We are so very lucky to live in a beach town. Not only can we visit our beautiful Jax beaches any time we like, we are surrounded with other gorgeous beach destinations. If you are looking for a getaway close to home, look no further than Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Although it’s only about 45 minutes from Jax, you will feel like you’re in another world as soon as you drive onto the property, underneath those huge live oak trees. It is so difficult to narrow down our favorite things about this place because there’s so many reason why we love the Omni Amelia Island.
Choose the Best Room for You
You can stay in either the hotel or a villa and there are benefits to both. At the hotel you are closer to that spectacular pool. Villas are like condos with kitchens, living areas & porches. Guests who stay in a villa typically have a smaller pool they can use but are also able to use the hotel pool. Make sure you know how far your villa is from the hotel so you can prepare how you will get there.
Relax at the Omni Pool
Did we mention that pool? The Omni’s oceanfront pools are pretty fantastic. It includes an adults only pool (if you want to get away from those splashy little youngsters) and an enormous family pool. There is plenty of seating and 2 bars, just in case you are into drinking a delish cocktail at a beachside pool.
Rent an Island Hopper or bicycle if you really want to feel like you are on vacay. We highly recommend renting a golf cart (Island Hopper), they have 4 & 6 seater options on a first come basis. Hopping in the golf cart to head to breakfast or dinner just makes it feel that much more vacation-y. They have many options for bike rentals also, and are very family-friendly including helmets & carriers for those cute kiddos of yours.
Visit the Nature Center
There are so many ways to explore this beautiful island, and the Nature Center has the most adventurous. There are several options for guided tours including Segway, kayak & paddle board (check for age restrictions). The Nature Center has items for fishing and birdwatching as well. The setting couldn’t be any more lovely, and dolphins often swim by.
There’s such a great variety of delicious restaurants at Omni Amelia, from grabbing a pastry and coffee, to delish pizza or seafood. They also have a market and wine shop. Our favorite event was the “Saturday/Sunday Steak Out” which featured yummy steaks grilled over an open fire.
The family friendly grounds of the Omni Amelia are so lush and gorgeous but our favorite part is how welcome we felt with our children. They can compete in fun and silly poolside contests, go mini-golfing, roast s’mores and go exploring. The best part is it’s all outside and it’s all with family.
Have you visited the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort? What’s your favorite weekend getaway spot in North Florida?
Mattie Shepherd moved to Jax Beach from Cincinnati about 3 years ago. She was a school psychologist for 9 years and enjoys using behaviorism on her husband and 2 daughters (JK, kind of). Mattie co-leads a Daisy Troop, is very proud to be on PTA board and cheers LOUDLY watching her daughter play ALL the sports. Mattie loves exploring Jax, especially in search of parks, coffee, cocktails and delish food. At home, she likes baking with her girls, dreaming of buying a fixer upper and covering it with #shiplap, and cropping messes out of her Instagram shots.
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