Calling all foodies! Restaurant Week is returning to Amelia Island for its 7th annual debut January 16th through 25th. This delectable time period allows you to choose from more than 70 different and distinctive restaurants, all with an enticing array of dining options sure to please every palate. The majority offer prix-fixe menus and many offer amazing and tantalizing specials during this time period. Make it a weekend or even a few days and stay here at the Blue Heron Inn. Most of the participating restaurants are located in the downtown Fernandina Beach historic district and are just a few walking blocks away from the Blue Heron Inn. For a complete listing of restaurants participating go to ameliaisland.com/yummy. Bon appetite!
Discover the Flavors of the Island
January 5th, 2015 by David Jones
Give the Gift of Theatre!
December 8th, 2014 by David Jones
Theatre tickets make great Christmas presents! We are so lucky here on Amelia Island to have three wonderful and talented community theaters! Amelia Musical Playhouse is a theater in the round here on the island and offers live music venues. Playing this month is “Peter Pan” and “The UnXmas Story”. The rock musical “Hair” kicks off the 2015 season on January 8th. Just down the street from the Blue Heron Inn is the Amelia Community Theatre. Playing through December is “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol” and kicking off the new year is “Grease” opening in February. Also within walking distance from the inn is the Fernandina Little Theatre. Modeled on the popular “black box” and Equity-waiver theater spaces of Los Angeles and New York City, this theatre stages diverse and engaging productions in an intimate space. “Love Letters” will start the season there in January. Why not consider packaging up your tickets with a weekend stay at the Blue Heron Inn? Who wouldn’t enjoy such an entertaining and fun-filled gift? For complete season and show information please visit each theatre site: www.ameliacommunitytheatre.org; www.ameliamusicalplayhouse.com.
Cookie Tour a Sweet Success!
December 4th, 2014 by David Jones
Thanks to everyone for making this year’s Cookie Tour so successful! More than 700 people came out on a beautiful Saturday last month to tour six inns and bed and breakfasts in the downtown Historic District, sample a delicious homemade cookie and collect the recipe to take home! All the inns were gussied up in their holiday finery which provided ample opportunities for guests to get inspired and collect decorating ideas. Participants could hop on the trolley or enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride as they strolled from inn to inn. A fun part of the tour is seeing former guests return and welcoming new guests for future visits! But perhaps the best part of the Cookie Tour is the fact that the Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association donates a portion of its profits to benefit a local charity. This year’s charity was Micah’s Place, a a local center helping to prevent domestic violence.
Trimmed Tree!
Cookies by the Pool
Hamming it Up!
Decorating Ideas!
Holiday Flair
Enjoying the Private Backyard
TOP 5 Getaways for End of Summer
September 23rd, 2014 by David Jones
Blue Heron Inn is now in the top five places for end of Summer beach locations. Please read the article in Visit South Travel magazine. https://visitsouth.com/lifestyle/article/top-7-end-of-summer-beach-getaways
BBQ at the Beach
August 8th, 2014 by David Jones
Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off
August 22nd and 23rd Amelia Island hosts the Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off at Main Beach! Visitors and residents can enjoy free entertainment and barbeque samplings from some of the top competitors in the country. The Cook-off will feature more than 30 professional teams and backyard amateur teams. Some of the areas greatest bands will be here including Dirt Floor Krackers, Swingin’ Medallions, Rockit Fly, Beech Street Blues Band and Bama Gamblers. Gates open at 3:00 pm Friday. There is plenty of free parking with complimentary shuttles just a couple blocks from the Blue Heron Inn. Bring your appetite beach chairs, umbrella and sunscreen! For more information about the Great Southern Tailgate Cook-off, including registration details and entertainment schedule, visit www.gstailgatecookoff.com.
Sailing Anyone?
February 19th, 2014 by David Jones
“This is the only place in the world where you can see a trident nuclear submarine and wild horses at the same time,” says Tony Jones, owner of Windward Sailing on Amelia Island. Tony has four sailboats in the Marina here in Fernandina Beach that he operates for both his sailing school and private charters. Tony always knew he loved sailing but when the Windward Sailing School went up for sale, (not sail) Tony knew he had that one chance in a lifetime. Well, maybe his wife, Cindy did because she’s the one that told him to “Go for it!” That was nearly nine years ago. Today, Tony divides his time pretty much equally between teaching sailing and running charters. Popular charters include a two-hour sunset cruise and a three- or four-hour day cruise. Recently his “St. Mary’s Lunch Cruise” has become very popular. This five hour charter includes a two-hour sail to St. Mary’s, Georgia; a one-hour layover lunch at one of the popular marina restaurants there; and a two-hour sail back to Amelia Island. The sailing school appeals to sailors of all levels. If you’re just wondering what sailing is all about, the Introduction to Sailing, a three-hour course, might be right for you. But if the sailing bug has already bitten, then you have several options to choose from: Basic Sailing, Coastal Cruising, and Bareboat Chartering. All three separate courses award the American Sailing Association Certification and last two and half days each. Participants spend some time in the classroom but according to Tony, most of the learning occurs right on the water.
And the best part of owning and operating Windward Sailing? “Meeting people” and “introducing people to the love and thrill of sailing.” You can read more about Tony and see more of what Windward Sailing offers by visiting windward sailing.com. The Blue Heron Inn on Amelia Island offers sailing excursion packages with Tony and is just a short 7 block walk from the marina where Tony teaches. Visit ameliaislandblueheroninn.com for more information.
Message in a Bottle – Will You Marry Me!
December 21st, 2013 by David Jones
That was the message that Kristen found along this stretch of beach when Donnie proposed to her.
He planned everything from the message in the bottle, WILL YOU MARRY ME written on the beach sand and the
Champagne conveniently hidden nearby. How romantic is that!
We enjoyed celebrating their engagement with them and can’t wait to see them return.
PJ day downtown!
December 3rd, 2013 by David Jones
Blue Heron Inn guests donned their stylish bathrobes and slippers and headed for the Historic District this past Friday for shopping, shopping, and shopping! Downtown stores offered discounts and treats for those dressed in their PJs from 8 am until noon. The men took to T-Rays, a local breakfast/burger joint known for its down-home cooking, for breakfast and then headed off for an afternoon of fishing. They caught everything but fish…Crab, Stingray, Shark.
So.. who do you think had more fun?
Try Beating this Record!
November 17th, 2013 by David Jones
Our returning guests, Jim and Sue from Atlanta, GA have just attended their 54th consecutive Bulldog/Gator game. They also celebrated their 52nd Anniversary and shared many funny stories with us at Happy Hour. We look forward to helping them celebrate the 55th game and the 53rd anniversary next year.
Searching for Shark Teeth at Fort Clinch
August 28th, 2013 by David Jones
Julie and I spent about an hour near the fort to look for shark teeth that get deposited on the beach whenever the Corps of Engineers dredge the channel between Amelia and Cumberland Islands. We were lucky to find three teeth and our guests have found many more.
Many people don’t realize that our tiny little island hosts a beautiful, award-winning state park, Fort Clinch. This 10,000-plus acre park boasts the title, “National Gold Medal Winner” and is America’s only two-time winner. Not only is it home to the Great Florida Birding Trail and other floral and fauna, you can bask on its pristine beaches, search for rare shells and shark teeth, and take in some history there! This park provides a critical habitat for numerous wildlife such as white tailed deer, bobcats and raccoons! With its numerous hiking and biking trails, don’t be surprised if you run into one! The first weekend of every month the park holds its Civil War Fort Garrisons. History comes alive as costumed soldiers and civilians recreate life as it might have been during the War Between the States. Activities include artillery and medical demonstrations, soldier drills, and duties from the Fort’s laundry, infirmary, kitchen, barracks, quartermaster and carpenter’s shops.
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Did You Know?
Car Show Revs Up on the Island
