Whether you live in North Florida, or just planning to visit for a few days, there are lots of great things to do in Jacksonville. Plan to explore, eat, and learn during your time on the First Coast.
Explore the Beaches
While this is a pretty obvious number one for the list, it kind of has to be considering that Jacksonville is known for the myriad of beaches we offer with over a thousand miles of navigable water. Jax has more shoreline than any other city in the nation which is the reason it is necessary to spend a day unwinding by the ocean and enjoy the nearby shops, restaurants, attractions, and nightlife. Make sure you pack lots of sunscreen and make a plan because Jacksonville has 22 miles of wide, uncrowded, white-sandy beaches in Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Mayport. While you’re exploring, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for shark teeth, they can be found all up and down the First Coast.
Enjoy a Local Show or Live Music
Jacksonville offers a lot of opportunities to catch live music, purchase and view art, and with that you definitely do not want to miss out on the abundance of performing arts. From the sounds of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra to the FSCJ Artist Series Broadway to classical ballet performances at The Florida Ballet as well as so many live local bands that pop up all around Jacksonville for public performances like The BOLD CITY CLASSICS, make sure you check them out for their schedules and available tickets.
Indulge in the Jacksonville Brunch Scene
You know what they say, brunch is the most important meal of the day! So ensuring you and whomever is visiting you in Jax has an iconic brunch experience is very important. From downtown Jacksonville to the beaches – there are many hot spots that are worth visiting! Some of the most iconic spots are The local, Orsay, Maple Street Biscuit, uptown kitchen, metro diner and Biscotti’s.
Explore the Historic Neighborhoods
Visiting Jacksonville you may realize just how rich in square mileage we are but it may not be as obvious how rich in history it truly is. Our Bold city houses a dense cluster of historic neighborhoods with amazing classic architectural styles, pieces of vintage nostalgia and more that pre-date the official founding in 1822. The Downtown of today is still where many of the city’s oldest structures, landmarks and offices remain and then you have Ortega’s 18th-century origins and the establishment of Springfield in 1869. In the early 1900’s there was an increase in residential activity that resulted in the expansion of development in Riverside, Avondale and San Marco neighborhoods. All of these neighborhoods are beautiful and historic and offer lots of amazing restaurants, night life, community areas and if you are able to pop into an antique store like Southern Crossing Antique Mall to take home a little piece of that nostalgia with you, you should!
Visit the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is the only walking safari in Northeast Florida and an amazing opportunity to explore wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. Jacksonville Zoo is a beautiful, ever changing zoo with a dedicated animal wellness team who are dedicated to ensuring the animals are safe and thriving while bringing joy to families who visit. While there, don’t miss out on exhibits like the Land of the Tiger and African Forest, which are award winning! If you’re here in the winter be sure to check out the seasonal ZooLights exhibit.
Catch a Sports Game
Jacksonville’s sports scene is a must for any super fan of sports or just someone who wants to have a good time. From NFL Football, to indoor football, college football, minor league baseball, professional surfing, competitive fishing, basketball, hockey and soccer, we have every team you can possibly imagine! Whether you get tickets and visit the EverBank Stadium, 121 Financial Ballpark, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and you decide to cheer on the Jaguars, Jumbo Shrimp, the Iceman or the Armada, you are guaranteed to have an amazing time. Don’t forget to tailgate before your game while enjoying local food, craft beer and spirits and just having fun with your family and friends.
Visit a Jacksonville Museum
If you are entertaining someone who is a fan of art, history, science or just having a good time, hitting a museum is a must do for you! Jacksonville is home to more than a dozen museums filled with interactive exhibits, world-class art and hours of fun. Some of our museums are even completely free to visit! Art museums like Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and The Cummer are always great choices, while the most iconic for children has to be the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) with their revolving educational and fun experiences, its one to not miss. The best part of the many museums we offer in Jacksonville is that they provide something to do year-round!
Do a Little Shopping in Jacksonville
Who doesn’t love to shop while on vacation or visiting? Luckily Jacksonville has a ton of options from your standard mall like The Avenues on the southside to our highly popular St. Johns Town Center – all the way to more unique and local boutiques and shops like a local favorite like Chamblins Uptown Book Store which is downtown or the Riverside Arts Market in Riverside which is open on Saturdays from 10-3 p.m.
Lindsey has lived in Jacksonville now for over 12 years and is originally from the southeast Georgia area. She is a business and data manager for UF Health Emergency and Trauma services downtown by day, a travel agent, social media influencer, and BLS instructor by night. Lindsey is also the mom of three kids, Lily, Logan, and Ruby. She is married to a very talented musician, Cody who plays locally all around in the Bold City Classics and Blue Muse and with the symphony as well. Lindsey started posting on social media about her trips to Disney and beyond on social media in the last few years as a means to document the joy and help others with planning their trips, balancing traveling and motherhood and finding the true magic in it all. As her presence grew she was invited to become a travel agent specializing in Disney and other theme parks because of her expansive knowledge. You can follow Lindsey on Instagram and tiktok as well as request a free travel quote for your trip @magicmomlife or send her an email at [email protected].
