If sightseeing is top of your holiday agenda, then Jacksonville has a good selection of places to get your camera out and take home some visual memories. With Spanish, French and colonial American constructions dotted around the city, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to get a feel for the city as it now and as it used to be.

Fort Caroline National Memorial and Museum
The Fort Caroline National Memorial is located on the St John's River and is a visual reminder of the establishment of a French colony by the Huguenots in 1564. A museum on site at the memorial building, offers visitors the chance to learn more about this aspect of the city’s history, with artefacts highlighting details of French and Native American culture. Phone: +1 904 641 7155

Fort Clinch State Park
Located on Atlantic Avenue, Fort Clinch State Park is an interesting Jacksonville landmark that’s listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The park features a fort that dates back to before the American Civil War and is set amid 1,363 acres of beach area, forests and places for camping. Phone: +1 904 277 7274

Fort Matanzas National Monument
Constructed between 1740 and 1742, the Fort Matanzas National Monument is a masonry watchtower that was built by the Spanish in order to protect that city from aggressors attempting to attack from the rear. The fort is one of the city’s oldest buildings and is of great historical significance. Phone: +1 904-471-0116

Jacksonville Zoological Gardens
Jacksonville Zoological Gardens is hailed as ‘the only walking safari in Northeast Florida’ and is home to more than 1,000 exotic and rare animals to which new additions are constantly made. The zoo is split into various different themed sections which include Great Apes of the World, Birds of the Rift Valley, Australian Adventure, Plains of East Africa, Safari Lodge and Wild Florida. Phone: +1 904 757 4463, website: www.jaxzoo.org

Kingsley Plantation
Situated on Fort George Island, the Kingsley Plantation is one of the city’s most historic sights and contains constructions dating back to the late 18th century. The homestead is considered the oldest plantation house in the state and still features 23 of the 32 slave cabins that originally stood. The plantation is set in scenic grounds and visitors can enjoy a pleasant stroll after checking out the buildings. Phone: +1 904 251 3537

Pablo Historical Park
Operated by the Beaches Area Historical Society, the Pablo Historical Park is a facility that attempts to preserve the history of the railroad in the Jacksonville area. Visitors can take a short tour which covers an early 20th century post office, a railroad foreman’s house and the Railroad Memorabilia Museum featuring a genuine 28-ton steam engine that dates back to 1911.
Phone: +1 904 241 5657

Go fishing with Captain Dave
Charter Captain Dave’s boat for the day and he’ll take you on a six hour long trip to some of the best fishing spots in the Jacksonville area. Captain Dave is exceedingly knowledgeable when it comes to the topic of Jacksonville angling and promises that his trips offer ‘more fishing, less riding’. The captain offers a standard trip or you can charter his boat for a private trip and have him take you wherever you please. Phone: +1 904 642 9546

Check out the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville’s very own NFL team play games at the ALLTEL Stadium, a massive facility with a capacity for 73,000 spectators. Local support for the Jaguars is strong and games are exceedingly well attended. Visitors are welcome to go to games and will find themselves quickly caught up in the exciting atmosphere generated by the hardcore fans. Phone: +1 904 633 6100

Attend an event at the Jax Expo Centre
Previously called the Jacksonville Fairgrounds, the Jax Expo Centre is a massive indoor facility that hosts some of the city’s biggest events and exhibitions. Musical concerts, sporting events and home improvement exhibitions are just some of the attractions you can catch at the Expo Centre. Phone: +1 904 353 0535

Take a ghost tour of St Augustine
The neighbouring town of St Augustine offers a two hour-long ghost tour through its historic streets led by a guide dressed in period costume. Guides recount stories of alleged ghostly sightings in the area as well as the details of long established legends and folklore. Tours commence at 20:00 from North St George Street and can accommodate large groups if necessary.
Phone: +1 904 461 1009

Take the Jacksonville Brewery Tour
Tours of the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville brewery offer visitors the chance to observe the many processes employed in making Budweiser, one of the world’s most famous beers. Tours are free and take in everything from details of the raw ingredients, to fermentation and through to bottling and packaging. Following the tour, visitors aged 21 or over get the chance to sample some of the company’s beers in its hospitality room. A shop on site also sells beer and Budweiser merchandise.