Having tantalized explorers, soldiers, pirates, and real-estate barons for centuries, Amelia Island remains one of Florida’s hidden treasures.

If you are unfamiliar with Amelia Island, you’re not alone, and the 40,000 island residents are content to keep it that way. That’s not to suggest visitors are not appreciated. Quite the opposite. It’s just that Amelia Island is located off the beaten path and requires some foresight to incorporate into any Florida travel plan. Jacksonville, the nearest metropolitan area, is located 30 minutes southeast of the island which is only accessed by two bridges or a ferry across the St. Johns River.  It’s Amelia Island’s pristine beaches and towering sand dunes, with their white and pink Appalachian quartz, that make this place so special.

For sun-starved Canadians in search of a Florida vacation getaway that involves history and tradition, exotic cars and great golf courses, December through April is the ideal winter window to experience the allure of beautiful Amelia Island.

As the southernmost part of the Sea Islands Barrier chain, Amelia Island is nestled on the coastal border of Georgia and Florida. Similar in size and shape to Manhattan, this 13-mile-long, 2-mile-wide temperate island paradise is renowned for its unspoiled beaches, treelined streets, and laid-back vibe.

While tourists are always welcome, Amelia Island is not “touristy.” Rather, it’s a place where you can find solitude. The beaches, extending for miles alongside the Atlantic Ocean, are never crowded. Not surprisingly, Amelia Island is a perennial mainstay on any Top 10 vacation or beach destinations list including Conde Nast Travelers Readers’ Choice Awards.

For history buffs, you could spend countless hours learning about the island’s history, rich with tales about swashbucklers, renegades, and pioneers. Timucuan Indians were the island’s first residents, but over the last 400 years, Amelia has been fought over by nearly all of the colonial powers, earning the name “Isle of Eight Flags.” It is said that the French visited, the Spanish developed, the English named, and the Americans claimed it, which they did in 1817.

The island’s evolution has seen it morph from a commerce centre based around the fishing and military industries to a major tourism destination when the Mallory Steamship Line introduced wealthy travelers such as the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and DuPonts to the area by the turn of the 19th century. Ultimately, it was Henry Flagler’s railroad and adjoining luxury hotels that diverted tourists further south, sparing the island of intense development and thus preserving its tranquil persona.

A good place to start your “walk back in time” is the Amelia Island Museum of History, followed by stops to Fort Clinch State Park, and Historic American Beach, Florida’s first African American beach refuge.

And then there is the District of Fernandina Beach, a 50-block area located at the north end of Amelia Island that can be experienced, on foot, bike, or car. Now recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the town of Fernandina was established in 1811 and named after King Ferdinand VII of Spain. It is this neighbourhood of the island where you can walk the narrow, tree-lined streets named after the variety of indigenous hardwoods, including 150-year-old oaks draped with Spanish moss while savouring the Victorian-era mansions that remain intact as both family homes and charming Bed & Breakfast establishments.

One such example is Williams House. Located at the corner of South 9th and Ash Streets, Williams House was built in 1856 by an affluent Boston banker and captures 19th century Florida in all its grandeur. It was subsequently purchased in 1858 by Marcellus A. Williams, a surveyor who worked for George Washington’s nephew, Lawrence Washington. During the Civil War, the house was used by Union Troops as a headquarters and infirmary, and according to local lore, also served as part of the Underground Railroad. Now a sumptuous B&B welcoming guests from around the world, William House remains one of the most historic homes in the community and was recently designated a Florida Heritage Landmark site. Fresh-baked cookies, home-cooked breakfasts, wine on the porch, and well-appointed guest rooms contribute to a memorable and relaxing stay.

In addition to its old-world charm, Amelia Island is also renowned for its exotic cars and great golf courses. Like clockwork, during the first week of March, gear heads from around the world arrive for the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance to check out cars from yesteryear. Since 1996, “The Amelia” has grown into one of the world’s most celebrated car shows featuring more than 300 cars in 35 different classes. The annual four-day extravaganza takes place along the fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island and the AAA Five-Diamond oceanfront Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

And then there’s the Amelia Island golf experience. Boasting 99 holes, the island features golf courses designed by the likes of Dye, Fazio, and Palmer. Must plays include the 6,860-yard Amelia River Club, a Tom Jackson design noted for its wide fairways and proximity to the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport and Oak Marsh, a 6,607-yard Pete Dye creation suitably named for its ageless, moss-covered oak trees and standalone marshland holes.

The Fernandina Beach Golf Club, owned by the City of Fernandina, is the island’s only 27-hole facility. Given its modest green fee, it’s also the most affordable golf here, so manage your playing condition expectations accordingly.

And finally, there is Little Sandy, a Beau Welling design featuring 10 holes ranging from 42 to 117 yards neatly woven around Red Maple Lake. Walking is the best -and only -way to fully appreciate this unique experience. Looking back, this was the most fun I have had on a golf course in recent memory.

My one regret about my time spent on Amelia Island was that it was too short. This is definitely a special place where its allure will entice you to linger for a while longer the next time you visit, just as it has for centuries.

Getting There:

Air Canada and WestJet offer regular flights from Toronto and Montreal to Jacksonville and Orlando. For more information visit www.aircanada.com or www.westjet.com

Great Places to Stay:

Williams House (Amelia Island) – www.williamshouse.com

Great Places to Eat (Personal Restaurant Recommendations):

Café Karibo – www.cafekaribo.com

First Love Brewing – www.firstlovebrewing.com

Marche Burette at Omni Amelia Island Resort – www.omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island/dining/marche-burette-deli

Salty Pelican – www.thesaltypelicanamelia.com

Best Way to Book a Tee Time:

Florida’s First Coast of Golf – www.florida-golf.org

Information About Florida’s First & Historic Coasts:

Amelia Island – www.ameliaisland.com

General Florida Travel Information

Visit Florida: www.visitflorida.com