Amelia Island Celebrates Shrimping History during “Shrimp Days of Summer”

Amelia Island CVB

When it comes to shrimp, Amelia Island is quite a catch. Known as northeast Florida’s coastal treasure and a consistently top-ranked U.S. island, Amelia Island was once the shrimping capital of the world. To celebrate the local crustacean and its history in the area, Amelia Island’s annual “Shrimp Days of Summer” tempts travelers and their families to savor a tasty end-of-summer getaway with special offers, activities and events from August 15 through September 30*. The second annual celebration offers many ways to enjoy “all things shrimp” and create lasting summer memories. A complete list of Shrimp Days of Summer packages and special offers can be found online at www.AmeliaIsland.com/Shrimp.

Shrimp Days of Summer offers include:

• Book a two-night stay at The Addison on Amelia Island and receive 20 percent off a single or couple’s massage at Coastal Massage; a bottle of house wine upon arrival; and an Addison on Amelia beach tote and beach towel. Rates starts at $546 for a queen room and $573 for king room. For booking information, visit www.addisononamelia.com.
• Get away to the Omni Amelia Island Plantation resort and indulge on locally caught shrimp with a food and beverage credit. The Fresh Catch Getaway package includes ocean front accommodations and a $25 food and beverage credit per night. Starting rate is $245 per night for a deluxe ocean front room. For booking information, visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/amelia-island-plantation/specials/fresh-catch-giveaway.
• Guests who stay at Hoyt House two or more consecutive nights during the month of August or September will receive a shrimp cocktail for two and drink of choice from their pub. Starting rate is $225 per night. For booking information, call Hoyt House at 800-432-2085 or 904-277-4300 and mention “Shrimp Days of Summer.”
• Stay three nights at Unique Rental, Inc. and Management Services and get one night free (plus taxes and departure fees). Starting rates range from $250 to $450 per night. For booking information, visit www.uniqueameliaisland.com and use promo code “Shrimp Days.”
• Celebrate all things shrimp at The Villas of Amelia Island Plantation’s specialty restaurants, Verandah and Oceanside. The Fresh Catch Getaway package includes overnight accommodations and a $25 food and beverage credit per night. Starting rates are $237 per night for a resort view room. For booking information, visit www.omnihotels.com/hotels/villas-amelia-island-plantation/resort-details/specials/fresh-catch-getaway.
• Explore the island by kayak with Amelia Island Kayak Excursions for a special rate of $75 per person, which includes a free digital photo memory album as a keepsake. For booking information, call 904-557-5307.
• Take $10 off a guided boat tour with Backwater Cat Adventures using promo code “Shrimp Days of Summer.” For booking information, visit www.backwatercatadventures.com.
• Jump aboard a Shrimping Eco Tour with Amelia River Cruises where you’ll enjoy an interactive tour of Tiger Basin that includes deploying and retrieving the shrimp nets and releasing the catch back into the wild.  For booking information, visit www.ameliarivercruises.com.
• Enjoy 15 percent off the Chef’s shrimp dinner entre at Burlingame Restaurant, offering a relaxed fine-dining experience in the Historic District of Fernandina Beach.

In addition to the offers above, other on-island, shrimp-themed activities include a visit to the Fernandina Beach Shrimping Museum and Marine Welcome Center, where visitors discover the local shrimping history and learn about netmaking, shipbuilding and the families that brought modern shrimping to Florida. A trip aboard the Amelia River Cruises for the Shrimping Eco Tour provides an interactive exploration of the Tiger Basin, where guests are coached on the operation of an Otter Trawl shrimp net, similar to the nets used today by commercial shrimpers. And, for those wanting to keep the shrimp theme going after they’ve returned home, a collection of shrimp recipes from some of the island’s most popular restaurants is available online, featuring everything from blackened shrimp and southern-style shrimp salad to shrimp and goat cheese quiche, and shrimp and corn funnel cake.

For additional details on Shrimp Days of Summer events, offers and ideas for planning your getaway to Amelia Island, visit www.AmeliaIsland.com.

* Promotion runs August 15-September 30, 2019. All packages and special offers are based on availability. Blackout dates apply. Restrictions apply based on individual property. Prices vary. Please contact individual properties for restrictions and to book a package.