The coastal community of the Yulee/Fernandina Beach/ Amelia Island area in Nassau County is one of Northeast Florida’s most unique places to live.

Nassau County offers something for everyone — from strolling the charming historic district lined with boutiques and cafes, to enjoying live music, art festivals, and waterfront dining. Whether you’re exploring the island’s pristine beaches or setting out on a sunset cruise, there’s always something to experience.

A pleasant coastal climate

Yulee is located just west of Fernandina Beach, which is situated on Amelia Island, a 13-mile long barrier island that’s part of the Sea Islands chain that runs along the North Florida coast into South Carolina. With its temperate climate, ocean breezes and more moderate temperatures than those of points farther north and south, Nassau County residents can enjoy the outdoors all year long. Unlike many other parts of Florida, the area has an abundance of unspoiled dunes, waterways and maritime forests, perfect for both active outdoor enthusiasts and those who simply like to enjoy nature.

Outdoor activities in the Yulee/Fernandina Beach area include hiking, cycling, birding, and shelling. With the ocean, rivers, and waterways that surround the area, Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island are a mecca for watersports fans who enjoy boating, kayaking, fishing, and sailing. There are plenty of public boat ramps throughout the area, so it’s easy to get out on the water any day of the week.

As it is throughout Northeast Florida, golf is big here! Public and private courses abound, and the area is host to some of the most well-attended professional golf tournaments in the country.

Where history is kept alive

If you’re a history buff, you’ll be in your element in Fernandina Beach. From the Native American Timucuan people who lived here for centuries between the years 1000 to 1700, to the Gilded Age more than a hundred years ago when wealthy industrialists put the island on the world map, you’ll never run out of history to explore here. In between, everyone from pirates to confederates played roles in the area’s diverse history. Possession of the island changed hands many times, with eight nation’s flags having flown over it. Today, the island is sometimes referred to as the Isle of Eight Flags in honor of its rich, colorful past. An important part of that past is brought to life at the 1,400-acre Fort Clinch State Park, which was of strategic importance during the Civil War. Not only do visitors have access to the fort’s grounds and rooms, but they can also experience a living history program from the park’s reenactors, including cannon fire demonstrations every month.

Shopping, galleries, dining and more

Northeast Florida residents know where to go for some of the area’s best choices in shopping, dining, and entertainment—Fernandina Beach! Whether you want to throw on shorts and sandals for a waterside lunch or make it a night on the town at a fine-dining spot, you have plenty of choices here. With fishing and shrimp boats at the docks each day, fresh seafood appears on most menus, but you can also enjoy steakhouses, organic restaurants, bistros, and much more.

You can have a different shopping experience every day of the week, with dozens of antique stores, art galleries, boutiques, surf shops and more just a short drive away. One of the area’s main attractions has it all, and it’s right in the downtown historic district. Take in the sights on a horse-drawn carriage, or stroll down Centre Street for an up-close take on the shops, galleries, bars, and restaurants that line this scenic street. The heart of the city is also where concerts, holiday gatherings, and renowned art festivals take place year-round.

Living in Nassau County

Although it’s known for its natural beauty and cultural attractions, day-to-day life in the Yulee/Fernandina Beach area is convenient for its residents. Families love it for its small-town feel, plus the area’s outstanding public school system, a consistently A-rated district and one of the first in Florida to earn accreditation district-wide.

Yulee and Fernandina Beach are also home to excellent medical care facilities that offer comprehensive in- and outpatient services. In addition, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is less than an hour away.

Getting to Yulee/Fernandina Beach is easy—it’s just 30 minutes from Jacksonville International Airport and a few miles from Interstate 95. Fernandina Beach also has a municipal airport. Speaking of Jacksonville, if you want to take advantage of what city life offers, its downtown area is a quick drive from Fernandina Beach. Take in a pro football or baseball game, spend a day with the family at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens or the Museum of Science and History, or come for the big-name concerts.