Hi there, we will be staying in this area for a night after our Disney cruise this coming April and wanted to use our Hilton points for a hotel stay in this area...or Amelia Island area. Looking for a nice Hilton or Hilton brand hotel with a very nice kids pool, possibly close to the ocean. Our kids ages are 6, 4, and 9 months. They love to swim!! Thanks in advance! Carrie.

Hampton Inn 1 block from the beach

Hi Starrs, Is this the Sadler Rd. location then?? Have you been here?? Is the one downtown nicer or is this one just as good? Will the weather be warm enough in early April for the outdoor pool. Embassy Suites, Jacksonville has an indoor pool so we were CONSIDERING this Hilton property also, any experience with this one, it is the Baymeadows location. Thank you very much!

Weather? Yes. My kids played on the beach on Cumberland Island on Dec. 31st one year in their swimsuits and waded in the ocean.

Thousands of kids hit the Florida beaches in March and April for spring break each year.

I wouldn't pick Baymeadows in Jax over Amelia Island.

I'd stay at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ponte Vedra over Baymeadows. I'm not sure of the pools though. Check out the other Hilton Garden Inns in Jax.

Starrs, you have been very helpful, thank you so much. Having never been to Jax, I was not sure of this location but the property looked nice enough with the inddor pool etc. looked like downtown area though which is really not what we wanted. As far as the weather, I just was not sure about being that far north in early April, I know it all just depends. I will check the other two Hiltons you mentioned also. Will check the Ponte Vedra location too, Is there a nice beach here?? It will be our last hurrah before making the long trek after our Disney cruise back to Michigan. Thanks!!

I would try to get the Hampton Inn in Amelia. You can walk to everything - and only one block from the beach. It's the best "beach" location IMO on the Island - other than the Ritz or other pricey options. Using Hilton points, I think it's your best bet.

I'd rather be in Ponte Vedra or Amelia than drive out from a Jax location, but that's just me.

Hi Starrs, sorry to be so confused on this, but is their only ONE Hampton Inn on Amelia Island? and one in Fernandina Beach? We stayed at the downtown location a few years back, Is this the one you are speaking of? Or the Sadler Rd. location? Sorry to be confused....I think we will stay here in Amelia Is., it is a little further north also than the Ponte Vedra beach Hilton Garden Inn also. Thanks.

Starrs- Hi there...I reserved the Hampton Inn at Fernandina Beach on Sadler Rd. Is this the correct location?? We stayed at the other location a few years back, in the city. Is this location walkable to the little town also or just walkable to the beach? Thanks a lot for all of the help on this.

The one on Sadler is close to the beach, but it is a few miles from downtown Fernandina Beach (where the other Hampton Inn is).

ms_go is correct on the two locations. It just depends on which one suits you best. I have not stayed at either, but spent a lot of time in the town, and our son was born there. Our kids used to play on the beach throughout the year. Fort Clinch is a great place to explore as well, and you might get to see a submarine coming or going.

Thank you both. We really enjoyed exploring Fernandina Beach when we were there a few years back, stayed at the downtown location and walked to everything. I think we will try this other location this time, it's only for one night after our Disney cruise and the kids love the ocean.
Looks like a nice Hampton.

Enjoy! The inlaws just moved away after 12 years on Amelia Island. We visited a few dozen times and will miss our trips there.

Just back online. Sounds like you made a good choice. Enjoy!

Not to mix things up, but have you ever considered a day trip to Cumberland Island? Ferry from St. Mary's GA.

starrs- no, have not done that or even been close by there except for our previous trips to Amelia Is. and Brunswick, GA. It sounds like fun, do you take a ferry? It won't work for this trip b/c we are just passing thru after a two week vacation with our kids to Marco Island and our cruise, but thanks, I will mark it down in my "to do travel" journal. Our kids are 6, 4 and a will be 9 mo. old for this trip. Thanks!

No, I wouldn't take them at those ages. But, it's a "natural" island and you can go over for a day trip, camp overnight - or stay at the really ritzy B&B on the island.

But, it's like going back in time. Miles of virtually deserted beaches. Wild horses. Ranger led hike as you get off the ferry. It's a neat experience.

Right before you get to Amelia Island, coming in from Jax, not I-95, but on A1A..over a small causeway..you will pass Big Talbot and Little Talbot Islands.
They are great for walking, they have trails and the trails are along the beach overlooking the water..and into the woods.
I think it is BigTalbot that has what we named the Tree Graveyard on the beach..so so amazing...trees that have been washed up on the beach from storms, smooth and huge and prehistoric looking..what a sight!

http://www.floridastateparks.org/bigtalbotisland/

We stayed at the Hampton Inn in town, right by the dock in Fernandina one night..a couple of years ago.
The pool was nice, we didn't need a car, just walked out the door and browsed the shops and went to many charming restaurants.
It was really nice!

Scarlett--Yes, such a neat area. I will say that for as much as we disliked living in the St. Marys area, at least Fernandina was so close and a really nice escape. That was always the first place we took our families to when they visited.