Amelia Island State Park

ABOUT THIS PLACE

There is almost nothing built here, which is the point of it. The park sits on State Road A1A about eight miles south of Fernandina Beach and seven miles north of Little Talbot Island, and the beach runs down to the inlet with no buildings behind it. What the park is known for is horses. Kelly Seahorse Ranch, a family business, is the concession, and it is one of the few places in Florida where a person can ride a horse along the ocean; rides start at the ranch with an introduction to the horse and some instruction, go through half a mile of forest and then out onto the sand. Booking is through the ranch on 904-491-5166 rather than through the park. Fishing and walking are the other uses. Facilities are minimal, so bring water and shade, and the southern end joins the fishing pier across Nassau Sound. There are two large parking areas, restrooms and an outdoor shower, and picnic tables by the fishing bridge. No lifeguards are on duty. Nassau Sound is among the better fishing grounds in northeast Florida and produced the state record flounder; redfish, flounder and speckled sea trout run in spring and fall. Shelling at low tide turns up clam, scallop, oyster and periwinkle. The park is run alongside Big Talbot Island and Little Talbot Island, sharing rangers and a paddling concession. The ranger station number is 904-251-2320