I've been going down there for 25 years and love it. The walk all the way down to the south end of the island is gorgeous, and there are great hikes/beaches at Fort Clinch, Big Talbot Island, and Little Talbot Island. Kayak Amelia on Little Talbot had great guided trips, or you can rent your own. You can rent bikes if you're staying at the Omni and use the great trails there. They also have redone Drummond Park, which is great for kids. If you aren't staying there and have small kids, you can Fred the turtles at the Nature Center.

As for food, Salt at the Ritz is awesome, albeit more of a date night. The burger bar there is good for kids, and The Verandah at the Omni has a great kids' menu - healthy, tasty, and cheap. Cafe Karibo, Arte Pizza, and Moon River Pizza all are good with kids. Sunrise Cafe (I think that's the name) has delicious breakfast. And if you hit the zoo, Chowder Ted's is a total dive with fantastic food. Have fun!

We just came from there and never left the hotel! I didn’t even realize there were things to do other than that all inclusive resort stuff.

Sliders is a fun beachfront restaurant that has an outdoor play area for kids - bar type food but you can sit outside with your toes in the sand and order margaritas while the kids play. Its near the Resident's Inn.
Downtown (Fernandina Beach) is very cute although mostly too boutiquey for kids to do much.
We spent most of our time exploring the beaches and nearby state parks, Fort Clinch, Little Talbot Island. The ground of the Omni Amelia Plantation are very nice, there is some resorty shopping and it seems like a nice place to golf, or rent bikes or a golf cart...
Highly recommend St. Augustine & Anastasia beach
Also if you want a really cool day trip try heading to St. Mary Ga and take the ferry to Cumberland Island National Seashore.

Anonymous wrote:I remember taking a sailboat ride for a couple hours when I was there and it was great.

+1. A sailboat ride around Cumberland Island is nice - you usually can see the wild horses on the shore. I've heard the national park on Cumberland island is nice too, but I haven't been there yet.

I remember taking a sailboat ride for a couple hours when I was there and it was great.

You can go about 30 min north to Jekyll Island to the sea turtle center, the beach at Jekyll is beautiful with a lot of drift wood.

Are you going during the shrimp festival? We went last year and it was fun for all ages

T-Rays has great burgers - http://www.traysburgerstation.com/

Anonymous wrote:Other than hiking, camping, and going to the beach (all amazing), there isn't much to do on Amelia Island. St Augustine is full of all kinds of restaurants and touristy stuff. The PP mentioned the Jax Zoo. It is one of the best in the Country. But it's at least an hour from Amelia Island.

Sorry! Totally read your post as Anastasia Island. Amelia Island is only about 30 minutes from the Zoo and totally worth the trip. If you want to go to St. Augustine, it will take you about an hour to an hour and a half depending on traffic.

Other than hiking, camping, and going to the beach (all amazing), there isn't much to do on Amelia Island. St Augustine is full of all kinds of restaurants and touristy stuff. The PP mentioned the Jax Zoo. It is one of the best in the Country. But it's at least an hour from Amelia Island.

Jacksonville zoo is fun

St Augustine is worth the drive (can't remember how long the drive is) you can do a lot of walking around St Augustine - or take a horse drawn carriage ride.

Planning on going next month. What restaurants are good with kids? Must do activities? Is saint Augustine worth the drive? Or ponte vedra? Any other nearby towns we should see?