Labor Day Weekend In Amelia Island With Children
Looking for a quick get away trip to Florida? We recently traveled to Amelia Island with a baby and toddler for Labor Day weekend. A weekend in Amelia Island was just what we needed.
Where to Stay in Amelia Island with a Baby and Toddler
When trying to decide where to go for Labor Day weekend, we knew we didn’t want to fly or drive a long distance. So we landed on Amelia Island, Florida which was a little over a 3 hour drive and we stayed at the Springhill Suites by Marriott, only a 3 minute walk to the beach.
We booked a King suite because it had a little extra space and a separate area for our toddler to sleep. We booked pretty last minute so we were able to get a pretty good deal. The room came equipped with a microwave, fridge, and coffee machine.
Things to Do in Downtown Fernandina Beach
We decided to leave on Saturday morning because it being a holiday weekend we wanted to avoid traffic. Check out my post about roadtrips with a baby if you want tips for traveling with an infant.
The hotel room was not ready yet, so we decided to check out the downtown area. The downtown is super cute. There are a number or local shops and places to pop into for food. The parking is free which is super nice now-a-days.
Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Fernandina Beach
We ate lunch at a spot called The Patio At 5th and Ash which is a fresh service wine bar and eatery. The bistro offered indoor and outdoor seating, and the weather was super nice so we chose outdoor. All the tables had umbrellas offering shade. We were able to wheel our stroller right in which was nice since our youngest was taking a much needed nap.
I went with a beet salad with shrimp, my husband wasn’t very hungry so he just got the Bavarian pretzel, and we got my son a spaghetti and meatball. Of course our son was way more interested in the pretzel so he barely touched his spaghetti. I ended up having his leftovers for lunch though and I can tell you it was delicious. My salad was very good as well. The service was a little on the slower side but our server was very apologetic and was very interactive with the kids.
We finished around 2:30 and figured the room should be ready at this point so we headed back. We wanted to check out the pool before dinner because as you know, we do dinner early with our crazy kids. The pool is nice with most of the depths being between 3 and 4 ft. There are multiple tables and chairs around the pool. There is also a Bar next to the pool which is super convenient for beverages and food.
Toddler and Baby Friendly Restaurants on Amelia Island
We went to two different restaurants for dinner the two nights we stayed. First night we walked to Salt Life Food Shack. We got there around 5 and the place wasn’t too busy yet so we were able to sit right down. The servers gave both kids some toys to play with which was really nice.
There is indoor and outdoor seating as well as high chairs/booster seats for kids. Kids menu came inside the toy bag that comes with numerous choices.
I went with a shrimp and chorizo nacho and my husband and son both got fried fish. The food was really good, service was quick, and by the time we left the place was packed with a wait. So recommend getting there early unless you don’t mind waiting.
The next and last night we went to Sandbar which is located a short walk and right on the beach. We did have to wait a little bit for our table but seemed like it was more because of lack of servers. Once seating everything was quick though.
My husband wasn’t starving so he just went with a salad, but I got shrimp tacos that were pretty good. The best thing we had was the seafood queso dip to start. Highly Recommend!
These two restaurants were a short walk from the hotel which was really convenient.
Beach Scene in Amelia Island With Toddlers
We are lucky to have some friends that live in Jacksonville, Fl only 45 minutes away that joined us for a beach day. The beach was interesting to us as it had 2 levels going down to the beach. We snagged a spot close to the Sandbar which was nice since it was Labor Day weekend.
I would not say this is my favorite beach as the water was pretty rough and the sand was pretty steep into the water. We are used to the smooth level beach in Charleston so this kind of surprised us.
Our kids though did not seem to mind any of it. They had an absolute blast digging in the sand, making a racetrack, and sticking their toes in the water. For kids that love looking for shells, there are a ton here as well.
Other Fun Activities for Toddlers and Young Children on Amelia Island
Besides the downtown area and the beach, there are numerous public parks located around the island for kids. We visited two of them in just the two days that we were there. We drove by at least two others while there. On the way out of town we stopped at the Pirate Playground because our son is a pirate lover.
Final Opinion On Amelia Island
We really enjoyed our quick Labor Day weekend get-a-way to Amelia Island. I would like to spend more time exploring the downtown area. There are numerous BnB places downtown that I would have loved to stay at but most were Adult Only and my kids always join.
If I was looking to go somewhere just because of the beach, I do not know that I would travel here again, but I do feel like the Island offers so much more.
