4 Best Things To Do in Jacksonville

Jacksonville, also known as the Gateway to Florida, is known for its peaceful white sandy beaches, abundant parks and waterways, diverse cultural community, and mouthwatering seafood dishes at the many local diners and restaurants. There’s also a myriad of family-friendly activities to choose from, including the Jacksonville Hands-On Children’s Museum, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Tree Hill Nature Center, and Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach.

With so many incredible and thrilling opportunities, it can be difficult to decide where to begin your Jacksonville adventure. At Keith Pierson Toyota, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best things to do in Jacksonville to the four activities below. After you read about them, we hope you take the time to explore each of them on your own.

Timucuan Preserve

As one of the last unspoiled wetlands on the Atlantic Coast, Timucuan Preserve contains over 6,000 years of human and ecological history. Explore the salty marshes, hardwood forests, and sandy dunes of this well-preserved coastal land. Opportunities for outdoor activities abound, including fishing, kayaking, surfing, observing wildlife, and more. If you’ve never taken the time to discover all the Timucuan Preserve has to offer, you need to add this to your bucket list today.

Located inside the preserve, Kingsley Plantation is a historical estate that was owned by Zephaniah Kingsley. The estate is a reminder of our country’s past, including the atrocity of slave ownership, and you can explore the entire grounds. View the slave quarters, barn, waterfront, plantation house, kitchen house, and more. Here, you’ll learn about the enslavement and freedom of those who worked the land for the plantation owners.

Fort Caroline can also be found within the borders of Timucuan Preserve. The first French colony in what was to become part of the United States, this 16th-century settlement tells the story of the first contact between Native Americans and Europeans. You’ll also discover how this town and its families survived, their religious traditions, and various territorial battles with neighboring peoples.

Jacksonville’s Historic Neighborhoods

If you enjoy strolling casually along riverfront streets, glancing through unique boutiques, or trying some of the most amazing food in Jacksonville, then you must plan a day or two to explore Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods. There are 14 diverse neighborhoods to choose from, all with their own unique venues, family-friendly locales, and breathtaking parks.

The Downtown district runs alongside the beautiful St. Johns River and is close to the area’s white sandy beaches. Enjoy a sunset water taxi ride, listen to live music by some of the best local musicians, or see if you can spot some marine life while walking along the St. Johns River. If you want to play tourist, you can catch lunch at one of the many unique bistros and cafes, spend the afternoon visiting world-class museums, and then take in some of the local nightlife at one of the casual bars or upscale lounges.

The Northside neighborhood of Jacksonville boasts plenty of activities and entertainment venues to keep you and your loved ones busy for hours. It’s home to some of the most pristine and picturesque state and national parks, including the Talbot Islands. For the little ones, plan a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens! They’ll love having an up-close view of all the animals and learning more about them, too. The River City Marketplace also is found in the Northside neighborhood. It offers outdoor shopping venues as well as local dining options.

Sports Games and Competitions

Jacksonville offers a multitude of sports games and competitions for the enthusiastic sports fan. Whether you enjoy cheering on your favorite national football team or watching experienced anglers reeling in a big catch, there are plenty of sports-related activities in the Jacksonville area.

If you’re a fan of the Jacksonville Jaguars then you’re in the right place! You can tailgate with friends or family before the big game and then watch the Jaguars inside the TIAA Bank Field arena for an exciting day of football. You can also watch two of our iconic college football games, the annual Florida vs. Georgia football game in the fall, and The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, which is played on New Year’s weekend.

Jacksonville is home to a wide variety of water sports. Surfing competitions, fishing tournaments, and more take place throughout the year. You can settle in on the white sandy beach for a day of watching surfers and anglers fighting for the largest wave or the biggest fish. If you’re an avid surfer or absolutely love to fish, you can also take part in any of these water sports competitions.

Go Tuk’n Brewery Tour

For the adults in your family or friend group, if you’ve never tried the Go Tuk’n Brewery Tour, you must add this to your vacation itinerary. Craft beer and local breweries abound in this three-hour tour that explores some of Jacksonville’s best taverns, cantinas, and pub houses. The tour has up to seven stops it can make. Whether you hit a few or hit them all, you’ll be so glad you added this to your agenda.

One of the stops included on this brewery tour is Hyperion Brewing. It serves a rotating variety of unique ales and wines that are sure to quench your thirst. King Maker Brewing has several ales, meads, and ciders on tap and is also known for its seasonal varieties such as Harvest Apple Mead and Oktoberfest. Located in the Railroad District, Tabula Rasa Brewing focuses on creating high-quality flavors and great-tasting craft beers. You can even bring your own food or have some delivered when you visit this local brewery.

Now that we’ve given you an idea of some of our favorite events, activities, and sightseeing locales, which one will you visit first? Do you have favorites that you would add to this guide? If so, we’d love to hear about them. We’re always open to new ideas and adventures. Simply contact us, and we’ll be sure to add it to this list as one of the best things to do when visiting Jacksonville.

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