Sink your toes into Jacksonville’s sandy beaches. Explore our abundant waterways. Shop and dine in eclectic neighborhoods. Play on the golf course or relax poolside. Start planning your next vacation. Jacksonville is Florida’s all-inclusive destination, where you don’t have to choose between the beach and the city, or between nature and culture. It really is as simple as 1-2-3, or in this case it’s more like reasons 1, 2, and 3.
Reason #1: Jacksonville’s Nature & Parks
You really have to see it to believe it. Jacksonville, the largest city by landmass in the nation, and Northeast Florida’s urban hub, is home to the largest urban-park system with more than 400 city parks, two national parks, and seven state parks. One of the best things about Jacksonville’s extensive park system is that many parks are waterfront, where visitors are able to swim, surf, paddleboard, scuba dive, boat, and fish as well as hike, camp, bike, and spot local wildlife. When it comes to water, Jacksonville has more shoreline than any other city in the U.S. with 22 miles of beaches, 40 miles of the Intracoastal Waterway, and the longest stretch of the St. Johns River in the State of Florida. Jacksonville is a natural water wonderland, the ideal destination to try that eco-adventure you always wanted to do!
What’s New?
The City of Jacksonville is turning an island in the middle of the St. Johns River in Downtown
Jacksonville into a kayak and camp site where visitors and boaters will be able to spend the
night and have access to facilities. The park should be ready in early 2016.
The National Parks System is in the process of developing a boat tour that will connect all
historical sites within the extensive Timucuan Historical and Ecological Preserve.
Hemming Park, Jacksonville’s first city park, is now run by a local non-profit that will transform it
into a venue for festivals, concerts, fresh markets, and unique weekly events.
Memorial Park, a historic riverfront park designed by the Olmsted Brothers almost a century
ago, is in the middle of a $400K renovation that will include restoration of the gardens and
statues, new fencing, and new historical markers.
Reason #2: Food & Beer
From the San Marco Dining district with its elegant bistros, to the shores of historic Mayport with its rustic fish camps, and the emerging foodie scene in Murray Hill, Jacksonville is a growing culinary destination with chefs trained all over the world now calling they city home. Local restaurants have unique menus that show a sense of Jacksonville pride by focusing on local produce, and the city as the main inspiration. Another foodie scene highlight is the amount of unique cocktail lounges, and breweries in Jacksonville. The city is home to eight craft breweries and two new ones in the works. And bars like Dos Gatos, The Volstead, The Flying Iguana, Bar X, and The Grape and Grain Exchange are combining new and exciting flavors that promote a farm to bar business flavor in their cocktails.
What’s New?
The Jax Ale Trail Passport connects all eight local craft breweries into one self-guided
tour. Bold City Brewery, Intuition Ale Works, Aardwolf Brewing Company, Green Room Brewing,
Engine 15 Brewing Company, Pinglehead Brewing Company, Zeta Brewing, and the new
Veterans United Brewery are all part of the new city attraction.
Intuition Ale Works just unveiled plans to move its brewery to Downtown Jacksonville, next to
city’s Sports Complex. The new brewery will have a rooftop beer garden overlooking the St.
Johns River. It is expected to be completed in late 2015.
A new festival is coming in spring of 2015 featuring Jacksonville’s growing foodie scene.
GastroFest Jacksonville is a one-day festival featuring the city’s best local food options.
Reason # 3: Culture & Arts
Jacksonville has consistently been ranked as one of the Top 25 Big Cities for Arts in the nation, and it is a recognition well deserved. In a city as large as Jacksonville culture translates into many things, like our diverse arts scene, our world-class museums, our rich musical past, our extensive surfing history, our African-American roots, and our southern values just to name a few. Jacksonville is a city of festivals with monthly events that capture the attention of thousands of visitors like the annual One Spark Festival, The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, The Florida Country SuperFest, Welcome to Rockville, Lanadoo, The Springing the Blues Festival, and JAXtoberfest. There’s so much to do at any given time in Jacksonville!
What’s New?
2015 is the year of the River in Jacksonville. Cultural organizations throughout the city will be
marking the special year with weekly River themed events, and exhibits.
The hashtag #JAXCulture is trending in Jacksonville after the release of a new marketing
campaign featuring all the unique activities that make up the city’s culture scene.
Jacksonville’s innovation festival, One Spark, is now international taking the concept to Berlin in
2014. The next edition of One Spark in Jacksonville will have even more creators, more
crowdfunding resources, and a larger audience.
Jacksonville’s Beaches
Sunbathe on our 22 miles of wide, uncrowded beaches.
Gorgeous white sand beaches await you just minutes from downtown Jacksonville. With plenty of beachfront and walking-distance accommodations, the beaches are a quick and easy escape from the everyday.
Jacksonville’s Beaches
Spend a day at the beach, paddleboard in the Atlantic, drop a line and go fishing at the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier, take a guided eco-kayak tour with Adventure Kayak Florida, or enjoy a surfing lesson with Jax Surf & Paddle. Grab your mask, fins and pick up a tank while you’re here! North Florida offer more reefs, more marine life and less people when compared to South Florida. One of the largest artificial reefs in the World is off our coast between Jacksonville and St. Augustine.
Top 3 Beaches In Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville boasts three main beach areas:
- Jacksonville Beach
- Neptune Beach
- Atlantic Beach
Don’t miss the historic fishing village of Mayport to the north for fresh seafood too! Along the 22-miles paradise, Jacksonville offers a range of activities including water sports, relaxation, nightlife, and family fun. During the Summer months jump aboard Jax Beach’s convenient Beaches Trolley to explore all the beach neighborhoods and attractions for just $1.50 fare.
Where to Surf
Locals say the best spot to hit the waves are “The Poles” located just inside Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park.
Best beaches in Florida
Jacksonville has more shoreline than any other city in the nation with 1,100 miles of navigable water and 22 miles of relaxing beaches. Each beach has its own unique personality and flavor. Atlantic Beach is the quintessential Florida beach community with a vibrant dining and nightlife scene, fun beach dive bars, boutique resorts and friendly family atmosphere. Jacksonville Beach is a party destination with great nightlife, chain hotels and surf shops. Huguenot Park lets beachgoers drive on the sand and bring the party with them. Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island is a must-see with dozens of Live Oaks resting on the sand reminiscent of white skeletons. So many miles of beaches, each one with a different vibe but all beautiful and unique to Jacksonville!
From hip new neighborhoods and local beer tours, to romantic resort getaways
learn more about all the diverse experiences and activities that make Jacksonville such an attractive destination.
Family Friendly Destinations: Bring the kids and enjoy an affordable and fun getaway in Jacksonville. A
trip to Adventure Landing will have the entire family engaged as they mini-golf, drive go-karts or play in
the water at their ShipWreck Island waterpark. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is one of the most
visited attractions in Northeast Florida and one of the top 9 animal attractions in the nation. Kona Skate
Park is the oldest operating skate park in the nation and lessons are available for all skill levels.
Jacksonville’s beaches are family-friendly with dozens of activities for the entire family to do including
paddleboarding, kayaking and fishing.
Farm to Bar:
Not only are Jacksonville’s restaurants creating delicious dishes with the help of local
farmers, so are the local speakeasies and bars. Enjoy signature cocktails at The Volstead, Dos Gatos,
Black Sheep, Orsay and many other lounges across Jacksonville. Cheers!
Hip Florida:
Jacksonville has Florida’s youngest population and they know how to have a good time.
Jacksonville’s nightlife is filled with unique bars, pubs and live music venues. The Guardian named Jack
Rabbits and Underbelly, located in Jacksonville’s historic districts, as two of the best live music venues in
Florida. Jacksonville’s young population thrives on the sentiment of being “local” and helping local
businesses and attractions succeed. The local craft beer scene has doubled in the past few years and it
continues to expand. Engine 15 Brewing Co., Intuition Ale Works, Aardwolf Brewing Co. and Pinglehead
Brewing Co. all won medals at the Best Florida Beer Championship in February 2014, plus the Jax Ale
Trail, a self-guided tour of the eight local breweries continues to wow visitors . In Jacksonville, we are
pioneer hipsters… minus the Brooklyn accent.
Historic Getaways:
Jacksonville is the ideal destination to discover Florida’s and America’s history.
Visitors can experience unique places with French, Spanish, Native American and African American
history and learn while they have a great time in the “River City by the Sea.” Highlights include the site
of the first European settlement in the New World dating back to 1564 and the arrival of the first French
explorers at Fort Caroline, now a national monument. Significant African American historic sites
populate Jacksonville, including the LaVilla neighborhood, once known as the “Harlem of the South,”
American Beach, the first resort community in the nation for African Americans, and Kingsley Plantation,
the last remaining plantation house in Florida. Jacksonville is also the first Hollywood. In the early years
of the 20th century, the warm climate, striking natural surroundings, diversity of architecture,
inexpensive labor, and easy rail access attracted more than 30 movie studios to Jacksonville; this earned
the city the title of “Winter Film Capital of the World.” All historic sites are included in several tours
available to the public.
Jax Ale Trail:
Jacksonville leads the Florida craft brewery scene with dozens of award winning brews. The
local craft beer scene has doubled in the past few years and it continues to expand. The new Jax Ale Trail
is connecting the local craft breweries with everyday visitors to give them a wider variety of flavors
unique to our breweries. The self-guided tour takes visitors to the eight local breweries across the city.
Let’s Golf:
With over 1,220 holes of golf, Northeast Florida is the perfect getaway for golfers looking to
take advantage of pristine course conditions, affordable rates, great fall deals and comfortable weather
all year. Home to 72 public and private courses, making up 488,000 yards of greens -Northeast Florida is
truly a golfer’s paradise-, so bring your clubs and tee off at area courses designed by greats like Tom
Fazio, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Mark McCumber.
Nature & Outdoors:
The abundant parks and ecological preserves in Jacksonville provide an
unforgettable opportunity to escape city life and relax in nature’s playground. Jacksonville is the city of
parks, with more than 80,000 acres of green spaces including 10 state & national parks and more than
400 city parks and gardens. No matter where you are in Jacksonville, you are never more than 15
minutes away from the eco-adventure of a lifetime! Highlights include the Timucuan Preserve, the
Jacksonville Arboretum, the Baldwin-Jacksonville Trail, the Intra-Coastal Waterway and the guided
kayaking and paddleboarding tours available at Kayak Amelia.
Old New Florida:
There is a sense of history and southern hospitality that can only be found in our city.
From the friendly people you encounter on the streets while walking downtown to the rustic fish camps
that populate our extensive shoreline, so many sites in Jacksonville are authentic and offer an “Only in
Jax” experience. Visitors can explore the historic districts, like Riverside, San Marco and Avondale, and
enjoy local hot spots and unique boutique shops.
Only in Jax Food Scene:
Jacksonville’s dining scene is an eclectic hybrid of inspired casual elegance and
classic southern comfort. The city’s young and talented new chefs have trained nationally and
internationally. Today, they are reinventing the region’s best flavors and dishes to create a whole new
breed of Southern restaurants infused with modern flavors and textures using locally-sourced organic
ingredients. Dining hotspots include Bistro AIX, Taverna, Black Sheep, Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails, Azurea,
Matthews, Medure, The Grotto, The Brick, Metro Diner, Pele’s and Ovinte.
Romantic Getaways:
Jacksonville is the ideal destination to ignite romance, either on a couple’s
getaway or as the backdrop to a destination wedding. The extensive selection of elegant hotels,
boutique resorts, theaters, nightlife, restaurants and spas makes it the place to visit for passion to
blossom.
for more info and latest news www.visitjacksonville.com
