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Beach Cottage on Amelia Island’s Famed Sand Dunes

Amelia Island, a barrier island off the Atlantic Ocean in Florida, has been voted 1 of the Top 10 Islands in the United States by Conde Nast Traveler magazine readers for six years straight. Sand dunes with undulating grasses line the coast here, and it’s not unusual to see people riding horseback through the surf. Amelia Oceanfront Bed & Breakfast is set right into the coastal dunes, and it’s just a five-minute drive to Fernandina Beach, a nearby Victorian seaside village.

The two-story cottage has a superprivate atmosphere; there are only six suites. The innkeepers, Han and TJ, make their residence at a home across the street, and they are always available to help make your stay more enjoyable. Han—who is trained in cooking gourmet French cuisine—crafts a complimentary breakfast each morning that may include his dutch chocolate-chip pancakes, piña colada french toast, or sausage biscuits and gravy. You can choose to have your meal in-suite or as you look out to the ocean from the outdoor patio.

Han is also the publisher of a local news-and-entertainment website and a co-organizer of the Amelia Island Blues Festival. He’s a good resource if you want tips on what to do in the area.

Each of the six rooms overlooks the dunes and ocean, and all are distinctly decorated with beach-inspired and nautically themed decor. The Sea-Clusion suite has paneled wood walls painted in robin’s-egg blue as well as a spacious kitchenette and living room. The Sea for Two suite has a jacuzzi tub and windows enveloping the king bed.

Amelia Island, Florida: Popular Seaside Island with 13 Miles of Pristine Beach

Amelia Island—a barrier island located about 35 miles northeast of Jacksonville—is only 2 miles wide and spans 13 miles from its northernmost point to its southernmost point. The island has some pristine beaches, each with a different atmosphere. Main Beach has sports and entertainment, and Peters Point is well suited for family picnics. Then there’s Seaside Park at Sliders’, where you can park your car on the beach and re-enact 1960s movie party montages.

Less than a five-minute drive from the cottage is downtown Fernandina Beach, a Victorian seaport village filled with eclectic shops and restaurants. There are upscale spas and championship golf courses all over the island, and it’s easy to make a day trip to Savannah or St. Augustine.

Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.