Featured B&B: The Addison on Amelia Island

There’s much to love about The Addison on Amelia Island.

After an intensive, 5 year search for their dream bed & breakfast, Bob and Shannon Tidball purchased the Addison on Amelia Island, Florida, in December of 2007. Although they quickly re-opened The Addison’s doors in January of 2008, Bob and Shannon’s graciousness, hospitality, friendliness and professionalism as innkeepers would have you believing they’ve been in the B&B industry for much longer than 7 months.

Making various adjustments and improvements since purchasing the property last winter, the Tidballs have successfully added their personal touch to many aspects of the inn. From creating a first-class web site that aptly captures the essence of the inn, to hosting unparalleled happy hours and serving scrumptious breakfasts, Bob and Shannon have created a unique, soothing oasis for visitors to historic Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island.

But I must forewarn you… upon taking us up on this recommendation and staying at this tranquil inn, you may never want to return home again.

Now that that disclosure is out of the way, are you ready for a peek inside?

Although The Addison on Amelia Island (quaintly billed as a boutique inn) is comprised of 3 antebellum-style houses which encompass a stunning garden courtyard, the room we chose for our stay, Room 3, was located in the main house of the inn.

The main house, built as a private home for merchant Frank Simmons in 1876, retains much of its original charm in spite of undergoing several renovations. Boasting the original home’s heart-of-pine wood floors, stunning 11 foot ceilings, 5 (now decorative) fireplaces and gracious architectural style, we found our accommodations lovely in every way.

Containing 5 of the inn’s 14 guest rooms, our room was located on the second floor of the main house and featured a very usable, extremely spacious, private balcony which overlooked other period homes located along Ash Street.

To say we enjoyed this balcony as much as we did our room itself is an understatement. Between the plush, wicker rocking chairs (which were ever-so-comfy), lush surroundings and bird’s eye view, my husband and I spent as much time reconnecting (and napping) in the great outdoors as we did enjoying the creature comforts of our room.

Back outside, guests are invited to gather, dine and visit on the shared courtyard verandah, pictured on the far left of the photo below.

While a few of The Addison’s guest rooms feature patios and balconies overlooking the fabulous garden courtyard, all of the inn’s guests are invited to afternoon happy hour, served on the covered verandah rain or shine.

Rest assured, I will be covering the perks of Bob and Shannon’s happy hour in upcoming posts, but until then, I have to share a snippet of what guests of The Addison can expect to find each and every afternoon…

Of all the things I truly loved about The Addison on Amelia Island, this inn’s happy hour is what I miss the most.

Yes… the food was fabulous, the wine divine, and the beer was chilled and tasty. True, our plates were full and our glasses were never empty (thank you Bob and Shannon).

But what I miss the most is the conversation and companionship we shared with our fellow guests and intelligent hosts: our talks about what everyone did that day, where we were (or should be) headed for dinner, where everyone was originally from, and what we were all doing on vacation and in our lives.

When it comes right down to it, that’s why I prefer staying at B&B’s versus any other type of public lodging: because of the people you meet, the friends you make, and the connection you all share.

True, you may only exchange a brief moment in each other’s lives, but somehow a bond is made and you carry around a piece of each other forever, if only in a favorite memory.

To make your own memories at this wonderful inn, I invite you to contact Bob and Shannon Tidball at The Addison on Amelia Island:

Be sure to tell them Inn Cuisine sent you!

Up next… signature recipes of The Addison on Amelia Island.

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