Steeped in history and natural beauty, Amelia Island, Florida is the southernmost jewel of the Sea Island chain of barrier islands off the southeastern coast of the United States. Pristine, uncrowded beaches envelop the island’s east side, while expansive salt-marsh estuaries lie along the west. It’s no wonder locals and visitors on this 13 mile-long and two mile-wide island feel as though they’re a world away from everyone else. And although it may feel that way, Amelia Island is just a 30-minute drive from Jacksonville, Florida making it easy to get to — yet hard to forget.