Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean, lush marshlands and the Intracoastal Waterway, the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort is Florida’s award-winning island destination.

The oceanfront retreat, located just north of Jacksonville, offers a luxury resort experience in perfect harmony with nature.

Both the beauty and the bounty of this seaside escape culminate each spring in the resort’s annual Fish to Fork weekend, a finely produced, fresh-catch culinary excursion May 18-21. Renowned chefs from around the country compete on the water and in the kitchen in tests of their angling and culinary skills. Before the main event, guests pair up with a chef and a captain for an off-shore fishing trip in pursuit of local species—like Atlantic Grouper, Red Drum and Black Sea Bass—to be served up by the sporting chef at the evening’s cooking competition. A live vote decides the winner.

During the weekend, foodies can indulge in healthy, local fare produced onsite by The Sprouting Project, an effort led by Executive Chef Daven Wardynski to create a sustainable resource of food for ten on-property restaurants and lounges. Attendees will enjoy a luncheon with live music and a tour of the state-of-the-art aquaponic greenhouse, expansive organic garden, large beehive collection and barrel room that make up The Sprouting Project, heralded as Wardynski’s “legacy to Omni Amelia Island Plantation.”

Situated on 1,350 acres, the property has 404 luxury oceanfront guest rooms and suites, as well as a world-class spa. A spectacular welcome experience, overlooking an infinity-edged pool with stunning ocean views, enchants guests upon arrival.

Ten superb restaurants and lounges have earned the resort a reputation for dining excellence through inventive southern-style fare, farm-to-table dining, fresh seafood and a variety of local specialties including “Floribbean” fare, pizza by the slice and homemade ice cream.

Outside, the resort plays host to a variety of recreational activities for guests of all ages, from Segway and bicycle adventures to paddle boarding and kayaking tours. Chat with the resort’s naturalists, rent a fishing pole or take a guided walk through the coveted nature center.

Fans of the fairway can enjoy three championship golf courses, including Oak Marsh and Ocean Links, which have the most seaside golf holes in Florida. The greens and fairways, ensconced by Spanish-moss-covered oaks, wooded interior of the island, marshes and coastline, are some of the state’s most picturesque.