Is Fernandina Beach Worth Visiting? 9 Reasons It Is!

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Want to know if it’s worth visiting Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island?

Whether you want to know if it’s worth visiting Amelia Island or Fernandina Beach, I’m going to tell you right now: ABSOLUTELY YES!

I don’t know why, but since we moved to Florida I had wanted to visit Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach.

I really didn’t know anything about it but I just had to go. So, for my birthday in 2023, we went and I absolutely loved it.

We both did and have been back two or three times since then, with plenty more visits to come.

And today I’m going to share all the reasons it’s worth visiting Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island, and all the things I love about it.

And just in case you’re confused, Fernandina Beach is an area on Amelia Island in the northeast corner of Florida, on the Georgia border, basically.

Grassy beach view at Fort Clinch State Park on amelia Island

Reasons to visit Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island

Fernandina Beach is probably one of my favorite places in Florida. Like, I would live on Amelia Island if I could. I love it (if you really couldn’t tell).

I think it feels like a less touristy St. Augustine, and I love St. Augustine. While it makes a great stop if you’re just passing through, I think it could make a great weekend trip in Florida, too.

So, here are all the reasons I think Fernandina Beach is worth visiting (and Amelia Island, they’re the same to me, really).

You can see the Pippi Longstocking house

Fernandina Plaza Historic State Paark and Pippi Longstocking house on Amelia Island — The green house on the left is the Pippi Longstocking house

I have a confession. I don’t think I’ve seen Pippi Longstocking. Or if I did, I don’t remember. But I know who she is, at least.

What I didn’t know is that her house is on Amelia Island! It’s the big green one right across the street from the Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park.

I don’t think you can visit the house, but you can at least see it from the outside, which is still fun!

You can find shark teeth

Four shark teeth in my hand on the beach at Fort Clinch State Park

I’ve wanted to find shark teeth for SO LONG and I never expected to find them here!

Turns out, Fort Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach is actually one of the best places to find shark teeth in Florida.

Once we knew it was a good place to look for them we got a scoop and a sifter and made the trek back over. We only found four, but that’s four more than ever before!

It takes some patience but don’t give up, keep sifting. You’ll find some eventually!

Holding a large barnacle on the beach at Fort Clinch

What to bring shelling/shark tooth hunting

Sunscreen – If you plan on being outside, you’ll want sunscreen. I like the Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch a lot AND it’s reef safe! If you’re sensitive to fragrance though, it’s not a good choice. I also like the same one but specifically for your face.

Shell bag – I got these mesh shell bags over the summer and really like them so far. I do wish they were bigger but then I’ll just use two since it came with four. Buy my shell bags here!

Shark tooth sifter – The best and easiest way to find shark teeth is with a sifter. Scoop the sand into it with the sifter below, carefully shake the sand out of it on the water, and dig through whats left. We liked this one. You can use it alone but it’s easier with two people (one to scoop, one to sift). Buy our sifter here!

Big sand scooper – The best way to get the sand into the sifter is with one of these giant scoopers. We liked this one. Buy our scooper here!

Shell scoop (for standing) – A Sand Dipper shell scoop can help you get shells that are under water if you don’t want to snorkel/swim. They can also help just on the beach so you don’t have to bend over. You can scoop the shells right up. Buy a shell scoop here.

Sun hat – I got this giant sun hat and I love it! Mine doesn’t have the lining underneath but they do have some with UPF 50+ linings. Buy my hat here.

Water bottle – It’ll be hot and you’ll need to stay hydrated. Even if it’s not hot you need to stay hydrated. A Hydro Flask will keep your water ice cold all day long.

Headlamp – This is really only necessary if you’re going shelling at the crack of dawn so you can still use your hands to pick up shells and carry your bag.

And so many cool shells

Holding a large broken shell on the beach at Fort Clinch

Again, I never thought I would find so many cool shells in this part of Florida. Southwest Florida is way more well known for it’s shelling, yet here I am.

I’ve literally found some of the coolest shells at Fort Clinch State Park. I EVEN FOUND A WHOLE (BUT DIRTY) SAND DOLLAR!

I’ve found black olives, orange olives, ginormous barnacles, some pretty big things like in the picture above, plus I saw my first moon jellyfish on the beach here!

If you like shelling, do not sleep on Fort Clinch! It’s fantastic!

There are three state parks on the island

Holding a dirty sand dollar on the beach at Fort Clinch

I’ve mentioned two of the parks already, but there’s also a third! That’s right. There are three state parks on Amelia Island.

The first is, uhh, not the most thrilling state park. Fernandina Plaza Historic State Park is really just a grassy square with some signs about the history of the area and a small shelly beach spot (it’s a very industrial view).

Next is Fort Clinch State Park on the north end of Amelia Island. It’s my favorite of the three forts I’ve seen in Florida so far, and one of my top Florida State Parks overall.

Third is Amelia Island State Park, a beach park at the south end of Amelia Island. This is the one I haven’t been to yet but probably will this winter.

And one has a very cool fort you can visit

Looking down at the inside of Fort Clinch on Amelia Island

Like I said, Fort Clinch is my favorite of the three forts I’ve seen so far (this, Castillo de San Marcos, and Fort de Soto).

It’s a big fort and the inside of it is so cool. It’s got some sections that are almost maze-like.

Plus there are wonderful views from up on top of it! It’s right on the beach so you can easily get to the water from here.

I’m far from a history buff but I did love visiting the park and actually can’t wait to take my parents here.

The downtown is fantastic

Looking across the street at red brick Palace Saloon in historic downtown Fernandina Beach

Historic downtown Fernandina Beach is so cute. I love it. The first time we went in a bunch of the shops but every time we go we still walk around the main shopping area.

There are tons of shops and delicious restaurants, plus you can walk to the waterfront area. There’s even a little local art gallery co-op and coffee shop.

The buildings are beautiful and while it does have some typical tourist stuff in the shops, there are plenty of nontouristy shops, too.

It can be a little busy downtown but it’s not completely horrendous, and neither is the parking. There is parking along the main street and down the side streets, too. You may have to look and walk a bit but there should be something.

It has two indie bookstores!

The Book Loft, a blue brick building between two red brick buildings in downtown Fernandina Beach

You know I love a good indie bookstore, and if you didn’t now you do. And Amelia Island has TWO!

One is outside of the main downtown area (Story & Song) and one is right downtown (The Book Loft).

I liked Story & Song a lot more but it had a surprisingly good horror selection which I feel like is hard to find.

The Book Loft was also pretty cute but had more of a literary fiction/history/sci-fi/fantasy selection.

There is a former school turned hotel

Post office in historic downtown Fernandina Beach — This is the Fernandina Beach post office, I don’t have a picture of the school hotel yet

That’s right! The Amelia Schoolhouse Inn is the former schoolhouse that replaced the original four-room school. This one was built in the 1930s.

In 2017 a 14-month renovation project began and it was turned into the 17-room boutique hotel it is now. The bar is also called the The Principal’s Office, which I love.

Book the Amelia Schoolhouse Inn here!

It’s home to Florida’s oldest existing lighthouse

That’s right! The Amelia Island Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse in Florida, built in 1838, and is the only one from the Territorial Period that hasn’t needed major rebuilding.

You can visit the lighthouse but only on tours and you have to pre-register.

To do that you have to call 904-310-3350 or visit the Atlantic Recreation Center (where the tour leaves from at 10 AM) at 2500 Atlantic Avenue.

The tours are $10 per person and are held on the first and third Wednesday of the month. These tours go in the lighthouse but you cannot climb it!

The lighthouse property is at 215 O’Hagan Lane (accessible from North Wolff Street), and is open to the public on Saturdays from 11-2, but only the grounds are accessible.

And it’s just so beautiful!

a red brick building with a palm tree out front in Fernandina Beach

And finally, Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach are just beautiful and charming.

The historic buildings, the beaches, the homes (I could just drive around and look at the houses all day), the huge oak trees and Spanish Moss, it’s just so nice.

Even if you don’t have tons of time, it’s worth visiting the downtown area and just strolling around.

Final thoughts on visiting Fernandina Beach

There you have it, all the reasons I think it’s worth visiting Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island!

This is such a beautiful area and, I think, a bit of a Florida hidden gem. It can be busy, it’s not top secret or anything, but I can’t wait to share more about this wonderful area.