Jacksonville
Your getaway to Jacksonville
Start with the postcard: the Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk, bridges strung with light as the sun drops. Riverside's Five Points gives you the neighborhood wander, bungalow streets, coffee, and a record shop or two. Lunch on Mayport shrimp at a dockside shack, because a city should taste like where it is. The Cummer Museum splits the difference between art and gardens, and the river terrace asks nothing of you. An afternoon at Jacksonville Beach is non-negotiable: pier, sand, and a cold drink within a block of the water. The water taxi across the St. Johns is a small pleasure that costs almost nothing. Dinner in San Marco Square, where the choice between bistro and oyster bar is the day's hardest decision. If the timing works, the Saturday market under the bridge is the city at its most itself. Keep one morning unplanned; the Timucuan marshes reward a spontaneous kayak. You will leave with a fair picture of the place, and a reason to come back.
Places to love in Jacksonville
Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
73-acre zoo with over 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants, one of only 7 US zoos with an animal wellness team.
zoo
Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
Non-profit wildlife sanctuary providing a safe, loving home for endangered big cats and educating the public about their plight.
park
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Art museum and gardens built on the former estate of Arthur and Ninah Cummer.
garden
Kingsley Plantation
Historic plantation site including remains of slave quarters.
landmark
Little Talbot Island State Park
Coastal state park with a multi-use trail through barrier island habitat.
park
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Lakefront and oceanfront park with campsites, playgrounds, and bike rentals.
park
St Johns Town Center
Outdoor lifestyle mall with 175 stores, the hub of shopping and dining in Jacksonville.
shopping mall
Riverside Arts Market
Riverside market featuring local food and merchandise vendors.
market
Big Talbot Island State Park
State park known for its scenic Boneyard Beach shoreline picnic area.
park