Awards and Accolades

Amelia Island has become a beloved destination for visitors and residents alike and both the island and its partners are the winners of countless awards. See how others have ranked Amelia Island, and then come experience it for yourself.

2024

• #1 IN BEST ISLAND IN THE U.S., Global Traveler Magazine, 2024
• #2 IN THE BEST ISLANDS IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S., Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, 2024
• #9 IN BEST FAMILY BEACH VACATIONS IN THE U.S., U.S. News & World Report, 2024

2023

• #1 OF FLORIDA’S BEST SMALL BEACH TOWNS in Travel Curator, 2023
• #8 OF TOP ISLANDS IN THE US in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, 2023
• #36 IN THE 50 BEST SMALL TOWNS IN THE SOUTH, Southern Living, 2023
• #5 IN BEST FAMILY BEACH VACATIONS IN THE U.S., U.S. News & World Report, 2023
• #7 IN BEST ROMANTIC GETAWAYS IN THE USA, U.S. News & World Report, 2023
• #11 IN BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN FLORIDA, U.S. News & World Report, 2023
• #13 IN BEST BEACHES IN FLORIDA, U.S. News & World Report, 2023
• #14 IN BEST HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS IN THE USA, U.S. News & World Report, 2023
• #16 IN BEST BEACHES IN THE U.S., U.S. News & World Report, 2023

2022

• #3 OF TOP ISLANDS IN THE US in Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards, 2022
• #10 U.S. ISLANDS in Travel + Leisures World’s Best Awards, 2022
• #2 BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACH TOWN, FLORIDA EAST by Wherever Awards, 2022
• #15 SAFEST CITIES IN FLORIDA by Safewise, 2022
• #25 PRETTIEST TOWNS IN THE SOUTH by Southern Living, 2022

2021

• #3 TOP CONTINENTAL U.S. ISLAND in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, 2021
• 6 EAST COAST BEACHES TO LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE AT THIS SUMMER by Marie Claire, 2021
• #3 BEST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BEACH TOWN, Florida East by Global Traveler Wherever Awards, 2021
• #9 Top 10 U.S. Island by Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, 2021
• Top 25 Islands in the U.S. for an Affordable Getaway by ShermansTravel, 2021
• Top 10 Best East Coast Beaches for Families from Maine to Florida by Trivago Magazine, 2021
• Favorite Beach Town, Florida East by Trazee Travel, 2021
• The 46 Most Quaint and Charming Beach Towns in America For Your Best Vacation Yet by Good Housekeeping, 2021
• America’s Best Beach Towns by Trips to Discover, 2021
• 19 Gorgeous Islands in the US you can Drive to by MSN Lifestyle, 2021
• 10 Most Underrated Romantic Destinations in the US by MSN Travel, 2021

2020

• 6 Top 15 Islands in the US by Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards, 2020
• FAVORITE BEACH TOWN, FLORIDA (East) by Trazees Travel, 2020
• Top 10 U.S. Islands (#9) – Readers’ Choice Awards by Condé Nast Traveler, 2020
• Amelia Schoolhouse Inn was named #7 of Top 10 Best New Hotels by Southern Living, 2020
• TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE U.S. (#6) –  Travel + Leisure’s 2020 World’s Best Awards

Even farther back …!

• 12 CHARMING SMALL TOWNS IN THE SOUTH WITH WARM HOSPITALITY & ABUNDANT NATURAL BEAUTY – Trip Advisor, 2019
• THE BEST ISLANDS IN AMERICA – CNN, 2019 
• 14 SCENIC ISLAND VACATIONS IN THE US OOZING WITH CHARM – TripAdvisor, 2019
• 10 exceptionally charming downtowns in the US –  LINK ON APPLE, TripAdvisor, 2019
• 17 BEAUTIFUL SMALL TOWNS TO VISIT IN THE UNITED STATES – TripAdvisor, 2019
• Top 10 Islands in the U.S. (#8) – Travel + Leisure’s 2019 World’s Best Awards 
• BEST ISLANDS IN AMERICA (#2) – Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards, 2018
• BEST ISLANDS IN  AMERICA – CNN, 2018
• TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE US (#6) – Travel + Leisure’s 2018 World’s Best Awards
• Southeast Tourism Society (STS) for two of the destination’s signature events – Dickens on Centre and the Petanque Amelia island Open
• TOP 10 MOST ROMANTIC PLACES IN FLORIDA – Coastal Living, 2018
• MOST BLISSFUL DESTINATION FOR WELLNESS TRAVEL (#4) – TripAdvisor, 2018
• TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE US (#3) – Conde Nast Traveler RCA, 2017
• BEST ROMANTIC GETAWAY – Jezebel – Best of Atlanta, 2017
• 20 BEST PLACES TO LIVE ON THE COAST – Coastal Living, 2017 
• 9 US BEACH TOWNS WHERE YOU’LL COME FOR SUMMER BUT STAY FOREVER (#1) – Huffington Post, 2017
• HAPPIEST SEASIDE TOWN (#4) – Coastal Living, 2017
• Best Places to Live – BEST HISTORIC DOWNTOWN – Coastal Living, 2017
• TOP BEACHES IN FLORIDA – USA Today, 2017
• BEST SMALL TOWNS 2017 (#6) – Southern Living, 2017
• 10 BEST BEACHES IN FLORIDA – 2016 Conde Nast Traveler
• TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE U.S. – Trip Advisor  2016
• #3 BEST COASTAL SMALL TOWN Fernandina Beach – USA Today 10 Best 2016
• TOP 10 US ISLANDS (#5) – USA Today Travel, 2014
• 11 SMALL FLORIDA TOWNS YOU NEED TO VISIT (#11) – Buzzfeed.com 2014
• AMERICA’S FAVORITE BEACH TOWNS (#3) – Travel & Leisure, 2014
• AMERICA’S MOST ROMANTIC TOWNS (#3) – Travel & Leisure, 2014
• AMERICA’S QUIRKIEST TOWNS (#19) – Travel & Leisure, 2014
• BEST BEACH TOWNS IN FLORIDA – HuffingtonPost.com, 2014
• TOP 25 GOLF ISLANDS IN THE WORLD (#13) – LINKS Magazine, 2014
• “TOP 10 ISLANDS IN THE UNITED STATES” (7th Consecutive Year) – Condé Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
• “TOP 25 ISLANDS IN THE WORLD” – Condé Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards
• “Top 10 Islands in the United States” – TripAdvisor.com 2013 Travelers’ Choice Awards
• 2013 Best Beach Towns (#6) – Parents Magazine
• ROMANTIC BEACH GETAWAYS – Travel + Leisure 2013
• AMERICA’S FAVORITE TOWNS (#5) – Travel + Leisure – 2013
• BEST FAMILY VACATION DESTINATIONS – Away.com, 2012
• 8 Treasured Islands for Serene Living – Where to Retire
• “Best Small Town Getaway” – Southern Living
• “Best Little Beach Towns” – Coastal Living
• 10 Best Spring Break Getaways – Yahoo!
• 10 CHARMING ISLAND TOWNS WITH LOCAL FLAVOR – Smarter Travel.com/USA Today,  2012
• TOP 10 MULTI-GENERATIONAL VACATION DESTINATIONS – Next Avenue.org