WHY IS AMELIA ISLAND SO SPECIAL?
WHY IS AMELIA ISLAND SO SPECIAL?
Every place I go I am taunting and praising the many attributes of Amelia Island. Being a REALTOR®, I am always talking about Amelia Island real estate. I presume, due to my enthusiasm about this little piece of paradise, I continue to get the question: “Why is Amelia Island so special?” I will attempt to answer but let me assure you that my responses will be in no particular order. What is first in my mind today will be down the list tomorrow.
Probably the beaches are the crowning jewel. There are thirteen miles of pure white sand, from the St. Mary’s’ River to the north to the broad expanses of the Nassau River Sound to the south. White sand that gets between your toes, which legend has it will never get out.
Fort Clinch is located at the north of this majestic island. Should you let your imagination wander, you will have no trouble visualizing the thinking of our forefathers, as they selected this site for early settlement. One of the claims to fame of Amelia Island is the fact that it has served under eight different national flags. It is reported that no other place in America has served under as many. Even our predecessors recognized how special Amelia Island was.
Continue walking south, along Amelia Islands silver sand, you pass an area known simply as North Beach. This was the area that developed in the late 18th and 19th century as ocean front vacation homes. It was an area that became very popular with South Georgia residents as a vacation get-a-way. Thus the name “South Georgia’s Riviera.” Look closely, the cottages of the past are giving way to modern dwellings, many of which should easily be called luxury homes.
“Main Beach” marks the southern boundary of what I have previously referred to as “North Beach.” In years past it sported a very small recreation area similar to some of the boardwalks of larger communities. A waterslide, concessions, local watering holes and the like were here. The waterslide is gone, some of the restaurants remain, but little of the “charm” of Main Beach remains. I still like to go to Main Beach, there is a park maintained by the City of Fernandina Beach, small sand dunes and sea oats maintained by Our Maker. There are things that we should never destroy.
In future blogs, I will continue my walk south along the shore line of Amelia Island. The sand remains white; however the real estate begins to change. Whatever the scenery, Amelia Island remains “Special!”