Hit the beach without battling crowds.
Florida beach vacations are as much a part of American travelling tradition asmiddle school field tripsto Washington DC . These trips can be jaunts to the sugar sand beaches on the Panhandle or passion - all - night trips to South Florida . brilliant as they are , the one affair they all have in usual is there are a lot of other mass also go there .
And then there ’s Jacksonville . Despite bear 20 sea mile of fairly uncrowded beaches , it somehow gets block in thebeach vacationdiscussion . Whatever the reason , somehow the lower 48 ’s enceinte urban center by commonwealth mass still flies under the radar .
People from Jacksonville ego - deprecatingly talk down their urban center , in between chanting “ DUUUUVAL ” and flashing their VyStar cards with crushed - key civic pridefulness . That ’s because Jacksonvillians ’ modesty is by design . As a local creative person once tell me , “ I ’m not unhinged masses think it take up . If we played it up , it ’d be likeAustin . ”
Jacksonville Beach Surfers|Rob Wilson/Shutterstock
They jazz that anyone who spends some time in the Bold New City of the South will realize it ’s every snatch the easy live coastal paradise Florida is supposed to be . It combine tranquil , wide open beach life with big urban center amenities like eclectic restaurants and walkable neck of the woods — and does it all at a price that never gives you gummed label seismic disturbance . Venture up I-95 and you ’ll be surprised with all the fun thing to do in Jacksonville , and may too go for that the enigma never gets out .
Relax in beach towns that feel like beach towns
You might think , “ Why would I drive six hours up I-95 togo to the beachwhen I literally have one 20 mo forth ? ” But the beach in Jacksonville find more like a lay - back beach holiday than Miami ’s American Riviera . They ’re wide and uncrowded , much like everything in this city , and the mat Amandine Aurore Lucie Dupin add itself wonderfully to tenacious walks , games of beer orchis , or even beach football .
Jacksonville was the birthplace of Salt Life , and that sun - bleach , tattooed surfer ethos is everywhere among the people who populate the coastal enclaves of Atlantic , Neptune , and Jacksonville Beaches . The surf breaks are n’t exactly Hawaii on the First Coast , but they ’re enough that a sunrise stroll brings surfer and sunrise yogi like you ’re on the other end of I-10 . If you want to try surf yourself , there ’s no shortfall of breaker shop class who ’ll give you a object lesson .
While they ’re not empty , Jacksonville ’s beach towns stay unruffled and behind - paced , where you could wander from a coffee shop or cafe onto the grit , meander along the wide open beach , then kick back at a waterside legal community likeHoptingerorLemon Barand not struggle half the metropolis for drinks . Parking is n’t loose , but it ’s not impossible either . Same goes for dealings .
Jacksonville Beach|Felix Mizioznikov/Shutterstock
Venture outside the beach town and you ’ll find some stretch of sand with whole strange landscapes too . Boneyard Beachis an eery tree graveyard on the shores of Nassau Sound , where whitewashed oak and cedar tree that go when tidal chemise bring saltwater to their roots create a surreal surfside forest . A footling south of the metropolis , you ’ll recover Guana River Preserve , where massive coastal dunes sit along favourable sand for a beach that feel like it dropped here from Africa .
Cool neighborhoods make the sprawling city walkable
Calling a city of over 800 square miles “ walkable ” might sound a little like call Manhattan “ chill , ” but within Jacksonville ’s neighborhoods you ’ll find diverse little enclave that do n’t really require having a car . The most popular is the Riverside / Avondale district , which sits a land mile or so south of business district . Its residential streets are line with charming old homes and oak tree trees draped in Spanish moss . Beyond them you may peruse the bar along King Street , post up for foxiness beer at the penny top bar atKickbacks , hitting the cheery terrace at Park Place , or dancing at the LOFT .
take the air a few blocks the other way and you ’ll incur yourself in Five full stop , home to one of the best rooftop restaurant in the province , Black Sheep . Turn the corner on to Park Street and you ’ll travel by narrow shopfront filled with vintage shop , pizza places , and another Hoptinger , this one with a bird’s-eye top - story legal profession .
business district sit down not far away , walkable if you ’re feeling strong and the weather is gracious . It ’s home to the Florida Theatre , an old art - art deco gem that host touring comedian and indie bands . The margarita and craft mezcal cocktails across the street atDos Gatosare a pre - show must . you may also visit the coolest candy store in Florida atSweet Pete ’s , a soda fount position in a historic family .
CoRK Arts District|Photo courtesy of CoRK Arts District
graphics in Jacksonville expand because the city is still affordable , and you ’ll find it in high supplying at theCork Arts District . It ’s 80,000 substantial feet of converted warehouse space packed with artists take in everything from witty topical sketch nontextual matter to carving made from bottle caps . Not far away , you may chirrup into the Home Depot of thrift shopsEco Relics , a treasure treasure trove of outmoded article of furniture and reclaimed wood that ’ll make any hipster home plate designer wish they had a U - draw to take the whole place home .
Get out on the river
Jacksonville sits along one of the narrower section of the St. Johns River ( the urban center was in the beginning called Cowford because cowboys could cross the river easy ) create ample chance for boating , sportfishing , paddleboarding , and kayaking .
If you ’re not up for getting on the water , you’re able to still get some riverbank exercising along the Northbank Riverwalk , which runs two mi from Riverside up into downtown . The jogging and biking path is kind of a city social spot for vernal , set residents , who congregate around the exercise equipment along the lead .
Immerse yourself in the downtown sports scene
Like most cities with one fully grown league sports squad , Jacksonville is Jaguars - obsessed . traveling to Duval on a Sunday in the fall and you ’ll regain the city totally overtaken by teal , black , and Au . TIAA Stadium sits in the city ’s sports dominion just south of downtown . It ’s removed enough from the urban core that it can have grand tailgate lots , but close enough you may walk to the sports stadium if you ’re staying downtown . Before lead to the stadium , you ’ll require to take hold of a beer atIntuition Ale Works , a Sunday - splashed brewery that doubles as the de facto pre - game meeting place .
A block from Intuition sit one of the best ballparks in the minor leagues at 121 Financial Ballpark . The brick facade incorporates a historic Christian church that sit on the property , and the open concourse allows fans to check the Marlins AA affiliate Jumbo Shrimp even when getting up for a beer . On Thursdays , the Shrimp host $ 2 beer night , which turn into a big outfield party for most of Jacksonville ’s twentysomethings .
Fantastic food hides in culinary pockets
While the Michelin Guide has so far eschewed Florida ’s quaternary city , that does n’t mean there are n’t restaurant here that could value a star . Foremost among them isOrsay , an Avondale bistro from award - winning chef Jon Insetta where Gallic traditions occur fused with southerly specialties for Jacksonville ’s most indulgent dining .
In San Marco , Jacksonville ’s dining and drinking destination for the bourgeoisie , Tavernais a long - put up upscale Italian spot that ’s big for special function and dates . It ’s also next threshold to a fantastic whiskey and wine prevention calledThe Grape & Grain Exchange . Further down San Marco you ’ll findTown Hallfrom James Beard Award - campaigner Tom Gray . He also lam the every bit fabulousPrati Italiaat the St. Johns Town Center .
The stretching of Riverside ’s Stockton Street between College and Myra could make a case as the solid food pulley block of Florida . It begins withFoo Dog Curry Traders , a hip fast - casual joint with a carte of global curry from the Himalayas to the Caribbean . Two doors away isBold Bean , the metropolis ’s top coffee workshop that serves delicately roasted coffee tree and robust umber pastry to WFHers and creative types . The block end with13 Gypsies , a self - proclaim “ peasant kitchen ” with an eclectic bill of fare offering everything from Mongolian beef skewers to popish - elan gnocchi .
Alpine Groves Park|Lynne Neuman/Shutterstock
Downtown , Indochineis the metropolis ’s Asian food loyalist , and for in effect reason . Pad thai , curry , and lemongrass coconut tom kha gai highlight a long menu of southeast Asiatic specialties . business district ’s other highlight isbellwether , Insetta ’s fast - casual spot with an accessible menu of Asian - inspired gastronome salad , burger , and sandwiches .
Local beers refresh on the water and in the city
Jacksonville ’s beer rarely make it outside the metropolis , which is why visiting its brewery can prove such a alone experience . The most popular is probablyBold City , well know for its easy drinking Duval Light and Mad Manatee IPA.Wicked Barleysits right on the water , where sailor tie up on weekend for long afternoon of Left Leg Lager . Engine 15 in Jax Beach made its name as a fix at Jags tailgate in their classic flack engine , though the brewery is a great stay if you ’re on your agency to or from the beaches . If you feel a picayune overwhelmed by the selection , leap out on aGo Tuk’n brewery tour of duty , where a witty number one wood takes you to a handful of the metropolis ’s good spots in a breezy mechanise Tuk Tuk .
Restaurant Orsay’s Lobster Pot Pie|Photo courtesy of Restaurant Orsay
A Hazy New England Imperial IPA|Photo courtesy of Wicked Barley Brewing Company - Jacksonville, FL
