Fernandina Beach
WEEKEND on AMELIA ISLAND
Serene Sandy Beaches Steeped in History
Cruise on the scenic Heckscher Drive along the Florida coastline, about 30 minutes north of Jacksonville, past sparkling unpopulated beaches, some filled with bonelike driftwood sculpted by the ocean, on a trip to Amelia Island. Just south of the Georgia state line, it’s a serene beach getaway steeped in history. DAY 1 Take a detour on the way to the island, and drive through Palmetto Avenue. The thickly forested road off Heckscher Drive leads to the Kingsley Plantation, part of the free national park site known as Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve. This is the oldest standing plantation house in the state, offering up a complex narrative that will help inform your visit to Amelia Island. Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley, alleged to be a Senegalese princess, was sold into slavery in 1806. She would later become a free plantation owner at this very site, facing incredible odds to keep her property during the Spanish and later U.S. rule of Florida. One of Kingsley’s descendants, Abraham Lincoln Lewis, would become the first Black millionaire in Florida, eventually opening American Beach, a renowned getaway on
The beaches of Amelia Island 58
nonstoplife
The historic Williams House was built in 1856 and is now a bed and breakfast
Amelia Island for African Americans during segregation. As you make your way to the island, visit the museum dedicated to his memory, A.L. Lewis Museum at American Beach. For a deeper dive into the history of the area, you can even arrange for a private guided tour with Coast One Tours. Then, stop in for a casual meal at T-Ray’s Burger Station, a former filling station beloved for its daily specials and made-toorder hamburgers. Spend the night at one of the many historic bed and breakfasts in Fernandina Beach, such as the 1856-era Williams House with its stunning double wraparound porch and delicious breakfasts.
Photos courtesy of AmeliaIsland.com
By Cynthia J. Drake