Jacksonville Travel Guide
Have you ever considered visiting – or even moving to Jacksonville? It is home to Florida’s youngest population and JAX is actually one of the hippest cities in the entire state of Florida! There is plenty to do when in Jacksonville, but it is laid back enough, so you do not feel rushed or stressed out while there. There is both relaxation, adventure, and a huge arts scene in Jacksonville, so there truly is something for everyone. It was ranked as a Supercool US City by Expedia and it’s also on Lonely Planet’s list of the world’s 10 best value destinations for 2018.
All in all, Jacksonville is a great spot to travel to and live in and I wanted to talk about some of the cool things that it’s home to:
Foodie Spots
Maple Street Biscuit Company: Are you a biscuit lover? You’ve come to the right place! Maple Street boasts HUGE biscuits that have toppings galore. From amazing gravy, thick bacon, to other tasty options, you cannot go wrong with your order. My favorite is “The Five!”
The Black Sheep Restaurant: Jon Insetta is the head chef and owner of The Black Sheep Restaurant. He opened it about five years ago and it has been doing AMAZING ever since. There is tons of light for all of those that love the typical foodie IG photos and the food looks and tastes great, too. Serving options such as Korean Beef Short Ribs, Wild Georgia Shrimp and Grits, and other creative options, you won’t be sorry you visited this spot.
Community Loaves: Are you a brunch person? If so, hit up Community Loaves! They serve both breakfast and lunch and their menu all revolves around loaves of sourdough, which never fails to impress me.
Clark’s Fish Camp: I have not personally visited Clark’s Fish Camp, but I’ve heard that it’s an experience and totally wacky + fun! It’s apparently full of taxidermy bears, lions, and other wildlife, and it’s also right on the water. However odd the place may look, I’ve heard that it is THE place for seafood in the heart of Jacksonville. From scallops, shrimp, and oysters to tuna, gator, and even snakes and frogs, you can find basically ANYTHING and everything at Clark’s Fish Camp.
Food Trucks: Jacksonville is a huge food truck spot.From Salty Dog, The Butt Hutt Smokehouse, to Fusion Food Truck, and even a grilled cheese truck, you can find it all. SO GOOD.
Craft Breweries: According to Visit Florida, The Jax Ale Trail gives barley and hops enthusiasts the opportunity to explore local craft breweries or even the Budweiser Brewery. They also have a Jaxtoberfest Beer Festival!
Spots For Families
Shopping: St. Johns Town Center is an awesome outdoor mall. There’s a ton of really nice stores such as an Apple Store, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Sephora, and more.
Riverside Arts Market: Want to find a way to spend a fun morning out and about? Then head to the Riverside Arts Market. March-November on Saturdays, this is the best spot for food, arts, and music. You can browse through local, handmade creations and enjoy fresh food and tons of live music. There is even a weekly kids activity.
Top Golf: No matter where you currently live, you’ve probably been to or at least heard of Top Golf. It’s a fun way to spend a day or an evening!
Adventure Landing: This one is for the wild kids. They can play in the arcade, race go-karts, and play a game of mini-golf. Don’t worry – it’s not just limited to kids, though. It even sounds fun to adults, like me! They also boast an awesome waterpark called Shipwreck Island, which has at least four (if not more?) waterslides, fun rides, and it is a great way to spend a day in the sun.
St. Johns River Taxi: Hop on a water taxi and have some fun! It’s $5 for adults or $4 for kids and it will take you all over the place from St. Johns River to the Northbank and Jacksonville Landing, etc. You can also ride it for the entire loop for a sunset “cruise” and live music.
Beaches
Between Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and JAX Beach, you can find everything that you need. Jacksonville beaches are beautiful and there are a ton of fun things to do at each one. If you want a smaller, more quaint vibe, you could even check out Amelia Island, which is known for their laid-back, casual restaurants and crowless beaches. JAX Beach is definitely a great spot for the younger crowd since it has so many restaurants around too, but it is typically a bit more crowded. No matter what beach you choose in the Jacksonville area, you cannot go wrong!
I told you that there were so many cool things in the Jacksonville area! If you are anything like my friends parents, you will want to move there after just visiting once! If that is the case, they found a great real estate agent: Coldwell Banker Vanguard Realty, Erin E. King MBA.
Erin E. King, a Best of Zillow® REALTOR® knows what he is talking about when it comes to the Jacksonville real estate market, especially when it comes to historic homes! He truly does walk the walk and has amazing reviews to back that up. He is an expert when it comes to the Jacksonville real estate market, no matter if you are buying or selling. From Avondale, Riverside, and Murray Hill, to Ortega, San Marco, St. Nicholas, Springfield, and many more, he should be your go-to if you are interested in moving to the Jacksonville area. He brings a deep understanding of buying and selling historic homes to his clients and is also able to accurately price homes in historic districts, as well. If you are interested in homes for sale in San Marco, he is the person to call!
