekend warriors, and vacationers can enjoy fishing, paddle boarding, surfing, boat tours, sailing, water cycling, and jet skiing. They even have cruising tiki bars and paddle boarding tours.
Shopping and Dining in Downtown Amelia
Downtown Amelia Island is a registered historic district with museums, antique shops, boutiques, and restaurants.
Food and Restaurants
There are plenty of places to eat on Amelia Island, including Burlingame in the Fernandina historic district, Cafe Karibo, Espana, Happy Tomato, and Island Time FroYo, which also offers some baked goods. If more baked goods would please your palate, stop by Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop.
Antiques
If you love antique stores, Amelia Island has four of them: Island Treasures, Antiques and More Treasures, Eight Flags Antique Mall, and Trailer Park Collections.
Shopping and Boutiques
The island also offers great shopping opportunities. Men can enjoy browsing JJ Coopers, a men’s clothing and accessories store, and women can enjoy browsing the wares at Kitchen Spices and Gifts. Amelia Island is also home to the Mythic Running Company, Robison Jewelers, and Villa Villekulla Toys.
Overnight Accommodations
If you decide to stay for more than a day on Amelia Island, there are plenty of places to stay, including luxury resorts like The Ritz-Carlon, The Villas of Amelia Island, and the Omni Amelia Island Resort. If a hotel is more your speed, you can stay at the Sea Cottages of Amelia, Springhill Suites by Marriott, the Amelia Schoolhouse Inn, Surf Beach Motel and Suites, the Seaside Amelia Inn, and the Beachside Motel. There are even beach home vacation rentals by A1A Beach Vacations, Sand Dollar Vacation Rentals, and Amelia Island Getaways.
Amelia Island, Florida, is a fly-in paradise for pilots and their families. It offers plenty to do and see and even many places to stay. Just fly in, park your plane on the tarmac, and enjoy everything the island has to offer.