Amelia Island is lighting up this summer with a bevy of hotel packages, new excursions and kids’ programs.
Travelers heading to the Omni Amelia Island Plantation can take part in three new excursions: a 90-minute Paddleboard Adventure through the marshes; the Archery Challenge, where guests learn how to shoot a bow and arrow; and daily Junior Segway tours designed for teens that heads through The Spa & Shops area.
Omni Amelia Island Plantation’s Verandah restaurant has also added a Sunday Supper designed with families in mind, offering Southern cuisine like Fernandina shrimp and banana pudding ($24 pp).
The 404-room, AAA four-diamond property recently went through an $85 million renovation, offering guests a multi-tiered pool deck with an adults-only infinity pool, a Splash Park water playground for kids, two hot tubs and fire pits, in addition to three Audubon International Certified Sanctuary golf courses and a shopping village.
Call for rates. For more information, call (904) 261-6161.
Meanwhile, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island has added a weekly Princess Tea experience where girls can dress up in tiaras and dresses for a “royal” tea party with Princess Amelia ($65 per child). The tea party, which takes place every Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. features tea, treats and a photo with Princess Amelia.
Meanwhile, the whole family can take part in an Endless Friday Seafood Buffet ($62 for adults; $18 for children 5-12) on Fridays at Cafe 4750, featuring Mayport shrimp, oysters, crab cakes and more.
The 446-room hotel features four restaurants, a spa, tennis facilities, a 24-hour fitness center and 18 holes of championship golf. Guests can book the Comfort You package, available through Dec. 31, featuring daily breakfast for two at the restaurant and a $75 resort credit per night. Rates start at $469 per night.
Call (904) 277-1100 for more information.
Travelers can explore the island by boat with Amelia River Cruises, which has added additional times for two of its tours. Adults can set sail on the BYOB Twilight Cruise with live, local entertainment ($28 pp) on Friday and Saturday evenings. On the Summer Eco-Shrimping Tours ($27 for adults; $17 for children), guests can take part in an interactive tour with an Otter Trawl shrimp net and have the chance to learn about the marine life from onboard marine biologists. Visit ameliarivercruises.com for more information.
The new Flying Fish Adventures also showcases the Cumberland Island National Seashore on jet ski tours with a master naturalist. The tours head through the marsh prairies and Itracoastal waterway around Amelia Island while guests learn about the wildlife and history of the area, on 1-, 2- or 3-hour tours.
For more information, call (904) 583-3420 or visit flyingfishfun.com.
For more information on the destination, visit ameliaisland.com. For more on Amelia Island, see Florida’s Islands from the April 2013 issue.
