Oceanfront · Splurge
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
A polished oceanfront resort with a spa, golf and its seafood restaurant, Coast. The most indulgent choice.
Florida · Couples · Two nights
Amelia Island
Land in town. Walk to dinner.
Fernandina Beach’s Victorian seaport is minutes from the runway: brick storefronts on Centre Street, shrimp boats at sunset, and wide, quiet beaches lined with dunes. Add a resort spa and it is an easy romantic weekend.
Historic seaportBeachesResort spas
YOUR ROUTEKMYR to KFHB
STRAIGHT-LINE DISTANCE~225 NM
ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT TIME~1 hr 45 min
WEEKEND STYLETwo nights · Crew car + walks
Time illustration: direct distance at 150 KTAS plus 15 minutes for departure and arrival, matching the discovery page. Use ForeFlight for your actual flight plan.
01 / Aviation & getting around
Land, then roll into town.
KFHB, Fernandina Beach Municipal, is a non-towered field just south of downtown, a few minutes from Centre Street.
The FBO
Bent Wing Flight Services
904-849-4321Avfuel · Fernandina Beach Municipal
Bent Wing lists full-service and self-serve 100LL, Jet A and a crew car. Pilots report a small crew-car fee that may be waived with fuel; ask about the current policy, facility fees and two-night parking. No live fuel price is shown.
Rental cars generally come from Jacksonville International (JAX); confirm delivery in advance rather than counting on it. Jacksonville’s airspace lies to the south; review the sectional.
02 / Where to stay
Choose your kind of weekend.
A grand oceanfront resort, a big resort with everything, or a beach inn near town. Rates and availability need travel dates.
Resort · Spa & golf
Omni Amelia Island Resort & Spa
A large oceanfront resort with a spa, golf and more than ten restaurants. Easy if you want everything on site.
Official details for Omni Amelia Island Resort & SpaBeach inn · Near town
Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
A shingle-style inn right on the beach, a short ride from downtown. Quiet and romantic. Confirm room type and dining.
Luxury alternatives
Upgrade · Oceanfront
Club level at The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz-Carlton’s club level adds a private lounge with food and drinks throughout the day, on top of the oceanfront setting and spa.
More space · Resort villas
Omni oceanfront villas
Omni Amelia Island’s villas and suites give you room to spread out, with the resort’s spa, golf and restaurants close by.
03 / Where to eat
Two dinners. One long lunch.
Downtown Fernandina has excellent small restaurants. Reserve weekend dinners.
Friday dinner · Fine dining
David’s Restaurant & Lounge
Often called the island’s finest dining, at 802 Ash Street downtown, with a cocktail lounge that sometimes has live music.
Saturday dinner · Tapas
España Restaurant & Tapas
Spanish and Portuguese dishes at 22 South 4th Street, a short walk from Centre Street. Reservations suggested on weekends.
Alternative · Highly rated
Burlingame
A small, much-praised restaurant at 20 South 5th Street. Swap it in for either night.
04 / Things to do
Seaport, fort and beach.
Easy, low-key pleasures. Choose one outing a day and leave room for the beach.
Centre Street & the historic district
Victorian storefronts, galleries and shops running down to the harbor. Have a drink at the Palace Saloon, said to be Florida’s oldest continuously operating bar.
Fort Clinch State Park
A 19th-century brick fort at the north end of the island, with beaches, trails and live oaks.
Horseback riding on the beach
Guided beach rides are a memorable couples outing. Book ahead and check age, weight and season rules.
Sunset on the Amelia River
Watch the shrimp boats come in from the downtown harbor, or take a sunset river cruise.
Optional / Spa & relaxation
A resort spa · Time for two
The Ritz-Carlton and Omni resorts both have full-service spas, a short drive from downtown.
Booking: Ask about couples treatments, access for non-resort guests, current pricing and cancellation policy. No prices are shown here, and no appointment has been booked.
05 / What’s happening
Sometimes the event is the reason to fly.
This prototype links to the destination calendar. It does not yet match events to your travel dates.
March
Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance
One of the country’s best-known classic-car shows. Spectacular, and the island fills up; book far ahead.
Spring
Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival
Fernandina’s big downtown festival celebrating its shrimping history. Fun and crowded.
Spring & fall
Best seasons
Mild weather and quieter beaches. Summer is hot and humid, with afternoon storms; hurricane season runs June–November.
Concerts, festivals & local happenings
Check the destination calendar when choosing a weekend, and confirm dates and tickets with the organizer.
06 / Suggested itinerary
Friday in. Sunday home.
A sample Friday–Sunday weekend: the seaport, a beach day and two downtown dinners. No bookings or availability confirmed.
Day trip version
Just for the day
- Arrive
Land at KFHB mid-morning and borrow the crew car.
- Midday
Lunch downtown and a stroll up Centre Street to the harbor.
- Afternoon
Fort Clinch and a walk on the beach, then back to the FBO.
FRI
Arrive & unwind
- Late-morning arrival
Land at KFHB, subject to weather and your actual flight plan, and head downtown.
- Afternoon
Lunch and a slow walk up Centre Street; a drink at the Palace Saloon.
- Evening
Sunset at the harbor, then dinner at David’s.
SAT
Fort & beach
- Morning
Fort Clinch State Park, or a horseback ride on the beach.
- Afternoon
Beach time, or a couples spa treatment at one of the resorts.
- Evening
Dinner at España.
SUN
An easy departure
- Morning
Breakfast and a last walk through the historic district.
- Before leaving
Return the crew car and allow time at the FBO.
- Fly home
Plan around afternoon storms in warm months.
Longer stay · Add a day
With an extra day
- Morning
A guided horseback ride on the beach.
- Afternoon
A long spa afternoon at one of the oceanfront resorts.
- Evening
A sunset river cruise, then dinner at Burlingame.
07 / Good to know
Keep the weekend easy to change.
These details make the difference between an appealing list and a usable getaway.
Book in this order
Lodging and ground transport first, then dinners and any spa time.
Big weekends
The Concours in March and the Shrimp Festival fill the island. Check dates before booking.
Allow for the season
Summer storms build in the afternoon; hurricane season runs June–November.
Dates come next
Rates and restaurant hours are date-dependent. No availability or live price is implied here.
Testing / Destination 12
Draft for review.
Research-based selections, not personal-visit endorsements. Researched November 1, 2026. Several picks have no website link because official addresses could not be confirmed; check each one, and confirm hours, prices and availability directly before booking. Spotted something out of date, or have a favorite we missed? Email us at [email protected].
WingAway Weekends helps you discover the destination. Use ForeFlight and current official aviation information for route, performance, weather, NOTAMs and preflight decisions. Flight planning and PIC responsibility stay with the pilot.