A small selection of family-friendly activities can be found in Jacksonville with the two sites of Adventure Landing undoubtedly the highlights. Once you’ve exhausted man-made options then the city’s vast selection of parks (covering the greatest land mass of any city in the US) and the beach area are ideal for a little self-designed entertainment.
Adventure Landing
Adventure Landing is a theme park aimed at the whole family but with a strong emphasis on the kids. A full day of fun can be had at the park with plenty of things to keep the young and young at heart occupied. Attractions on offer at the park include a giant arcade, a go-kart track, battling cages and an indoor laser tag game.
Phone: +1 904 771 2803; website: www.adventurelanding.com
Adventure Landing & Shipwreck Island Water Parkpwreck Island Water Park
Located at Jacksonville Beach, Adventure Landing & Shipwreck Island is a sister site of the theme park mentioned above and packs a similar collection of fun-filled attractions that are ideal for a family day out. Shipwreck Island is a water-based fun centre with slides of varying heights and gradients as well as a variety of different pools for playing in. Away from the water, you’ll find attractions such as the Wacky Worm Roller Coaster, Adventure Golf, Laser Tag and the Adventure Speedway.
Phone: +1 904 246 4386; website: www.adventurelanding.com
Cinema
Jacksonville has an extensive selection of movie theatres showing all the latest releases. When the summer heat gets that bit too hot and you need a cool air-conditioned environment to relax in for a few hours, take the kids to see a movie at one of the many multiplexes on offer in the city. Alternatively, if the weather is pleasant enough, head for the Playtime Triple Family Drive-In one evening where you can enjoy a good old fashioned outdoor movie experience.
Parks
Jacksonville has more land dedicated to parks than any other city in the US with over 80,000 acres distributed across more than 390 locations. Provided it’s not too hot out, parents can pack a picnic and head for the greenery and open spaces of places such as Gold Head Branch State Park, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, Black Hammock Island Park and Ed Austin Regional Park.
A good selection of cultural attractions comprised chiefly of museums can be found in the city of Jacksonville. Art lovers will appreciate the Museum of Modern Art and the Pedestrian Gallery of Contemporary Art, history lovers will find something of interest at the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society and lovers of cultural entertainment will certainly enjoy an evening in the company of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
Castillo de San Marcos
Located in St Augustine, Castillo de San Marcos is America's oldest masonry fort dating back to the late 17th century. The building is also the best preserved example of a Spanish colonial fort in the US. Phone: + 904-829-6506
Cummer Museum of Art
The Cummer Museum of Art boasts an impressive collection of artworks originating from both America and Europe with its internationally acclaimed Meissen porcelain collection among its most notable pieces. The museum provides headsets which visitors can use to take self-guided tours of the facility. The three acres of scenic gardens which house the museum provide the opportunity for a pleasant stroll after viewing the interior. Phone: +1 904-356-6857
Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art
The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art is a facility dedicated to art in all forms and genres and seeks to increase public awareness of the cultural benefits of art through permanent collections, visiting exhibitions and educational programs. Gallery spaces feature classical and contemporary pieces while a cinema in the facility has regular screening of art-house movies. Phone: +1 904 366 6911
Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
Visitors looking for an evening of cultural entertainment should check out the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra which is renowned for its status as the city’s leading performing arts organisation. The majority of performances can be seen at the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall which is located at the Times-Union Centre for the Performing Arts.
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society
Situated at the Walter Jones Historical Park, the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is a facility dedicated to preserving buildings, artefacts and historically significant sites related to days gone by in the Mandarin area of Greater Jacksonville. Phone: +1 904 268 0784
Museum of Weapons and Early American History
Located just outside Jacksonville, in nearby St Augustine, this museum is home to an interesting collection of memorabilia and artefacts that give an insight into the history of the St Augustine area. Lithographs, photographs and examples of weaponry used in conflicts that took place in or close to area are available for viewing. Phone: +1 904 829 3727
Pedestrian Gallery of Contemporary Art
Art lovers should check out the Pedestrian Gallery of Contemporary Art where visiting exhibitions change monthly and can be viewed alongside a collection of permanent works by both local and regional artists. Phone: +1 904 381 8844
R. Roberts Gallery
This gallery’s collection features art works in a variety of media such as paint, sculpture, furniture and serigraph. The gallery has visiting exhibitions and has in the past hosted the works of famous names such as Mackenzie Thorpe and Dr Seuss. An impressive collection of works by sculptor Frederick Hart can also be found at the facility. Phone: +1 904 388 1188
Jacksonville is a city that enjoys all the benefits of its coastal location especially when it comes to food. The city has a reputation for great seafood restaurants. Seafood however is far from being the city’s only quality cuisine and it’s fair to say that Jacksonville excels in all areas of dining with both traditional American restaurants and international establishments cooking up some of the finest food in the state.
Barbecue restaurants invariably offering all-you-can-eat buffets are popular evening dinner spots and a must for anyone with a hearty appetite and a love of char-grilled meat. Beef, chicken and pork in seemingly endless quantities are available on a self-serve basis accompanied by corn, fries, baked potatoes and salad.
For seafood restaurants, try heading down to the Jacksonville Beach area where you’ll find fine establishments serving up delicacies such as oysters, cracked crab and prawn tempura as well as fish dishes such as stuffed flounder and sea bass. For foreign restaurants offering French, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Indian and Mexican food, try heading to the downtown area where a plethora of international eateries are on hand. The downtown area is also the place to visit if you are looking for an upmarket restaurant.
Shopping in Jacksonville is a mixed affair with malls offering popular department stores and small strips where independent retailers can be found. Jacksonville doesn’t quite compare with other Florida cities such as Tampa or Orlando in terms of the breadth of its selection but all the same, shopping fans should be able to find enough to kill a few days of their trip at least.
For the big name shopping experience, head for Jacksonville Landing where retailers such as Body Shop, Footlocker and Sunglass Hut can be found. Equally, Regency Square Mall is worth a visit with popular outlets such as American Eagle Outfitters, Claire's Accessories, Gap, Body Shop and Foot Locker and anchor stores such as Belk, Dillard's, JC Penney and Sears. For the more exclusive, independent outlet shopping experience, head for Five Points or San Marco Square.
Due to the year-round good weather, Jacksonville offers a plethora of outdoor activities, many of which can be enjoyed by the whole family. Many people choose to take advantage of the city’s coastal location by enjoying beach and water sports, but other popular activities include golf and horse riding.
Horse riding
Several sites in Jacksonville offer the chance to get up in the saddle and head out into the countryside to enjoy the thrills of riding amid the lush Florida scenery. The Diamond D Horse Stables offers riding for groups of up to 20 with options for camping overnight. Charges are based on an hourly rental of the horse. The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail meanwhile is an ideal place for anyone with a horse to ride to head for. The 14.5 miles of trail are open to horse riders free of charge.
Golf
Jacksonville is home to a large number of golf courses, all of which benefit from the subtropical Florida weather and offer idyllic lush green surroundings perfect for spending a relaxing morning/afternoon. The majority of the city’s courses are private and unless you get an invitation to attend from an existing member, you won’t be permitted access. Several public courses are however available and include the Golf Club of Jacksonville, Hyde Park Golf Club, Pine Lakes Golf Course and West Meadows Golf Course.
Beach and sea activities
Jacksonville Beach offers countless opportunities to get active either on the sand or in the water and when the weather’s good (which is most of the year), you’ll find the beach packed with pleasure seekers engaging in a variety of activities. On the sand, there are volleyball nets set up in various places which are available to use free of charge. Frisbee fans will find miles of sand on which to take a quiet spot and enjoy a good game. In the water, there are opportunities for surfing, snorkelling, scuba diving, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and swimming.
Park activities
With more land dedicated to park-space than any other city in the US, Jacksonville presents visitors with an abundance of opportunities to get active outdoors. Trails in many parks are ideal for walking and cycling while large open spaces are ideal for a game of football or baseball. Additionally, many parks have tennis and basketball courts.
