Flights to Jacksonville

Florida's northernmost barrier island, Amelia Island, is home to Fernandina Beach, known mainly for its walkable downtown, its family-friendly beach park and its proximity to beautiful Fort Clinch State Park, where a 19th century brick fortress still stands.

Though for years it's been a low-key place to unwind, its popularity is rising — the beach town was praised by USA Today, Coastal Living and Conde Nast Traveler in 2017 alone.

Fernandina's Main Beach Park is where most of the action happens. There are picnic tables perfect for family gatherings, shaded gazebos, volleyball courts and a children's playground. The park also offers bathrooms and is lifeguard protected.

Play a round of mini golf at Putt-Putt Amelia Island, or join the crowds watching the activity in the skate park. The closest restaurant to Main Beach Park is the Sandbar and Kitchen, serving seafood, sandwiches and pizza on a patio with ocean views.

At Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island's northern coastal strip, there are more than 1,400 acres to explore, including wildlife habitats, coastal grasslands, a three-mile shoreline complete with a fishing pier, and a six-mile multi-use trail, a favorite of hikers and bikers. Keep your eyes open for the inhabitants of this area, including deer, raccoons, bobcats, and a range of avian and reptilian species.

Anytime is a good time to meander through downtown Fernandina Beach, with its old-school feel and welcoming character. Palm trees line main avenues like Centre Street and 2nd Street, around which a collection of shops, bars and restaurants are sprinkled. Curious about the town's history? Stop by the Amelia Island Museum of History, the first spoken history museum in the state.

Jacksonville Beach beckons all kinds of travelers: families, couples and any beach-lover drawn to gorgeous sunsets and sweeping ocean views. It also boasts easy access to well-known destinations such as downtown Jacksonville, historic St. Augustine and the old-Florida escape of Amelia Island.

Fans of water sports and other aquatic activities are in luck. There are plenty of options to choose from, with the most popular being body-boarding, surfing and fishing. You'll also see lively games of volleyball and even picnicking in the soft sand.

For the best fishing, head to the Jacksonville Beach Pier — more than 1,000 feet in length — home to a bait shop and cleaning stations. If you're more interested in simply taking in the views, you can wander to the end of the structure (there's a $1 fee).

Not far from the pier is the Jacksonville Beach Boardwalk, around which is clustered a handful of restaurants, bars and retailers, plus several beach access points. Stop in at the Sea Walk Pavilion along the way. More often than not, there's a concert, festival or other event happening in this space.

Eight breweries in Jacksonville Beach and the surrounding area are a surefire way to get a beer snob excited. Bars and clubs near the beach and in downtown Jacksonville round out the nightlife scene. Not in the mood to get crazy? Take a stroll along the boardwalk while the sun sets and finish off your day with an ice cream cone, an Italian ice or a frozen yogurt.

St. Augustine was founded 450 years ago by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, and the town's historical district, the oldest continuously occupied European settlement in the U.S., has a flavor more like that of a Caribbean colonial destination than that of a stateside escape.

White-sand St. Augustine Beach is set along the coast in Anastasia Island, where travelers go to relax after a day of meandering through the narrow streets of the city, browsing quaint shops and dining at low-key open-air cafes. Here, there are restrooms, showers, picnic tables and a splash park and playground for little ones. If you're bringing a lot of gear to the beach, you'll be glad to know that driving on the sand is permitted — no lugging necessary.

Fisherman cast their lines on the pier, home to spectacular views and a shop selling treats and gifts. It costs $.50 to enter, but the scenic walk all the way to the end is worth it. From out here, you can see surfers navigating the powerful waves of the Atlantic.

Make room in your itinerary to visit Castillo de San Marcos, a masonry fort completed in 1695 that stands as the oldest such structure in the country. The fort was built out of a seashell-based material called Coquina, and is a striking object set against the blue sea. A fascinating display of the structure's history can be found in rooms inside the fort.

When lunchtime rolls around, head over to pedestrian George Street, lined with galleries, sweet shops, cafes and bars. See Spanish-style architecture scattered throughout Old Town and marvel at the iconic Lightner Museum, formerly the Alcazar Hotel, built in 1888 by industrialist Henry Flagler.