Top Things to do in Jacksonville, FL, USA
Jacksonville is the thirteenth largest population city in the U.S. and the largest by landmass, so there’s a lot of ground to cover.
The city is located on the St. Johns River in northeast Florida, about 25 miles (40 km) south of the Georgia state line and about 340 miles north of Miami. It is the seat of Duval County. From the beaches to the rivers and creeks, there’s always something fun to do outdoors in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville is a deep-water port city located on a plain between the Atlantic coastal plain and the Florida peninsula. The highest point in Duval County is only 110 feet above sea level, so Jacksonville lacks significant topographical features. Instead, the topography consists of rolling hills and ridges sloping to marshlands around the St. Johns River to the south.
Jacksonville has it all: great beaches, beautiful parks, fabulous museums and art galleries, and plenty of restaurants and shopping to fill your days with fun activities. And even though there aren’t as many attractions in Jacksonville as in other major cities, there is certainly enough variety to keep you entertained every day of your vacation.
Jacksonville is home to unique venues such as Jacksonville Landing, a shopping and entertainment complex along the river downtown, and EverBank Field, which hosts football games and concerts. Jacksonville also has several museums and theaters, including the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens and the Museum of Science and History (MOSH).
The 20 best tourist attractions in Jacksonville, Florida
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Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is a 122-acre zoo in Jacksonville, Florida. It is one of the top 10 most visited zoos in the United States. The Zoo features over 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants. Many of the animals are rare and endangered.
The thing that makes this Zoo different from other zoos is that it has many exhibits that include some scarce animals from all over the world, like African-painted dogs and lions, red pandas, okapis, cheetahs, jaguars, and more. Also, they have a train ride that goes around the entire Zoo, so you don’t have to walk too much. They also have a play area where children can play with water and sandpits to delight in warm weather.
The Zoo offers giraffe feeding, where visitors can feed giraffes from an elevated walkway or the ground. There are also several playgrounds available for kids to play on. In addition, two petting zoos have goats and sheep to feed with food pellets sold at the entrance to the petting area. Kids can also learn how to milk a cow by hand.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is one of the largest city parks in the United States. The park’s terrain is diverse, with wetlands, dunes, and maritime hammocks. In addition, the park has a campground, miles of biking, hiking, and horseback riding trails, fishing piers, and a vast off-road bicycle area. The park also features a water park with a lazy river and several water slides. However, Hanna Park’s primary appeal to many is the white sand beaches along its miles of oceanfront property.
Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a great place to come with your family and friends. It is located in the heart of Jacksonville on the Atlantic Ocean in Duval County, Florida. This park offers its guests many activities, such as swimming, camping, and hiking.
The main attraction in this area would be its proximity to Amelia Island, which makes it convenient for tourists who want to visit this island but don’t want to spend too much time traveling from their hotel room into town because there are so many things you can do here that it’ll take just about every minute of your day!
Fort Clinch State Park
Fort Clinch State Park is located on a peninsula near the northernmost point of Florida’s coast. The Fort has 1,100 acres and approximately six miles of beaches. It offers excellent hiking, biking, picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating, and shelling opportunities. In addition, visitors can tour the Fort and see life in the 19th century.
Fishing is also a popular activity at Fort Clinch State Park. The beach area allows visitors to fish without needing a license or permit. Visitors can fish from the beach or the pier near the campground. The dock has a covered area that provides shade for those who need it.
Several trails lead through Fort Clinch State Park. Visitors can hike along the trails or enjoy them on horseback to see some of the park’s wildlife up close and personal. The beaches at the park are picturesque and peaceful. They are also clean and well-maintained by staff. As a result, there is plenty of room for everyone to enjoy the sun and sand.
Riverside Arts Market
Riverside Arts Market (RAM) is an open-air market. RAM takes place every Saturday at Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida. It offers a wide range of fresh produce, baked goods, plants and flowers, arts and crafts, music, and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
RAM is a great place to go with the family and see some of Jacksonville’s hottest local artists and musicians. The Riverside Arts Market is open every Saturday from 10 am – 3 pm. There are plenty of food options for lunch and some great gifts to take home.
The market is located just north of the Fuller Warren Bridge on the west bank of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville’s historic Riverside neighborhood adjacent to Riverside Park. Since its inception, the Riverside Arts Market has grown from a small gathering of produce vendors to a diverse weekly event attracting many people from all over Northeast Florida.
Adventure Landing
Adventure Landing is an amusement park chain operated by Palace Entertainment based in Jacksonville, Florida. The amusement parks are family-oriented and provide a mix of entertainment with family-friendly rides, amusements, and waterpark attractions. Adventure Landing also operates miniature golf courses.
Adventure Landing has something for everyone in the family, from the youngest children to adults. There’s no shortage of fun things to do here, from no-wait go-karts and an excellent Laser Tag arena to thrilling roller coasters and exhilarating water park rides!
The snack bar at Adventure Landing is stocked with your family’s favorite foods like pizza, hot dogs, nachos, fresh popcorn, and ice-cold sodas. If you want to host a group event or party at Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach, you can accommodate your needs by renting out a picnic pavilion.
Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach is a great place to visit if you’re looking for things to do in the Jacksonville, Florida, area. If you love the outdoors, then you’ll love Adventure Landing.
Memorial Park
Memorial Park is one of the oldest parks in Jacksonville. It is located on Riverside Avenue and across from the St. Johns River.
If you are looking for a place to visit, Memorial Park Jacksonville is the place to be. This park has many unique features and a lot of history behind it. It is located in one of the most beautiful areas of town and is well-maintained. It is the perfect place for families, friends, or anyone who enjoys being outdoors and having fun. It has many different things to offer everyone.
If you go at dawn on a weekday morning, you can watch crowds of people exercising along the river. Along Riverside Avenue, you can get coffee and breakfast at one of many cafés catering to people who work downtown or at many hospitals nearby. If you go back after dark, you’ll find other clusters of restaurants.
Oceanfront Park
Oceanfront Park Jacksonville, Florida, is a green oasis in a bustling beach town. It is located at the southern end of Jacksonville Beach and offers a variety of recreational activities and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
Oceanfront Park is an amenity-rich park with a splash pad, playground, interactive fountain, sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, picnic shelters, and more. Visitors can also play basketball or bocce ball at the park and enjoy a game of chess in the shade. There are also two ocean fishing piers for those interested in fishing at the park and restrooms for visitors’ convenience.
If you love being outdoors, Oceanfront Park is the place to be. The park has a beach playground and a large grassy area perfect for picnics, Frisbee, and other games.
Cummer Museum Of Art And Gardens
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is an art museum located in Jacksonville, Florida. The museum was founded by Arthur Cummer and opened to the public in 1961. It contains over 5,000 objects with a focus on European and American paintings. The museum is next to the St. Johns River in Jacksonville’s Riverside Historic District.
If you love art, then Cummer Museum Of Art And Gardens Jacksonville, Florida, is an excellent place for you. You can visit the museum with your family and friends. At the museum, you can find ancient European paintings, contemporary American art, and more. You will also see works from artists like Winslow Homer, Claude Monet, Georgia O’Keeffe, etc. If you are interested in learning about the history of the United States, then this is the perfect place for you.
There are three exhibition halls at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens Jacksonville: the historic home gallery, the modern wing, and the outdoor garden. In addition, there are many other features, such as Sculpture Garden and River Room Gallery. In the sculpture garden, you can see sculptures collected by Mr. and Mrs. Cummer from all over the world; in the river room gallery, you can enjoy sculptures and paintings overlooking St. Johns River; in the outdoor garden, you can enjoy beautiful landscapes that change with the seasons.
Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve
The Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve covers 46,000 acres of land and water. Fort Caroline National Memorial is located on the preserve’s Ribault Point. The park is noteworthy for its undisturbed natural communities, much of which are accessible only by water. It is managed in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, the National Park Service, and other organizations.
From the Timucuan Ecological & Historical Preserve, visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, boating, fishing, birding, and picnicking. The park is also home to the Kingsley Plantation (the oldest plantation house in Florida), Ribault Monument, Theodore Roosevelt Area, and Fort Caroline National Memorial.
Fort Caroline National Memorial commemorates the failed French Huguenot colony of Fort Caroline at the mouth of the St. Johns River, which existed between 1564 and 1565 before it was destroyed by Spanish forces (a Spanish fort later replaced it).
Alhambra Theatre & Dining
The Alhambra Theatre & Dining offers a variety of shows throughout the year and is known for bringing some of the most popular Broadway musicals to Jacksonville. Some of their past performances include South Pacific, 42nd Street, and South Pacific.
Alhambra Theatre & Dining Jacksonville, Florida, is a great place to go out. It provides some of the highest quality entertainment in the area, but it also has excellent food and drinks at reasonable prices. Whether you are looking for a nice dinner and a show or just a fun night out with friends, Alhambra Theatre & Dining Jacksonville, Florida, has it all.
Alhambra Theatre & Dining in Jacksonville, Florida, is the place for Broadway musicals and shows. The Alhambra is one of the oldest operating dinner theaters in the United States. Since 1967, guests have been entertained with top-notch musical productions.
Summary
Jacksonville is a great place to visit. It has beautiful weather and many beaches. In addition, there are many places to eat and attractions to visit.
In the summer, it is hot but not humid at all. Most of the summer, the temperature stays around 80 degrees Fahrenheit, so it is not too hot outside. You can comfortably swim in the warm ocean water or tan under the hot sun on the beach. In the winter, it is still warm enough to go swimming every day and cool enough at night that a light jacket will keep you comfortable.
Jacksonville’s parks are sprawling, and many feature a variety of activities such as skateboarding, rollerblading, and rock climbing, making them perfect for those who enjoy an active lifestyle.
Jacksonville has a wide variety of restaurants for any taste or budget! There are many choices of fast food and casual dining restaurants located throughout Jacksonville Beach and downtown Jacksonville which offer delicious meals at reasonable prices. However, if you want something more upscale, then Atlantic Beach.
Suppose you want to buy souvenirs while on vacation in Jacksonville. There are plenty of places where you can find lovely gifts to take home. One place that has great deals on clothing and other items is St. Johns Town Center.
