City Profile: Fernandina Beach

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Take a horse drawn carriage ride through Fernandina Beach

Photo Credit: Contributed Photo

Fernandina Beach's history is preserved in its architecture and traditions.

Bring along your adventurous spirit, because there's plenty to explore in the Victorian seaport village of Fernandina Beach, where you can enjoy some of the world's sweetest shrimp. In fact, Fernandina is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry. And today, many old world customs are still preserved. Here, the skill of netmaking remains a handcrafted specialty.

Bring your walking shoes too, because you'll also find a National Register historic district that covers over 50 blocks. Enjoy a stroll down Fernandina's Centre Street, the main boulevard lined with a collection of antique shops, boutiques, fine restaurants, historic homes and late Victorian Inns.

Another Centre Street favorite is Florida's oldest tavern, The Palace Saloon, once the haunt of the Vanderbilts, DuPonts and Carnegies.

From charming white clapboard to ornate gothic revival, the historic churches of Amelia can be appreciated for their architectural design and religious significance. First Presbyterian is the oldest church in Fernandina dating back to 1860 and is recorded in the Library of Congress. Enjoy the splendor of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which has been called "a great ornament to our city." This church was a departure at the time, boasting ornate windows adorned with stained glass.