Amelia Island Top Ten To Do’s – Page 2

February 22nd, 2011

Concours car show

 

Having already delivered the first top ten things to do when visiting Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach, we now move on to the next ten on our way to more than thrity things that are fun to do while visiting with us at the Williams House.  Some items are annual, like the car show pictured  at left, but most of the items are available nearlyyear round.  Hope you can come visit for the fist time, or come back and do some of the things you couldn’t get done on your prior visits.

Top Ten Things To Do on Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach – pt.2

  1. Visit the Concours D’Elegance car show
  2. Enjoy Kingsley Plantation on Ft. George Island
  3. Tour Art Studios
  4. Take a ghost tour
  5. Learn history on a Museum tour
  6. Go antiquing
  7. Use Williams House bikes to tour
  8. See a real live working shrimpboat
  9. See a sunset at the Marina
  10. See Old Town, the original Fernandina settlement

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

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

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Great Day for Williams House Carriage Ride

February 22nd, 2011

Dan and Liz meet Boomer

 

We always enjoy returning guests and recently Dan and Liz came back for a return visit.  After catching up with Byron and Deborah over wine hour, they decided to enjoy a historical carriage tour through downtown Fernandina, and met the great white horse Boomer.  They enjoyed the ride and Boomer and learned a lot of history about this quaint town and island.  They continue to explore and experience our great local restaurants mixing new ones with those they already know.  It was great to see them again and we look forward to another visit.

Liz and Dan ready to ride

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Amelia Island Williams House Featured in Miami Herald

February 15th, 2011

 

Williams House B&B

 

The Amelia Island Williams House was recently featured in an article on Romantic Getaways in the February 13 Sunday edition of the Miami Herald.  Covering Inns across the state for Valentine’s weekend, the Williams House was described as “the perfect introduction” to B&B stays.  The author describes guest’s first reaction as “wow” and building from that to the amenities, breakfasts and wine hour that create a double “wow”!  A picture of our parlor was included and we appreciate all the nice things said about our Inn.  We enjoy creating a romantic and relaxing B&B experience for guests while they discover quaint Fernandina Beach and the slow paced beauty of Amelia Island.

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Carriage Ride Leads to Engagement at Williams House

February 15th, 2011

Happy couple meets Boomer

We always enjoy guests taking the historic carriage ride, but sometimes these rides are truly special.  Such was the case yesterday for Craig and Jessica when he surprised her both with the carriage ride and by proposing during the ride. Craig had planned the entire trip, including choosing the Williams House, restaurants, and activities and especially the important carriage ride.  Nicole, Boomer’s driver took them down to the water front  for the sunset and that is where Craig proposed.  Dinner followed at Joe’s Second Street Bistro and they arrived back at the Williams House to a nice bottle of chilled wine in their room.  We have to admit staying at the Williams House is a romantic experience and it’s a great place to do something really special for the one you love.  We wish Craig and Jessica all the best and are happy to have been a part of their special time.

Readyfor a ride and a surprise

Happy couple in front of Williams House

Another pose by the camillia tree

A beautiful engagement ring

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Williams House Carriage Rides Resume with Warmer Temps

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

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Tick, Tock, Guest Fixes Williams House Clock!

February 11th, 2011

Grandmother clock in WH dining room

We never know whom we will meet as guests come and go at the Williams House and that is part of the fun and excitement of owning a bed and breakfast.  Recently, one of our grooms told me he was was a Horologist and that led into a discussion of our grandmother clock made by my father.  I told him it wasn’t working quite right and over the course of the next two days, it was oiled, fixed, reset and now is working perfectly.   His father has been in the clock business since 1944 and David is now active with two shops in the Tampa area.  The company name is Boyd Clocks and they sell, repair and restore clocks of all kinds.  It was very kind of him to help us get our clock going on his honeymoon, but you can tell he has a love for all things clock and enjoys making them work well.  We now here the gentle chimes throughout the day and have a way of telling time in the common areas.  If you are in need of clock repairs or advice, you can reach David at www.boydclocks.com, or boydclocks@gmail.com, or 813-281-2299.

Our thanks again to David for getting our clock back up and running!

Clock face

Another view

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Amelia Island Events for Every Interest

February 10th, 2011

Kate Bailey's tree on Ash St.

We have a variety of events thru the seasons on Amelia Island that can appeal to almost everyone’s favorite activity.  We have listed them below for those considering or planning a visit to Amelia Island.  Come and join us at the Amelia Island Williams House  for these events or just a relaxing getaway.  This list is primarily festivals but I’ve also added a few other items that may be of interest!

Amelia Island/Fernandina Beach Schedule of Events

Amelia Island Book Festival, Feb. 18-19 (www.ameliaislandbookfestival.com)

Amelia Island Film Festival, Feb. 24-27 (www.ameliaislandfilmfestival.com)

Concours D’Elegance, Mar. 11-13                           (www.ameliaconcours.org)

Old Town Bicentennial, April 2                 (www.oldtownfernandina.org) 

Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, April 29 – May 1 (www.shrimpfestival.com)

Wild Amelia Nature Festival, May 20-22              (www.wildamelia.com)

Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, May 20 – June 17 (www.aicmf.com)

Stars and Stripes Freedom Festival, July 4       (www.shinybadges.com)

Amelia Island Blues Festival, Sept. 16-17  (www.ameliaislandbluesfest.com)

Amelia Island Jazz Festival, Oct. 2-9                                                        (www.ameliaislandjazzfestival.com)

Amelia Island Autumn Fine Arts Festival, Oct. 8-9  (www.islandart.org)

Historic B&B Cookie Tour, Nov. 19              (www.ameliaislandinns.com)

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Skies Clear for February Williams House Wedding

February 8th, 2011

 

Bride Sable and her carriage

After a rainy week on Amelia Island the skies cleared for Sable and Kevin to be married on a sunny and slightly cool Sunday afternoon just before the superbowl.  About 50 guests enjoyed the ceremony and reception at the Williams House.  Sable arrived on  a horse drawn carriage pulled by “Boomer” and  was escorted down the aisle to meet her groom.  After the ceremony, officiated by Byron McCutchen, the bride and groom enjoyed a private moment on the carriage before joining their guests for the reception in our courtyard. Guests feasted on beef tenderloin served on rolls, an antipasta platter, mushrooms stuffed with sausage, bruschetta piled atop toasted croistini, and penne pasta with alfredo sauce  all prepared by the Williams House while  DJ Harmony played the bride and groom’s favorite music.  After the champagne toast and wedding cake were served the dancing and fun began!  Following the wedding, guests and friends adjourned to O’Kane’s Irish pub to watch the superbowl.  Fortunately for them, they were Packers fans!    Congratulations to Kevin and Sable on a beautiful and fun filled wedding at the Amelia Island Williams House bed and breakfast.

Kevin and his groomsmen

Sable escorted down the aisle to meet her groom

Bridesmaids and groomsmen

Beautiful setting in our courtyard

Bride and groom's table

rose petals lead guests to reception

A beautiful cake

Kevin and Sable join guests at reception

Couple's first dance as husband and wife

Guests enjoy the food

Playing nice at cake cutting

Family portrait

Bride and groom by Williams House fence

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Top Ten “To Do’s”- Amelia Island & Fernandina Beach

February 5th, 2011

Williams House beckons visitors to Amelia Island

While listening to a speaker at the recent innkeeping convention I was inspired to make a “top ten” list (Letterman style) for things to enjoy while visiting  Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach.  However, as I began to list these enjoyable potential items, the list grew longer and is now well above 30!  So…needless to say there are many local opportunities  to enjoy and I will start with ten in this blog and bring the rest forward a little later.  These ten are those most often enjoyed by the average guest and thus are repeated more than some of the others.  If you are planning to come for a visit….plan on these and stay tuned for more!

Williams House “Top Ten” List

1. Walk to and eat in one of more than 20 local fine restaurants.

2.Take a historic carriage ride thru downtown.

3. Enjoy a boat cruise around Cumberland Island.

4.Tour Fort Clinch Park, a civil war era fort.

5. Walk to and explore more than 20 boutique shops.

6. Visit the beach and ocean.

7. Visit the history museum.

8. Have dessert at the Icecream and Fudge shop on centre street.

9. Bike around the area (free as Williams House guests).

10. Explore the Saturday Farmer’s market.

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