Win One of Eight Romantic Getaways during Amelia Island’s
Annual Christmas Tour of Bed & Breakfast Inns
Photos courtesy of the Amelia Island Bed & Breakfast Association

Win two-nights at one of eight luxurious bed and breakfasts during the 14th Annual Amelia Island Christmas Tour of Bed & Breakfast Inns, December 4 & 5, 2004, from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. Innkeepers at each inn will be adding their own personal touches to the two-night packages, such as flowers, bottles of wine, chocolates, spa treatments, boat cruises, lunches or dinners for two. Anyone purchasing a ticket for the self-guided tour of the Victorian-era inns and the Historic County Courthouse can automatically enter to win one of the two-night romantic getaways. Tickets are $15 each.

“We had a great response to this offer last year and sold out of all of the available tickets for the tour, so we’re planning to make it even bigger and better this year,” said Nancy Barnes, owner of the Amelia Island Williams House and this year’s Christmas Tour chairperson.

The Amelia Island Williams House is one of
the inns featured on the Christmas Tour.
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Inns participating in the Christmas Tour include Addison House, Ash Street Inn, Bailey House, Fairbanks House, Florida House Inn, Hoyt House, Amelia Island Williams House and the Elizabeth Pointe Lodge. The Nassau County Courthouse, built in 1891 and located on historic Centre Street, is also open to tour. Completely restored to its original splendor, it is the second-oldest courthouse in Florida, and one of the finest examples of a period public building with Italianate and Colonial Revival architecture, and a Christopher Wren-style cupola. Nassau County Clerk of the Court Chip Oxley will also be on hand to welcome visitors.

Fernandina Beach during the Christmas tour seems to take you back in time, and the 52-block historic district looks and feels as if it were part of a Victorian novel. Carolers from local civic and church groups will be dressed in Dickens-style costumes and entertain visitors with holiday songs and Christmas carols and in the inns, visitors will be delighted with the selections of live holiday music played by students from the Amelia Arts Academy.

Elizabeth Pointe Lodge
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All of the inns will be lavishly decorated with Christmas trees, shining lights and glittering ornaments. Innkeepers and guides are looking forward to welcoming visitors with true Southern hospitality and homemade goodies and refreshments.

Florida House Inn
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On the evenings of December 3rd & 4th, docents from the Amelia Island Museum of History will host lantern-led tours of the luminary-lit historic district. These ever-popular 90-minute tours leave from the old depot at the foot of Centre Street at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Cost is $10. Call the museum at (904) 261-7378 for reservations. The Amelia Island Chorale will present a concert of Christmas and traditional holiday music at the First Baptist Church at the corner of North 5th and Alachua streets on Friday and Saturday, December 3rd and 4th. Concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. $15 tickets will be available at the Amelia Island Chamber of Commerce or at the door. Reserve your seat by calling (904) 277-1225.

Addison House
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On Saturday, December 4th, at 4 p.m., the Christmas Parade bringing Santa and Mrs. Claus to town will be held on Centre Street, and at dusk at the foot of Centre Street near the marina, the Fernandina Beach Christmas tree will light up the sky.

Tickets for the Christmas Tour can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce, Publix and Harris Teeter grocery stores on Amelia Island, the Amelia Island Museum of History and at all B&B’s prior to and on the days of the tour. For more information, call the Chamber of Commerce toll-free at (866) 4-AMELIA. To make B&B reservations during the tour or for more information, call any of the inns directly or visit www.ameliaislandinns.com.