Jacksonville is a great Florida vacation destination for families, says Cullan Meathe
Jacksonville’s temperate climate and spectacular natural beauty make it perfect for travelers of all ages. This hospitable city provides activities for the whole family to enjoy, from sporting events and lives concerts, to cultural activities, fine dining, shopping and nightlife. It is a wonderful mix of history, metropolitan flavor and a vibrant oceanfront lifestyle. The city and its surroundings are lively, with something going on all year round at indoor and outdoor venues, with national and international festivals, attractions and entertainment to accommodate a wide range of interests.
You might want to start your visit with the Hop On Hop Off Bus & Trolley Tours, a fun and economical way to learn your way around Jacksonville and visit attractions of your choice. This is better than a typical guided tour of the city. Choose which sites you prefer to visit and get on and off whenever you are ready.
First discovered in 1513 by the Spanish, Jacksonville boasts a rich heritage. You can read about its history at many of the local tourist attractions, so plan to include some of the following in your travels. The Kingsley Plantation; the Fort Caroline National Memorial; the Jacksonville Maritime Museum; the Eerie Owl Ghost Tour; and Walter Jones Historical Park, a spacious riverfront site containing walking trails, picnic areas and the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society, are some of the various experiences you might choose.
Golfers flock to Jacksonville, which boasts about 72 courses and is considered a first-class golfing destination. The PGA and Senior PGA headquarters are located in the Jacksonville area.
If you like water sports, you will find much to do in Jacksonville. You can go scuba diving and snorkeling. You can swim at the unspoiled beaches, the Intracoastal Waterway and even in some lakes. Those of you who enjoy surfing can try the beaches, but be mindful of any high surf and wind warnings. Water skiers, water boarders and water skaters will find many places to enjoy those activities. Fishing is also a favorite pastime, with plenty of opportunities to try to successfully land that big one. Jacksonville has many lakes and marshes that are popular with kayakers. Visitors and locals find St. Andrews State Recreation Area to be excellent for canoeing, swimming and diving.
Seeking other things to do outdoors? Cullan Meathe suggests camping, hiking or picnicking. With Jacksonville’s large number of parks, there are various locations suitable for such activities. The scenic Southbank Riverwalk with its views of Jacksonville’s downtown area and the St. John’s River is not as physically demanding, but definitely worth a visit. Check when the riverboats are running and take a ride across the river in the Riverwalk area.
A more leisurely pursuit can be had walking on the trails at Tree Hill, a delightful natural environment where there is an abundance of large oaks and pine trees. Its education center conducts events and activities throughout the year.
Looking for family-type activities? There are many tourist attractions to choose from, including EverBank Field, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars American football team; and the Greater Jacksonville Fair & Expo Center in downtown Jacksonville, which hosts many festivals, concerts and events. Don’t forget to hop on board the Skyway Monorail. Also favored by visitors are complementary tours of the Anheuser-Busch Jacksonville brewery where guests have an opportunity to see how its products are made.
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offer a walking safari where visitors can explore a wide variety of wildlife through interactive and educational activities. There is something to impress everyone in your family, with more than 1,400 rare and exotic animals and 1,000 different varieties of plants.
Culture plays a major role in Jacksonville, according to Meathe. Three of the most notable museums you should plan to spend time at are The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, The Museum of Science & History (MOSH), and the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville – MOCA Jacksonville.
The Cummer has a permanent collection of more than 6,000 works of art covering 8,000 years of history. It is noted for its Wark Collection of early Meissen porcelain, the Dennis C. Hayes Collection of Japanese woodblock prints, its pre-Columbian ceramics and the Eugène Louis Charvot Collection of 19th century prints and paintings. The museum also has two acres of Italian and English gardens, filled with sculptures and flowers.
MOSH, a hands-on science and history experience for children, is possibly the most popular museum in Jacksonville. It features interactive award-winning exhibits and has a 200-seat planetarium with several shows daily.
MOCA is one of the area’s largest contemporary art institutions and features innovative exhibitions by international, national and regional artists. It is housed in the renovated historic Western Union Telegraph Building and includes five changing exhibition galleries, permanent collection galleries, a children’s interactive center, education studios, a shop, café and an auditorium. It is very close to the beautiful St. Johns Riverfront.
Also sure to please those who have an interest in cultural activities is the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, renowned for its artistic quality. One of Florida’s most longstanding orchestras, it has its own dedicated concert hall, the Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. The Symphony can also be heard in venues statewide.
For those who enjoy other types of music, the Freebird Live has evolved into an important smaller concert venue that showcases a range of regional and national touring performers, as well as inspiring local talent.
No trip to Jacksonville would be complete without shopping. Areas to try for a wide variety of merchandise to suit different tastes and budgets include The Avenues Mall, Gateway Town Center, Jacksonville Landing and Regency Square Mall.
You are sure to find a restaurant that serves whatever you are in the mood to eat, from casual to fine dining, sushi to barbecue. Jacksonville has an incredible selection to choose from.
Jacksonville has much to offer all year round when it comes to nightlife. If it is dinner theater you enjoy, dancing, movies, concerts, nightclubs, bars or parties, there are numerous online calendars of events you can check for information on after-hours activities and venues.
Jacksonville is fortunate to have a huge number of lodging options for you and your family, from upscale resort settings and luxury downtown hotels, to cozy bed & breakfast inns and economical motels. Search the Internet for something that meets your needs and budget.
To hire a taxi or other ground transportation services while in the Jacksonville area, visit www.PeninsulaTransportation.com, or call 727-799-2222.
About the Author
John Smith
Meissen Porcelain Manufactory : 300 Years Now! (NEW VERSION; HD) * Brandenburg Cto No. 5 / Karajan
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