As you enter the state of Florida from Georgia along I-95, you quickly find the sprawling city of Jacksonville. As the largest city in the United States in land area, visitors will find a wealth of things to do in Jacksonville Florida. Jacksonville attractions make a long list, including museums, golf courses and historical sites. If you are in Jacksonville near the end of November, you won't want to miss the Jacksonville Light Parade. Sports, culture, dining or shopping, Jacksonville has it all. For some suggestions of things to do in Jacksonville FL, consider the following list of ideas.
Jacksonville Beach is an easy to reach resort and residential community with a number of businesses catering to both visitors and year round residents. On the eastern edge of Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach can be found between the Intra-Coastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean. Besides its miles of under-crowded, white sandy beaches, Jacksonville Beach offers nice Jacksonville hotels, unique dining and shopping locations, its own municipal 18-hole golf course, and an array of concerts and festivals.
Golf is big in the Jacksonville area, and along the northeastern coast of the state you will find some of the top golf courses in Florida, if not its most notable of all, TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra. Wonderful 18-hole championship courses can be found from picturesque Amelia Island to the north on down to nearby St. Augustine and beyond. The PGA Tour makes its headquarters at Ponte Vedra, just outside of Jacksonville, and half an hour away in St. Augustine, you will find the World Golf Hall of Fame. A visit to the museum there will definitely have you fitting in a round or more among things to do in Jacksonville Florida.
One of the most ideal Jacksonville attractions for families, this interesting zoo is none too big or none too small. You can easily navigate around it in one afternoon if you are tight on time, but you could just as easily spend the whole day. Among the animals found here are white rhinos, lions and large crocodiles, elephants and giraffes. The Jacksonville Zoological Gardens also features animals native to Florida, such as alligators, jaguars and panthers. The zoo's Savanna Blooms Garden is modeled to replicate a South African oasis and the museum plans to add future gardens. The Jacksonville Zoological Gardens can be found at 8685 Zoo Parkway and is open daily from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
A central spot for a myriad of things to do in Jacksonville FL, Jacksonville Landing is home to a collection of shops and restaurants and features a regular series of events and concerts. Jacksonville Landing is especially alive during the weekends, offering a fine assortment of bars and clubs to compliment a full evening out. The Landing's façade runs along the St. Johns River and it is one the biggest downtown Jacksonville attractions. While the restaurants and nightlife locales observe their own operating hours, the Landing's Mall is open from Noon-5:30 p.m. on Sunday, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday thru Thursday, and from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
The whole family will be pleased if you include a visit to Cummer Museum on your list of things to in Jacksonville Florida. Located off of I-95, five minutes from downtown, at 829 Riverside Avenue, this museum is known for its American and European paintings and its renowned lineup of early Meissen porcelain. Before, between or after viewing the museum's artistic offerings, head outside to one of three stunning gardens that run along the St. John's River's edge. Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is closed on Mondays. Every Tuesday, from 4-9 p.m., admission is free and college students with ID get in for free between 1:30-4:30 p.m.
Remarkably clean and safe, Huguenot Memorial Park is one of the most popular Jacksonville attractions for anyone who enjoys the outdoors. Navigate the mix of nature trails, swim at one of the best beaches in Jacksonville and head out on the area waters with a canoe rental, for starters. There is a nominal fee to enter the park and additional fees for camping. The park becomes pretty crowded on summer weekends as locals and visitors alike flock there to enjoy activities like hiking, jet skiing and wind surfing. Beautiful Huguenot Memorial Park is located some 17 miles from downtown Jacksonville at 10980 Hecksher Drive.
Jacksonville's temporary JAXPORT Cruise Terminal offers round trip Jacksonville cruises that feature stops in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Predominantly 4 and 5-day affairs, these cruises are quite affordable and with plans in the works for a new cruise ship terminal, it is safe to say that cruises will continue to grow in popularity among things to do in Jacksonville. You can also find an assortment of short pleasure cruises in Jacksonville, including evening dinner cruises, a casino cruise and small tour cruises. To combine sailing with fishing, make plans to head to sea with one of Jacksonville's fishing charter companies. Fishing charters are ideal for families, corporate events and most other groups and Jacksonville charters patrol both inshore and offshore sites.
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