The 13-mile long Amelia Island offers a different side to Florida. Uncrowded golden sand beaches, verdant salt marshes and coastal maritime forests filled with wildlife make it an appealing destination all year round. Meanwhile, the Victorian architecture of downtown Fernandina Beach exudes charm. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is perched on a beautiful stretch of Atlantic coastline. The island’s most luxurious resort celebrated its 30th birthday in 2021 and with it came an extensive revamp by design powerhouse Wimberly Interiors (responsible for the restoration of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express amongst other notable projects.)

The Atlantic Suite is one of the resort’s best. Refined parquet flooring, vaulted ceilings, statement lighting and dark lacquer furniture are softened with textiles inspired by the natural world. A stone fireplace in the lounge adds a touch of drama in the winter months while the two private balconies overlooking the ocean are sunspots in the summer. 

As is customary with The Ritz-Carlton, suite guests gain exclusive access to The Ritz-Carlton Club. Hosted by a dedicated concierge, every guest is catered for, with special visits from a pirate captain and candy seashells for the kids and cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for the adults. 

Atlantic Suite guests will also benefit from a dedicated private area on the beach complete with refreshments and lunch delivered straight to your sun loungers. 

The hotel’s holistic spa has a stellar reputation and offers everything from reflexology to meditation retreats, as well as a host of beauty and relaxation treatments inspired by the island’s surroundings. Try the Ocean Healing Treatment which combines sea salt exfoliation with a warm stone massage for deep relaxation as well as glowing skin. 

To get to know the island’s ecosystem better, book an Ecology Field Trip, a day-long expedition with the resort’s on-site expert naturalist. 

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