Plan Your Stay Around These Summer Activities

It’s summer on Amelia Island, and there are plenty of summer activities to add to your itinerary! Time to put in your “Out of office” notice and enjoy long, warm days and beautiful summer nights. 

Now you can spend your vacation however you choose, but we can’t help but recommend a few things. Our picks range from time on the beach (don’t forget sunscreen), a sunset bike ride, or spending time on horseback.

Where you base yourself shapes how easy it is to do everything on your list. And the Fairbanks House works as a central point for all of it. We’re close enough that you don’t need to overthink your schedule, which makes it easier to leave room throughout the day.

Check out the rest of the blog below for more of our recommendations and how you should spend your summer here.

Green spaces are easy to work into your plans, even if you’re only setting aside an hour or two. Fort Clinch State Park is usually the starting point. It combines several things in one place.  Bike trails, beach access, shaded picnic areas, and a preserved Civil War–era fort that’s open for exploration. You can move between all of it without needing to drive once you’re inside.

Egans Creek Greenway offers a different setting. The trails run through marshland and wooded areas, and it’s one of the better spots on the island for wildlife sightings. Early morning or late afternoon are the most active times, especially for birds.

Then you have Main Beach Park, another easy stop, particularly if you want something more casual. It has direct beach access along with playgrounds, picnic tables, and open space, so it works well if you’re mixing beach time with a short break in between.

Each park gives you a slightly different version of the island, which makes it worth visiting more than one if time allows.

You can’t come to Amelia Island without spending time by the water. The Atlantic side offers stretches of sand, while the Intracoastal side is calmer and better suited for boating and paddling.

Kayaking through the marsh is one of the quieter options. Guided tours are available, but you can also rent equipment and go at your own pace. The creeks wind through the grass in a way that feels removed from everything else, even though you’re not far from town.

Boat tours are another common choice, especially for dolphin spotting or sunset trips. Some focus on wildlife, while others lean more toward sightseeing.

Fishing is also part of the routine for a lot of visitors, whether that’s from a charter boat, a pier, or straight from the shoreline. It sounds like a lot, but we promise it doesn’t require much planning to fit it into your day.

Beach time fills in the gaps between everything else. Some days it’s a short visit, other days it takes up the entire afternoon.

Travel Tip: Our outdoor activities guide goes into more detail if you want to compare options before you arrive.

Summer is usually when people carve out time for one or two experiences they wouldn’t normally plan at home. Amelia Island has a few options for all your summer activities that stand out without requiring a full-day commitment.

Horseback riding along the beach is one of them. I mean, who doesn’t want to ride a horse along the beach?

Sunset cruises are another option that tends to book up quickly in the summer. They’re a straightforward way to see the island from the water without needing to organize anything complicated.

Wildlife-focused tours — especially birdwatching are worth considering if you’re interested in the area’s ecosystems. The marshes and waterways support a wide range of species, and guides usually know where activity has been strongest.

Even something as simple as renting bikes and riding through the historic district can fall into this category. It’s not necessarily a “planned activity,” but it gives you a different way to move through the area.

Restaurants in Fernandina Beach are concentrated enough that you can try several without going out of your way. It’s easy to shift plans mid-day and still end up somewhere worthwhile.

Casual spots are good for midday breaks — places where you can step in, cool off, and head back out without losing momentum. In the evening, the pace changes a bit. 

Some restaurants lean toward a full-dinner setting, while others stay relaxed yet still offer a more complete menu.

Seafood is a constant, but it’s not the only option. Menus tend to reflect a mix of coastal influence and Southern staples, along with a handful of places that branch out beyond that.

Spacing your meals across different parts of town also gives you a better sense of the area. 

Travel Tip: Our restaurant guide is a helpful starting point if that’s high on your list.

Where you stay shapes how your days unfold for all your summer activities. Being within walking distance of so many activities makes it easier to bounce around.

The Fairbanks House sits in that central area, which means you can step out for dinner, return mid-day if you need a break, and head out again. That flexibility definitely makes a difference over a few days.

Our property includes a mix of rooms, suites, and private cottages, so there’s a variety depending on how much space you want. Breakfast is prepared each morning, and bikes are available if you’d rather get around that way instead of driving.

Check availability once your dates are set, then build the rest of your plans around what fits.

Check Availability

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