[islandgirl2000]

We spent an all too short weekend on Amelia Island in the fall. We seek a coastal area home for young, vital retirement. Would be very grateful to all who might give advice on lifestyle there in Fernandina Beach, windstorm concerns, boating! the marina, and best reasonably priced area to live around FB... Please take a moment to respond...Thank YOU!

[dreamofmonterey]

Actually, I got married at the Ritz-Carlton there (8 yrs ago). It is a beautiful area. Beautiful beach. If you are retired- Fernandina has quaint shops and restaurants.

sunny

[danbomo]

Great place. Sure wish I was back down there. Ice storms in
Missouri too much. You will love it.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Hi Islandgirl
We too are seeking a home on Amelia. My husband is working there now, he comes home to PSJ every couple weeks (younger son and I need to stay here until he graduates from high school).
The affordability is the tricky part. We go back and forth between renting or buying, but the spouse leans towards buying because prices have not lowered that much and may well go back up.
Off-island is definitely cheaper.
We haven't looked into the boating too much yet, but this is something the spouse does eventually want to pursue.
Hurricanes are statisically rarer there, but you still have to be prepared.
Property taxes and homeowner's insurance are other considerations.
A lot of people like Amelia Island Plantation, but we are leaning towards Amelia Park, a traditional neighborhood development which is close to Fernandina's little downtown area.
If you google Amelia Island, the Amelia Island Living website should show up.
It gives you a feel for island life there.
It's a real place. There is light industry in the form of smelly paper mills, as well as on the mainland, and there is a Navy Base at nearby Kingsland, Georgia. There are people born and raised there who (understandably) are not necessarily thrilled to have their childhood community turned into a resort town. However, this kind of change is seemingly inevitable, and you just hope that city planners can adjust accordingly.

[islandgirl2000]

Thank you for your response...I agree... beautiful beaches... sunrises... and the shops are very nice.

[islandgirl2000]

Cil, Sunnyhelena,Danbomo,
Thanks all... we, too, like the area nearer the town. I am also curious about Port St. Joe... is it still nice there, too?... your pics were beautiful and reminded me of the time I spent at Port St. Joe's Park... PSJ is just the most beautiful beach in the world...but I fear insurance on the Gulf, now would be astronomical... We are also looking for a very dog friendly place, and Amelia fits that bill, too. We have Westie's that are family members... Currently live just south of Annapolis, MD, but all of youth spent in South ALA and panhandle of FLA, so, I really want to get back to heaven....

[BlueWillowPlate]

PSJ is not nearly as quaint as Fernandina. They are still coming along in terms of health care, shopping etc. However, the beaches (very dog friendly) are breathtaking: more beautiful than Amelia's. But the trade-off is okay by me.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by cil

PSJ is not nearly as quaint as Fernandina. They are still coming along in terms of health care, shopping etc. However, the beaches (very dog friendly) are breathtaking: more beautiful than Amelia's. But the trade-off is okay by me.

I am missing the beach more and more. Cil- any pix of your dog on the beach? We had to be careful in Boca- too many ordinances!

sunny

[BlueWillowPlate]

Pics of Elwood at St Joseph Bay, and Cape San Blas at Port St Joe:


At Amelia Island (below):

We saw other dogs at the Amelia beach and it seemed very mellow.
At PSJ, technically dogs are supposed to be on leash, but I only put him on if I see other people around. And of course I always clean up after him.