One of my favorite parts of my job at Woman’s Day is helping you plan your next getaway. I get to dream up trips, write about them and, whenever possible, pack a bag and road-test our recommendations myself. Tough assignment, I know.
This time, my husband, Pat, and I headed to Amelia Island—with our three kids staying home. The agenda? Daily workouts, long beach walks, a mixology class and time to actually read a book. Here’s what I loved—and what I’d recommend for your own escape.
Where is Amelia Island?
Amelia Island sits off Florida’s northeastern coast, near the Georgia border. With 13 miles of beaches, it’s an appealing destination for anyone whose vacation wish list starts with a long stretch of sand. Jacksonville International Airport is the closest major airport.
For us, getting there from the New York area was easy. Our nonstop flight from Newark spent less than two hours in the air, followed by about 40 minutes in the car to The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island. Flight times and the drive will vary, of course, but that manageable travel day was a big part of the appeal.
Where I stayed: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island
The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island was our home base, and having the beach, workouts, spa and dining in one place made it easy to settle into vacation mode.
The oceanfront setting is the big draw. Boardwalks lead across the dunes to the beach, so a long walk can be part of your everyday routine. The resort also has an outdoor pool and an on-site spa.
But I’m also someone who notices the little things. A dental kit! A signature cloth decorated with an illustration of the hotel! Those thoughtful details made it into my camera roll right alongside the beach views.
This is a splurge stay, and I’d plan to spend enough time at the property to enjoy it. Between the classes, beach and spa, there was plenty to keep me happily occupied.
Start the day with a workout—and a long beach walk
My favorite routine of the trip was simple: take a workout class, then head out for an hour-long walk on the beach.
During my stay, the fitness offerings included classes ranging from Zumba to Pilates. I was very glad I’d packed my grippy socks. Check the current class schedule and any fees when planning your stay, especially if there’s something specific you want to try.
For me, moving my body is part of feeling good on vacation. Following a class with a long stretch of time by the ocean made that routine feel like a treat.
Hunt for shark teeth and sea glass
Searching for sea glass is one of my favorite things to do on the planet. It’s how I feel close to my late father, so a beach walk always doubles as a treasure hunt. Sea glass was scarce on Amelia Island, but I happily kept looking—and added shark teeth to the mix.
A friend who’d stayed here with her children told me the Ritz Kids team may or may not sprinkle a few extra shark teeth in the sand so every child finds one. I haven’t confirmed that, but I love the idea of a little help from the “tooth fairy.”
Make time for a mixology class
Our mixology class at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island was a highlight of our kid-free getaway. Our mixologist, Carson, was incredibly knowledgeable, teaching us to make signature cocktails with rum, gin, tequila and vodka.
He also explained the properties of each base spirit—or “proteins,” as he called them—and how they worked with the other ingredients. Learning what went into each drink made the experience especially fun, and gave us ideas to bring home for our next cocktail hour.
The resort’s personalized mixology experience also includes spirit-free options. Check availability and reserve ahead if you’d like to give it a try.
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Cheers to learning something new! Our mixologist, Carson, taught us the ingredients and techniques behind these colorful cocktails.
Set aside a day for the spa
The spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island deserves more than a quick stop between other plans. It’s sprawling and absolutely beautiful, with a private spa pool that makes it tempting to stay all day.
I booked an anti-aging facial with a wonderful esthetician, and the treatment was glorious. While I was being pampered, Pat relaxed by the spa pool. Afterward, we met there for lunch, turning my facial appointment into an afternoon we could enjoy together.
You don’t both have to book treatments to make a day of it: Hotel guests can purchase a spa pool day pass, subject to availability. If you’re traveling with someone whose idea of relaxation involves a lounge chair rather than a treatment table, this setup worked beautifully for us.
Explore Fernandina Beach—and go early enough to shop
My biggest tip for exploring Fernandina Beach? Head into town earlier than we did. We arrived around 4 p.m. and discovered that many of the shops closed at 5. Give yourself more browsing time, because there are some really cute finds. We popped into a lavender shop and a store filled with spices and salts, but I would have happily kept going.
We’d hoped to have dinner at The Porch, but the wait was longer than we wanted, so we skipped it this time. Another spot to put on your radar is the Palace Saloon, known as Florida’s oldest bar. And leave time for sunset—the views are beautiful.
We didn’t rent a car during our trip; we took an Uber from The Ritz-Carlton into town. For us, that made it easy to combine a resort stay with a little exploring.
Plan a special dinner at Salt
Salt at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is absolutely a fine-dining experience—and a meal to make an evening of. Plan on an appetizer, a main course and a delightful dessert. The portions are small enough to enjoy all three without feeling like you’ve overdone it.
There’s also a tasting menu, but with my celiac disease, I prefer choosing individual dishes that work for me. The highlight? Dessert. I was thrilled to have several gluten-free options, which made that final course feel like a treat rather than an accommodation.
Even the parting gift was thoughtful: We left with two little varieties of salt to take home. It’s an expensive dinner, so I’d save it for a birthday, anniversary or another occasion worth celebrating.
A sweet-and-salty send-off: gluten-free pumpkin macarons, chocolates and a little salt to take home after our dinner at Salt.
My advice? Don’t fill every hour
There are plenty of ways to keep busy on Amelia Island. But one of my favorite things about this getaway was having time to read.
That sounds small until you’re actually sitting there with a book and enough uninterrupted time to get into it.
My advice is to choose a few things you’re excited about, make the reservations that matter and leave the rest of the day open. Pack your sneakers, your grippy socks and something good to read.
For me, an easy flight, daily movement, long beach walks and a little time off from the family schedule added up to exactly the recharge I wanted.
YAY for Amelia Island.
Getting into the swing of vacation. These hanging chairs around the Ritz-Carlton’s pool were a delightful spot to slow down and stay awhile.
Woman’s Day editor-in-chief Meaghan B Murphy is known for her high-energy, upbeat personality and YAY lifestyle. She is a certified fitness expert, hack master, Penguin-Random House author, editor, podcaster, holiday celebrity and mama of 3 (plus a fur baby!).
Source: www.womansday.com
