This text is part of the special book Plaisirs
Located northeast of Jacksonville on the Georgia border, Amelia Island is a particularly significant place in modern American history, in addition to being a charming sun destination.
At the northern tip of the island, we immediately reach Fort Clinch Provincial Park, crossing a path lined with towering oak trees covered with Spanish moss, looking like silver garlands. The fort in question is a good starting point to understand the history of the island. It was built in 1847, at the dawn of the Civil War, to protect southern Georgia and the port of Fernandina, where the only railroad crossing the state of Florida is located. But the disputes in the region start long before that.
Indeed, French, British and Spanish settlers have all passed through here at various times in history. The Frenchman Jean Ribault named it Isle de Mai, given that he landed there in May 1562. The Spaniards, under Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, took control of the island in 1565, henceforth named Santa Maria. They also founded St. Augustine, known as the oldest city in the United States. The British in turn took possession of the island in 1702, later renamed Amelia Island in honor of Princess Amelia, daughter of George II. After which, the settlers disputed the territory a few times until 1821, the year of the integration of Florida into the United States of America.
Even today, traces of this chapter of American history are imbued in the architecture of buildings, particularly in the historic town center of Fernandina, in the northwest of Amelia Island. This is where we find St. Michael’s Church, erected in 1872.
This district is also full of good addresses to taste local flavors, a happy mix between the cuisine of the southern United States, abundant in fish and seafood, and that of the many communities that have made it their home over time.
The taste of the south
As soon as we arrive, we adopt Fernandina as our culinary headquarters. The feast begins at Timoti’s Seafood Shak, a counter whose menu features local seafood freshly caught from the surrounding waters. We let ourselves be tempted by the basket of fries and blackened shrimp — a culinary technique widely used in Cajun cuisine which consists of coating them with a mixture of spices and brown sugar before grilling them — the mahi-mahi tacos blackened and the crunchy croquette crab burger. It tastes like the holidays!
Another evening, we head for the port, right in the industrial district. At the very end of the 2e Rue, a pretty house, whose facade looks like a western movie set, is actually the Wicked Bao restaurant, which offers a range of Asian cuisines. From chicken satays (skewers), Szechuan dan dan noodles (in spicy red oil), to steamed buns stuffed with pork belly, Taiwanese-born owner Nathalie Wu s is inspired by the cuisine of various places she has lived in Asia. In broad daylight or in the evening, it is good to stroll on the main street to the marina, then to go for a walk in the side streets of the historic district.
The beach surrounded by nature
While exploring the surroundings of the island, we borrow electric bicycles from Pedego. At low tide, it’s the perfect opportunity to have fun and roll on the beach. We go back to our hotel, the Seaside Amelia Inn. On the way back, we cross the paths of the Egan’s Creek Greenway Trail, a swampy protected area of more than 120 hectares sheltering a diversified fauna and flora. We spotted two great blue herons in the middle of a fishing trip, but we were still happy not to have come across an alligator!
More than half of the island is part of the Amelia Island Provincial Recreation Area, including Amelia Island Provincial Park, in the very south of the island, which is best explored by bike via the bike path along from the main promenade. There too, we follow salt marshes, coastal maritime forests and endless beaches just like Florida.
Less known than the other Florida destinations loved by Quebecers, Amelia Island certainly has something to please vacationers with its nature, its culture and its role in American history.
Our reporter was a guest on Visit Florida.
This special content was produced by the Special Publications team of the Duty, pertaining to marketing. The drafting of Duty did not take part.