The Omni Amelia Island Plantation is a luxury resort located just off the Northeast Florida coast. Its local charm, private beach front, and expansive property (1,350 acres to be exact) have won the hearts of guests far and wide. It’s no surprise it even landed on the “Top 25 Resorts in Florida” by Conde’ Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards.
Growing up just minutes from the Omni Amelia Island Plantation, I knew it as a local favorite for staycations and getaways. I even had my wedding reception on the grounds. However, it had been years (not to mention an 85 million re-imagination) since I had visited and experienced its beach loving beauty first hand. So when my husband and I had the chance to plan a weekend getaway that was only 2 hours from our home in St. Augustine, we jumped at the chance.
Accommodations At Omni Amelia Island
We arrived to a beautiful, sunlit room with a lovely view of the ocean and the largest poolscape in North Florida. The room had elegant coastal decor, and the comfiest bed I’ve ever slept in (it also had no children in it at 4:00am so that helped too). I’ve been to other beach resorts where you typically sacrifice that luxury feel for the sake of being on the ocean. This was not the case here.
The room was equipped with all of the essentials- a refrigerator to store my Rose’, a desk for my laptop, and instagram worthy robes. To see more of the Omni Amelia Island Resort’s ocean front accommodations click Here.
Although the room was lovely and I could just imagine taking a glorious nap in that perfectly made bed, I also heard those crashing waves and live music by the pool and needed to explore.
Activities At Omni Amelia Island
Omni Amelia Island Private Beach
Being the beach loving gal that I am, our first activity was a well deserved trip to the Omni’s 3.5 miles of private, uncrowded beach. I knew I absolutely HAD to take this child-free chance to actually look for shark’s teeth. Moms of little ones just don’t get that luxury. After walking a bit and finding a few souvenir shells, we took a load off and enjoyed the serenity of a beach that felt like it was our own.
We spent our beach time relaxing and basking in the sun, but the Omni also has numerous beach activities for rent for those who want a little more adventure: body boards, paddle boards, surf boards, and even surf lessons on request. For a complete list of Omni beach activities and rentals click Here.
Omni Amelia Island Pools
After we had gotten our fill of that Vitamin Sea we were ready for more umbrellas- in our drinks and over our heads at the pool. In my opinion, the best types of pools are the ones that look out over the ocean. It’s the best of both worlds. The Omni Amelia Island has 3 pools to fit everyone’s needs. We spent our time at the adults only infinity pool (pictured above) which was perfect for reading magazines, sipping mojitos, and watching those Atlantic waves. The Omni also has another family friendly pool and a splash pad for the littles. So no matter your speed there is a pool for you. They also have poolside service which makes lunch a breeze. I recommend the chicken caesar salad and classic mojito.
The Spa At Amelia Island Plantation
Last but certainly not least, I made a visit to the Spa on the Omni property. After a quick ride via the complimentary shuttle service- yay for not driving during vacation! I was so ready to invite a little more Zen into my life. The spa decor followed the overall feel of the Omni Resort, natural, luxurious beauty. The spa itself is surrounded by greenery and natural elements. The relaxation room (pictured below) sits next to a peaceful garden fit for viewing from the window or enjoying from the bench or boardwalk outside.
I’m a natural, sensitive kind of girl and I loved that all the products were as well. From the oils used during my Swedish massage to the complimentary products available for freshening up after your service. I would recommend arriving early to enjoy the view, a drink, and leave time after your service for a eucalyptus infused steam shower. The staff made my spa experience that much more enjoyable. They were so kind and attentive. Do yourself a favor and explore their full list of services here, and then make a reservation.
Dining At The Omni: The Verandah
There is Eating and then there is Dining. When meals become more than mere sustenance, they are an experience. From beginning to end, our dinner at The Verandah was an enjoyable dining experience. The variety of tastes, textures, presentations, and colors had us savoring every bite. Executive Chef Daven Wardynski strives for fresh, local cuisine, and also incorporates produce grown from the resort’s own organic garden, aquaponic greenhouse, and honey from a large beehive collection. The Verandah Sampler is a great place to start your dining experience. It highlights the type of food Amelia Island is know for- fresh seafood.
We had the pleasure of sampling a few creations made by Sous Chef Nina Marini. My personal favorite was the fried croquette with stuffed with Thomasville Tomme Cheese, whipped potatoes, accompanied by braised short rib tortellini and finished with a horseradish demi-glace. It was the perfect mix of textures and savory, complimenting flavors. I could go on and on about how scrumptious each dish tasted. But you should see, taste, and experience for yourself. Dinner at the Verandah was the perfect ending to our weekend getaway. We left the Omni Amelia Island Plantation with relaxed bodies, thankful hearts, and full stomachs.
We’d like to thank Omni Amelia Island for hosting us in order to share our weekend getaway with you. As always, thoughts and images are our own.
