Anyone who often reads this web site is aware of that I’ve a love for the seashore. I particularly get pleasure from staying at seashore resorts the place the seashore is only a few brief steps from my lodge room. So after I discovered that the annual TMS Family Travel convention was being held on the Omni Amelia Island Resort on Fernandina Beach, Florida, I used to be thrilled to have the chance to take a look at the resort throughout my keep.
I didn’t know a lot about Northeast Florida (also called the First Coast) space, so I used to be trying ahead to exploring the realm. It’s positively a beautiful place for a household trip – there’s a lot to see and do, proper on the property. While I didn’t have an excessive amount of time to discover your complete resort, I did get a very good really feel for what a trip there may be like, and I’m hoping to return quickly with my household.
One of the most effective issues about this attractive family-friendly beachfront Florida resort is that you simply don’t even actually need to go away the resort. There are so many actions, eating places, retailers, and facilities which you could actually select to spend all your time there if you would like.
Disclosure: This publish is a part of a complimentary keep by way of my participation within the TMS Family Travel Conference. All opinions are my very own. This publish incorporates affiliate hyperlinks and a purchase order/click on by way of one in all these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us at no extra value to you.
Review of the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
The Location of the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
When I first heard concerning the resort, I wasn’t positive the place Amelia Island was. Although I used to be conversant in a lot of Florida, I didn’t know as a lot about this explicit space. Amelia Island is positioned off the coast of Northeast Florida, about 35 minutes from the Jacksonville airport. The barrier island itself is about 13 miles (all seashore shoreline) lengthy and 4 miles extensive.
The resort affords 3.5 miles of seashore on 1,350 acres. I flew in from Boston on a direct JetBlue flight, so getting there was very simple. Once you’re on Amelia Island, you in all probability gained’t wish to depart till it’s time to go dwelling. It actually looks like a distant location and may be very family-friendly.
Because of the situation in Northeast Florida, it does are typically just a little cooler than in southern Florida. For occasion, common temperatures in February are within the mid-60s. As a New Englander, it nonetheless feels very heat to me, however you’ll positively wish to have a look at the month-to-month temperature averages earlier than reserving. If you wish to spend most of your time on the resort, you in all probability gained’t want a rental automotive, however having one could make issues extra handy.
The Rooms on the Amelia Island Plantation Resort
The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort affords 400 ocean-front visitor rooms and suites. My room, which was externally accessible, ignored the gorgeous seashore. The balcony was good for trying out the dawn every morning and was additionally a peaceable place to sit down and skim a guide. I beloved the coastal-inspired decor which enhances the area.
Rooms provide commonplace facilities, together with a fridge, hairdryer, flat-screen tv, workspace, and occasional maker (utilizing Ok-cups). Complimentary WiFi is on the market all through the resort and the convention middle. Ocean View rooms have a balcony or patio the place you’ll have an awesome spot to look at the waves.
The resort affords a number of totally different room varieties. These embody deluxe ocean-view rooms with one king mattress or 2 queen beds, premier ocean-view rooms with a bit extra space, nook suites, one-bedroom govt suites, one-bedroom finish suites, and presidential suites.
Guests who’re members of the Omni Hotels Select Guest program can obtain a complimentary beverage every morning, together with different facilities. Since it’s free to register, it’s price signing up when you aren’t already a member. Platinum and Black Level members get their beverage delivered whereas others can get it within the lodge espresso store.
The Pools on the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort affords the most important poolscape in northern Florida, which incorporates an adult-only infinity swimming pool, a ten,000 square-foot household pool (together with sprinkler jets spraying into the pool – as proven within the picture above), a small splash space, and two sizzling tubs.
I didn’t have the chance to spend time on the swimming pools throughout my keep, however they had been so inviting. I want I had deliberate to reach a day sooner in order that I may spend a while within the grownup pool and sizzling tub. Towels are offered, and there’s a pool bar open proper by the pool. If I had been visiting with my youngsters, I do know I’d plan to spend no less than one or two full days by the pool.
If you do plan to spend time on the pool, I’d positively suggest you have a look at the climate forecast for the reason that winter months aren’t as heat as the remainder of the 12 months.
Amenities on the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
In addition to the swimming pools, the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort affords beachfront entry, proper from the resort. There are 3.5 miles of seashore proper there, and it’s quiet and exquisite.
Rentals, together with cabanas, chairs with umbrellas, paddle boards, and extra, are provided on the seashore. It’s really useful that you simply make reservations prematurely wherever attainable for the cabanas and the elite umbrellas with two chairs.
There are additionally quite a few household and child actions provided, together with Camp Amelia, Gamers teen lounge, Heron Cove Adventure Mini Golf, and a nature middle. I did have the prospect to take a look at the mini golf and nature middle. I do know that my youngsters would love them. There is a separate cost for mini golf, and packages are additionally accessible.
For the adults, there are 54 holes of golf throughout a number of golf programs, tennis courts, a full-service spa and salon, a health middle, and a procuring village with over a dozen totally different retailers. You may get pleasure from out of doors actions like fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and bike driving.
To get round this expansive resort, golf cart leases can be found. There’s additionally a resort shuttle that makes stops all through the resort. It’s positively an enormous resort, however you’ll wish to discover all of it.
Families may get pleasure from paddle boarding excursions, nature excursions, and Segway excursions. There are a lot of occasions and actions happening on a regular basis, which makes it a enjoyable place to stick with youngsters.
Restaurants on the Amelia Island Plantation Resort
You positively gained’t want to go away the resort to eat when you don’t wish to. There are 9 totally different eating shops on the property, together with a pub, a pizza restaurant, a steak and chop store, and a seafood restaurant.
There’s additionally the Sprouting Project, which incorporates an aquaponic greenhouse, an natural backyard, an in depth assortment of beehives, and a barrel room. Tours of the Sprouting Project are provided weekly, and a featured dinner is offered month-to-month. I did get to dine on the Sprouting Project, and it was positively a incredible expertise.
Restaurants embody the next:
Bob’s Steak and Chop Shop: This restaurant affords dinners all through the week, apart from Sundays. As you’d anticipate, a lot of the menu consists of steak and chops, though there’s additionally seafood, salads, and appetizers.
Verandah: This nice eating institution affords dinner seven days every week. The principally seafood menu consists of chowder, salads, grouper, and mahi-mahi.
Oceanside: Oceanside is positioned by the pool and ocean, and is an off-the-cuff restaurant. There, you’ll discover sandwiches and salads for lunch and seafood specialties for dinner. It’s open each day for each lunch and dinner.
Paloma and Pico: Offering counter-service tacos and drinks.
Falcon’s Nest: Open each day, Falcon’s Nest is a family-friendly pub providing burgers and different informal gadgets. It’s open for dinner each day, and lunch on the weekends.
Marsh View Bar & Grill: Located close to the Oak Marsh Golf Course, Marsh View affords an off-the-cuff southern menu for breakfast and lunch.
Natural Slice: This informal pizza restaurant is positioned inside The Shops of Omni Amelia Island Plantation. It’s open for dinner Wednesday-Sunday and lunch on the weekends. It additionally affords ship for dinner on the weekends.
Marché Burette: You’ll wish to go to Marche Burdette for no less than one meal. It affords breakfast and lunch, in addition to seasonal meals together with a shrimp boil, and a steak out. Brunch is on the market on the weekends.
Sunrise Cafe: Enjoy a scrumptious breakfast earlier than heading out for the day. A breakfast buffet, in addition to an a la carte menu, is obtainable each day.
Seaglass: Located off the foyer, Seaglass affords breakfast, cocktails, sushi, and small plates. Live music is performed from Thursday to Saturday.
I solely had the prospect to dine on the Sprouting Project in the course of the convention I attended. But we did have meals from the lodge all through the convention, and the meals that we did have was completely scrumptious. There’s sufficient selection in each delicacies and worth that you may positively have a lot of totally different choices. It’s good to not have to go away the resort for meals, particularly if you wish to spend most of your time on the seashores and swimming pools.
The Service on the Amelia Island Plantation Resort
Everyone that I encountered on the resort was extraordinarily useful. My room wasn’t accessible after I arrived earlier than midday, however I used to be in a position to have my luggage held. A front-desk clerk referred to as my cellular phone when my room was prepared. Bell providers delivered my suitcase on to the room.
I positively wish to return to the lodge someday. I’d in all probability plan to go to in April sooner or later, which might be the proper time to benefit from the seashores and swimming pools.
Beyond the Resort
If you do resolve to go away the resort, you’ll discover different family-friendly actions. These embody the Fort Clinch State Park, the Amelia Island Museum of History, Peters Point Beachfront Park, and the Fernandina Beach Pinball Museum, in addition to whale watching and dolphin excursions, canoeing, and kayaking.
To be taught extra concerning the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, go to their web site. You may learn extra critiques right here. You may see a few of the finest locations to go to in Florida right here.
