Archive for the ‘Amelia Island Activities’ Category

Christmas Comes Early on Amelia Island with Bed and Breakfast Cookie Tour

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Deborah by Williams House decorations

 
Saturday was a big day on Amelia Island as all eight B&B’s decorated for Christmas, baked their favorite cookies and opened their doors to over 500 visitors for the Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Cookie Tour.  The tour is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving each year, and this time visitors enjoyed a warm and mostly sunny day.  Trolleys, taxi’s and horsedrawn carriages carried visitors between Inns and fresh cookies and refreshments were ready at each stop.  At Williams House we began decorating Nov. 1 and finished a day or two before the tour.   We had six rooms plus the common area open for touring and everything was decorated to the max.  Our cookie was a peanut butter, oatmeal variety with both regular and dark chocolate M&M’s.  Thanks to our slight over-cooking, I am still enjoying a few.  Carriage horses Boomer and Jazz moved between Hoyt, Williams House and Fairbanks and the trolley moved visitors from Hoyt to Elizabeth Pointe.  Taxi’s took them the final leg to Amelia Ocean Front.  We had an excellent turn-out that was 70% higher than last year.  Apparently lot’s of folks wanted to get into the Christmas spirit or they are really serious cookie fans!  A portion of the revenue will be given to Barnabus Center, our charity for 2011, and the added crowd versus last year will help us give them a larger donation. We want to thank Barabus for their volunteers who helped each B&B with stageing their rooms and guiding visitors.   Our thanks from the Williams House and all the other B&B’s for public support of this tour and our charity and we look forward to even bigger results next year!  We hope you enjoy some pictures from the event and the Williams House.

Jaime,Deborah,Byron&Jami on WH porch before tour began

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House front porch

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House dining room

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House stairwell

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House grand hall

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House parlor

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House hall tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Top porch tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dining room table

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Flamingo Christmas tree

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Candy pole sign

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Williams House decorations

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Decorations with a candy theme

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Deborah tells visitors our history

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visitors prepare to tour Williams House

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Visitors size up Boomer

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Jazz also treats guests to ride

 
 

Cookies and Christmas in November on Amelia Island

Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

Amelia Island B&B cookie tour

The annual Amelia Island Bed and Breakfast Association Cookie Tour is coming soon on November 19 from 12 to 5 pm.  It’s an opportunity to see eight Amelia Island Inns decorated for Christmas (yes we know this is early and before Thanksgiving) and it will put you in the mood and give you ideas for Christmas decorating.  In addition you get cookies…lots of cookies at each Inn including the recipe for how to make them in case one turns out to be your favorite.  All the Inns are busy putting their Christmas decorations in place and the halls will be decked with Holly for all visitors to see and enjoy. 
We still have rooms at the Williams House and a special package with discounted room rates for two nights that includes two tickets for the tour.  Come join the fun, see decorated Inns and be inspired for the Christmas season before anyone else in your family or neighborhood.  Attached are some scenes from last year’s decoratiuons at the Williams House.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off Amelia Island

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

Yes, that title is a mouthful, but so was the barbecue at the last weekend’s Great Southern Tailgate Cook-Off.  Held on Amelia Island  for the second year, it featured expert barbecue teams from all around the south.  Having tasted several, I have to say they were great at their chosen profession or hobby! Crowds were good and every where you looked people were enjoying their favorite version of barbecue. Pulled pork, ribs, chicken were all  available and the smell of wood fired cookers filled the air.  Visitors  could also get smoothies, funnel cakes, fries, onion rings and beverages.  Held at main beach with ocean backdrops, it was a fun event with great views.

cooking up close

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Crowds sniff out favorite barbecue

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unique vehicles add flair

 

 

 

 

 

 

Music added to the fun

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deborah with friends Bob & Sue order up

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to great barbecue

Exploring Fort Clinch with Family

Monday, July 4th, 2011

Byron's brother Gary at entrance to Fort Clinch

 

Byron’s brother Gary visited recently from Raleigh, NC and we had the opportunity to introduce him to one of our favorite local attractions, Fort Clinch, an historical Florida State Park.  Started as part of the United States coastal defense system before the civil war, it never really saw action although Union soldiers occupied the fort during the war.  It was worked on again as part of the 1930′s WPA projects as were many of these early forts.  Since then it has been worked on with volunteers and donations and is largely intact and complete.  It is usually manned by at least one soldier in period uniform who will gladly enlighten you on what life was like in the fort during the 1860′s.  On the first weekend of each month in the summer, reenactments are staged with larger numbers of soldiers joining the historic setting.  There are numerous tunnel like alley ways to and from various parts of the fort, cannons atop the walls, gun turrets, a dry moat, powder rooms, officer and enlisted quarters, jail, kitchen and blacksmith shop.  The fort is about four miles from the current Fernandina Beach historic district and sits at the northern most point of Amelia Island.  There is beach access and a fishing pier within the park as well.  Views north to the south end of Cumberland Island are available from atop the river side walls.  We always encourage guests at the Williams House to find time to visit this little piece of history and try to imagine what life was like on Amelia Island in the 1800′s.

Quarter masters office at Ft. Clinch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bunk bed's in officer's room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of ocean from gun port

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Soldier explains gun turret workings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cannon aimed along fort perimeter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tunnel leading to gun turret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ammunition storage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gary climbs to the turret

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Byron rests by the cannon

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View of fishing pier and beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumberland Island view

Experiencing an Amelia Island River Cruise

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

Deborah, Sue and Bob ready for departure

We recently had friends visiting from North Carolina and arranged for a river cruise to treat them to local views and history. We’ve been several times and are always impressed by learning something new on each trip, and on this particular visit, we were fortunate to get a very close up view of the wild horses, which histroically we have only seen from a distance. It was a strange day in that fires burning in the okefenokee swamp had created a smoke haze for the early part of the trip, giving the views a nostalgic old fashioned feeling.

These cruises are popular with Williams House guests since you get to see shrimp boats, Fort Clinch from the river, Old Town and the Pippi  Longstocking house, beaches, marshes, the port, the paper mill, Cumberland Island, wild horses, flying manta rays, dolphins, and in our case the Dungeness ruins.   In addition there is a history lesson on from the early days of the island to the present made interesting by your hosts on the tour.  It’s a liesurely tour with great views.  There are three cruises daily  including morning, mid day and sunset. 

Shrimp boats

 

Smoke from the fires blocks the sky

 

Captain's or Pippi Longstocking house from river

 

Fort Clinch

 

Dunes on Cumberland Island

 

Tree on Cumberland Island shoreline

 

Cumberland Island marshes

 

Horses walk the beach on Cumberland Island

 

Stallion leads the group

 

Returning to Fernandina

2011 Amelia Island Shrimp Festival Parade

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

Honor guard starts the parade

floats of all types participate

Stage coach at shrimp festival parade

One of our favorite times on Amelia Island and the largest festival is the Shrimp Festival, held the first weekend of May each year.  Festivities begin with a parade on Thursday evening and it is the longest of the year at over and hour.  Many residents, businesses and associations participate and awards are given for the best float linking in the parade theme.  It is truly a family affair with many children participating and many more lining the streets to get glimpses of all the fun floats and characters from pirates to Disney type costumes.  Of course pirates abound and the parade closes with the pirate ship firing loud and smokey guns and cannon.  Candy and beads are given out to spectators and everyone vies for the most collected and greatest variety.  This is our sixth year of attending and viewing from the Williams House and this was the first year threatened by rain.  But, rain came just before the parade, stopped for the hour plus of the parade and resumed again soon thereafter.    Once again the parade was dry and fun!  Enjoy the attached pictures.

old fire engine

 

Williams House guests enjoy parade from porches

 

Shrimps abound

 

Characters welcome

 

Another shrimp float

 

This shrimp rocks

 

Dancing in the street

 

Kids enjoy parade

 

Another fun float

 

Beware of pirates

 

Pirates must have a ship

Amelia Island Concours D’Elegance – 2011

Saturday, March 12th, 2011

Beautiful Dusenberg

 

The 2011 Concours D’Elegance or parade of elegance kicked off yesterday with a group of cars coming downtown to show a portion of what will be presented at the Amelia Island golf course on Sunday.  There were plenty of options from Allard to Dusenberg, Ferrari to vintage race cars with something for every taste.  Many proud drivers and owners were nearby to explain details of the restorations and their own car’s history.  There was a good crowd on a beautiful but slightly cool day in downtown Fernandina Beach.  The show continues today with the auction segment and tomorrow these cars and many more are displayed on the golf course for enthusiastic auto buffs and anyone who appreciates the finest in automotive design and restoration.  We and most of the island’s lodging have been booked out for months and restaurants are mostly fully booked in advance.  A great time to visit if you enjoy cars and the early start of Spring on Amelia Island.

Colorful restoration

 

Beautiful engines

 

Sporty and colorful

 

Elegance from past motoring

 

Ready to race

 

Ready for a road trip

 

Orange and black beauty

Amelia Island Garden Show – Year 2

Monday, March 7th, 2011

Colorful flowers at garden show

Last weekend was the second annual flower and garden show on Amelia Island.  We were blessed with beautiful weather near 80 degrees and sunny skies.  Vendors include regular Farmer’s market vendors (held every Saturday morning) and additional and unique items.  Crowds were good and in addition to the booths there was live music, food, whirlygigs, vegetables and fruit, pasta and italian gourmet specialties.  Operating both Saturday and Sunday, it was a great time for Williams House guests to see a garden show and enjoy the local scenery.  Deborah picked up some fill in plants for some of the winter damage and some new twists.  We find garden beds a never ending story with some things doing well in Florida and others that struggle.  There were some awesome flowers for just about anyone’s taste and plenty of variety.  Attached below are a few colorful shots of the garden show activity and offerings.

Crowds seize the moment

Bonsai

Orchids

Bromeliads

Italian sauces

Yard art

More yard art

Deborah checks out metal works

Azaleas

Cacti

 

Entertainment

Amelia Island B&B’s Donate to Cats Angels and Nassau Humane Society

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Cats Angels downtown Fernandina

 

Each fall the Amelia Island B&B Association holds a cookie tour where visitors can enjoy seeing all of the B&B’s on the Saturday before Thanksgiving.  This is a fund raiser for both the association and charities.  Each year we select worthy charities and allocate a portion of our proceeds to their cause.  This years recipients included Cats Angels and Nassau Humane Society.  Recently, Deborah McCutchen of the Williams House, who is President of the local association,  and Theresa Hamilton from Fairbanks House visited both groups to  present checks from the association.  It was impressive to see both of these groups efforts to care for the local animal community and attempt placement of abandoned and stray animals.  We hope these donations will help further their missions and apply some love and care for animals in need of a helping hand.

Cats at play

 

More cats at play

 

Deborah presents check

 

Dogs utilize the pool at Nassau Humane Society

 

Theresa Hamilton presents check

Williams House Carriage Rides Resume with Warmer Temps

Sunday, February 13th, 2011

Boomer meets guests & hunts snacks

 

One of the favorite activities for guests at the Williams House is horsedrawn carriage rides thru the historic downtown area.  The town is so rich in history and with Victorian homes and buildings ready to tell their story, 50 minutes passes before you know it!  Of course every ride begins with Boomer meeting and greeting guests, but really just anxiously awaiting treats from Byron and Deborah.  He also has a few stops along the way where food is anticipated and expected.  Cindy and her daughter Nicole do a great job of filling in the Island’s history and retelling the secrets of its homes and  early times.  As usually these rides taper off during January due to both cold weather and short days.  But Valentine’s weekend restarts the season as it did this year with a desire for the romantic rides and somewhat warmer temps.  We had three rides this weekend and the evidence is visible below.  Come join us and enjoy an informative and fun historic carriage ride.

Waiting for Boomer power and a ride

 

Guests enjoy the size and beauty of Boomer

 

Boomer being fed and entertaining

 

Boomer creates excitement