" Recently Amelia Island was once again recognized nationally as a popular island destination. This time Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked Amelia Island #9 on its list of Top U.S. Islands based on a reader poll that was conducted in 2020. In the past Amelia Island has been ranked by various publications, such as Travel & Leisure, as a Top 10 island, favorite beach town, most romantic places and best coastal small town. Just to name a few of the media accolades over recent years.
As new or returning visitors come to Amelia Island they will soon find some brand new hotels that are currently under construction. Located by the main bridge will be a new Holiday Inn Express. Near A1A and Atlantic Avenue, Marriott is building a joint Courtyard and Springhill Suites complex a short block from the beach. A local Ritz-Carlton executive chef is rumored to be headed to this venture. At a minimum these hotels will reduce the hotel room shortages on holiday weekends and especially for the Spring Concours d'Elegance auction weekend. Event organizers have already announced that the 2021 event at the Ritz-Carlton will be held March 4 -7th May 20-23rd. Since Spring the island also has been fortunate to see many new eating and drinking establishments including the completely brand new Boat House restaurant on 2nd Street, several other new downtown restaurants, two new breweries, a new pizza place, plus an anticipated new restaurant at the former Beech Street Grill and numerous other small businesses sprinkled around the island.
Today is the opening of a new Harris Teeter Fuel center with a convenience store and gas station on the south part of the island at the intersection of South Fletcher Avenue and First Coast Highway. Amelia Island still has the only Harris Teeter Supermarket in the state of Florida." - Gary Farnsworth