Jacksonville at a Glance

Written By Jennifer Rogers

The Travel Guide You Need

Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental United States by landmass covering an astounding 840 square miles. When I say it has something for everyone, it’s no exaggeration.

Located on the Atlantic coast of northeastern Florida, Jacksonville combines all you love about Florida with so much more - a vibrant art community, incredible natural resources and a rich, fascinating history. With over 400 city parks, multiple state parks, over a dozen museums, and lively downtown urban areas full of art, music and rooftop bars, it’s unlike anywhere else.

Its diversity is unparalleled. You can explore both black and white sand beaches, coastal wetlands, marshes and freshwater lagoons, hike and bike miles of natural trails, surf the best waves in the region and fish year-round. It’s even home to the largest urban park system in the nation.

OVERVIEW OF JACKSONVILLE BY DISTRICTS

Jacksonville covers a massive area and can seem overwhelming to navigate at first. However, once you familiarize yourself with it on a map and see how it can be broken down into different districts and neighborhoods, it’s easy to get around and explore.

Here are just some of the different areas and districts:

  • Northside – River City Marketplace and Jacksonville Airport.

  • Springfield – an area with hip restaurants, breweries, and public art displays.

  • Eastside – an area full of history and culture with a large concentration of historical buildings dating back to the 1800s.

  • Downtown – an area with great walking paths and scenic views of the St. Johns River that includes the Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks.

  • Murray Hill – a trendy urban neighborhood.

  • Riverside Avondale – one of the largest national historic districts in the U.S.

  • San Marco – a quaint area located on the Southbank of the St. Johns River full of art galleries, boutique shops, and the fountain of lions.

  • Ortega - a wealthy neighborhood with historic mansions.

  • Mandarin – an area just south of San Marco with oaks draped in Spanish moss that offers shopping, riverfront activities, and historic sites.

  • Southside – a residential area with shopping, riverfront activities and historic sites.

  • Atlantic Beach – a quiet upscale coastal community along the shores with fine dining.

  • Neptune Beach – a relaxing beachside community with tons of great dining and shops as well as local nightlife hot spots located between Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach.

  • Jacksonville Beach - a family-friendly beach just 17 miles from downtown and home to the Jacksonville Beach Pier.

BEACHES

Jacksonville is home to more shoreline than anywhere else in Florida. It boasts 22 miles of pristine beaches with sunshine year-round making it the perfect vacation spot for those who just want to relax on the sand, soaking in the rays.

Here are some of its most popular beaches:

  • Atlantic Beach – a quiet upscale coastal community with fine dining.

  • Neptune Beach – a relaxing community with tons of dining, shops, and local nightlife hot spots.

  • Jacksonville Beach - a family-friendly beach that is home to the Jacksonville Beach Pier near which surfers often congregate.

  • Black Rock Beach – a unique geological wonder located in Big Talbot Island State Park that looks like black lava rock covered with twisted dead trees and interesting tidepools.

  • Boneyard Beach - a beach that has been sculpted by the natural elements located at Big Talbot Island State Park. Here you will find 30-foot bluffs and beaches littered with massive driftwood trees that have been bleached by the salt and sun resembling skeletal remains from which the beach derives its name.

PARKS

State Parks

Jacksonville boasts numerous state parks that are collectively part of the Talbot Islands State Parks.

  • Big Talbot Island – a natural preserve known for its beauty, diverse island habitat, and bird watching. You can hike Black Rock Trail to the shore, Big Pine Trail to the marsh, or Old Kings Highway and Jones Cut through maritime forest. You can also explore the salt marsh by renting kayaks through the park’s concessionaire PADL.

  • Little Talbot Island – an undeveloped secluded barrier island known for its ancient dunes and pristine shoreline. It’s a great spot for beachcombing, surfing, fishing, hiking, biking, camping, and bird watching.

  • Fort George Island Cultural State Park – a historically significant lush island park that was once an exclusive resort. Today, visitors can explore the restored 1920s Ribault Club and book it for special events. It’s also a great area to boat, fish, mountain bike ride, and hike.

  • George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park – a mile long pedestrian and fishing bridge that is accessed through Amelia Island State Park.

  • Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park – a 4,000 acre preserve that is known for its expansive pine flatwoods with 15 miles of multi-use trails, a bird refuge, and abundant wildlife including the American alligator.

  • Yellow Bluff Historic State Park – located on the Yellow Bluff peninsula on the north side of the St. Johns River. There was never an actual fort here but there was an encampment that was fortified, making it an important military position during the Civil War.

City Parks

With 405 city parks in Jacksonville, there are just too many to name them all, but here are a few:

  • Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park - 1.5 miles of public beach with some of the best surfing and over 20 miles of trails.

  • Castaway Island Preserve - salt marshes and tidal creeks with a board walk.

  • Dutton Island Preserve - a great spot for fishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding the Intracoastal Waterway with 2 miles of trails.

  • Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens - a hidden gem with a diverse ecosystem, local wildlife, streams, and a pond as well as paved and unpaved trails.

  • Memorial Park - a 6-acre park featuring a WWI memorial.

  • Riverside Park - an 11-acre park that hosts special events.

  • Jessie Ball duPont Park – Home of Treaty Oak, a 250 year old octopus-like Southern live oak.

  • Huguenot Memorial Park - part of the Great Florida Birding Trail where you can drive onto the sand (vehicle allowing).

National Park Sites

Jacksonville is home to three incredible national park sites.

  • Timucuan Ecological Preserve - Jacksonville’s largest park with 46,000 acres of unspoiled coastal wetlands and marsh, and 6,000 years of human history. You can hike, bike, fish, kayak, and camp.

  • Fort Caroline National Park Site - a historic replica of a fort settled by French colonists in 1564, with stunning views of the St. Johns River. There is a 1.3 mile trail for hiking with shade.

  • Kingsley Plantation National Park Site - the oldest standing plantation house in Florida first built in 1798. It is home to one of the best preserved villages of slave cabins. There are audio tours and ranger led tours.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Outdoor Activities for the Adventurous

Jacksonville is a playground for those who love the outdoors. With sunshine year round, it is always a good time to be in nature.

  • Hiking and Biking Trails - over 50 trails to choose from for hiking, biking, and trail running.

  • Kayaking -  kayak the marshes and wetlands with PADL.

  • Paddleboarding – paddleboard in freshwater lagoons.

  • Surfing - Jacksonville is a thriving surf community with several sand breaks including Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Jacksonville Beach Pier.

  • Skateboarding - Kona Skatepark in the Arlington neighborhood is the world’s oldest operating skatepark.

  • Boating & Sailing – with over 1,100 miles of navigable water and 50 public boat ramps, there are plenty of spots for boating in Jacksonville including river cruises, pontoon boats, and jet skiing. You can rent a boat, charter a boat, or just launch your own.

Fishing – There are endless possibilities for fishing depending on how you want to cast and what you want to catch, ranging from the St. Johns River to casting off the beach, shoreline, and pier. The Intracoastal Waterway, including Pablo Creek and Cabbage Creek, is a popular spot as is offshore fishing in the Northeast parts.  

Golfing - Jacksonville is home to numerous ocean side and riverfront golf clubs and courses. It is also home to one of the most recognizable PGA Tour tournaments, The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach which is held each year in late March/early April.

More Outdoor Activities

  • Riverwalk – Take a stroll along the river down Riverwalk in downtown. Here you can often spot dolphins and manatees.

  • River Taxi Tour – Take a ride down the St. Johns River on a river taxi for incredible views of Jacksonville from the water.  St. Johns is one of the very few rivers in the country that flows northward.

  • Cruises - Jacksonville offers all sorts of chartered cruises including the Jax Beach Sunset and Dolphin Cruise, sunset sailing cruises, dinner cruises, BYOB cruises, and more.

  • Friendship Fountain - once the world’s largest and tallest fountain, Friendship Fountain is capable of spraying 17,000 gallons of water a minute up to 120 feet in the air. Each night, visitors can enjoy water and light shows.

  • Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens - Northeast Florida’s premier zoo with over 2,000 species, and a botanical garden boasting 1,000 rare plants.

  • The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary - a wild animal sanctuary for endangered big cats that educates the public about their plight in the wild.

ARTS & MUSEUMS

Jacksonville is a thriving art community and vibrant cultural hub with numerous museums, art galleries, and performing arts spaces.   

Museums

Jacksonville is home to many world class museums including those listed below.

Science and History Museums

  • Norman Studios Silent Film Museum – a testament to Norman Studios’ contribution to film and promotion of diversity in cinema.

  • Kingsley Plantation – the oldest standing plantation house in Florida with one of the best preserved villages of slave cabins.

  • Jacksonville Fire Museum – home of artifacts detailing the history of the fire service in the area.

Arts and Cultural Museums

  • Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens – a museum nestled along the banks of the St. Johns River that offers incredible displays of art across a wide range of styles as well as stunning gardens along the shore. It houses the impressive Wark Collection of Early Meissen Porcelain.

  • Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) – the oldest contemporary art museum in the south having celebrated its 100th year serving the local community in 2024.

Art Scene

Jacksonville is a haven for artists. Everywhere you turn, there are creative public displays of art from street murals to sculptures. The Riverside Arts Market is open weekly on Saturdays and every month there are art walks and pop-ups throughout town including the Downtown Art Walk, North Beaches Artwalk, Sip & Stroll, 904 Pop-Up, and Jacksonville Beach Art Walk.

There is also a grassroots CoRK Arts District - a collection of industrial warehouse studios featuring over 70 artists that is fun to explore.

As Jacksonville’s arts and cultural scene continues to grow, new art is continually coming to life including the recent development of the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District in the Springfield neighborhood where over 80,000 square feet of warehouse space is being transformed into a creative hub similar to CoRK.

The Performing Arts

URBAN TRAILS

Jacksonville boasts a collection of culinary and historical trails for food enthusiasts and history buffs.

  • Jax Ale Trail – Enjoy a beer at one of Jacksonville’s many hometown craft breweries on the Jax Ale Trail as you get to know its best local brews.

  • Jax Coffee & Donuts Trail – The perfect pairing of caffeine and sprinkles to perk up your day.

  • Mayport Shrimp Trail – With over 150 years of experience in the shrimping industry, dive into the best of the local flavor on the Mayport Shrimp Trail.

  • Black Heritage Trail – A self-guided tour of the city’s rich African-American history that takes you to places of importance during the Civil Rights Movement as well as those that inspired the arts, music, and culture.

  • Emerald Trail – A network of trails and greenways for those who love getting outdoors in nature.

HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS & SHOPPING

Jacksonville has many historic neighborhoods that are great spots for shopping and dining, or just taking a leisurely stroll through the streets.

  • San Marco

  • Riverside Avondale

  • Springfield

  • Murray Hill

  • St. John’s Town Center

MUSIC SCENE

Jacksonville is often called the “birthplace of southern rock” because of so many legendary rockers being natives or having gotten their starts here. Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet, .38 Special, and JJ Grey & Mofro are all native to Jacksonville, and the Allman Brothers Band was formed here. Even the African American anthem, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” was composed by Jacksonville residents James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson.

  • Blue Jay Listening Room – an intimate music venue.

  • The Elbow – an area with diverse live music and walkable nightlife in Downtown’s Entertainment District including The Albatross, a hip, late night venue with live bands and DJs.

  • Jack Rabbits – a small concert house and bar featuring punk, ska and metal bands.

ROOFTOP BARS

SPORTING EVENTS

Jacksonville has long been a place dominated by professional sports, hosting hundreds of events annually. Although it’s probably best known as the current home to NFL’s Jaguars, it also has professional baseball, hockey, rugby, and soccer. It also has an interesting past. in 1912. JP Small Stadium was built becoming home to the Negro League, a minor baseball league where many great athletes got their start including Hank Aaron, Babe Ruth, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell. Additionally, in 1946, The TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game was held here - the first college bowl game to ever be televised.

Catch a game with one of Jacksonville’s professional teams:

GREAT SUNSET SPOTS

  • Memorial Park

  • Cradle Creek Preserve

  • Riverfront Park

  • Black Rock Beach in Big Talbot Island State Park

  • Stinson Park in Ortega  

  • Dutton Island Preserve

GREAT SUNRISE SPOTS

  • Boneyard Beach in Big Talbot Island State Park

  • Neptune Beach

  • Atlantic Beach

  • Jax Beach Pier

  • Riverfront Park

MOST SCENIC DRIVE

If you’re looking for a leisurely scenic drive, take the 40 mile stretch of A1A from Fernandina Beach through Amelia Island to South Jax Beach. This is one of the most beautiful coastal drives in the southeast US. You will drive along stretches of road lined with oak trees covered in Spanish moss, sweeping coastal views of the Atlantic, and  quaint historic neighborhoods full of boutiques, shops, and restaurants for stops along the way.

READ MORE

  • How to Spend a Long Weekend in Jacksonville - The Perfect Itinerary and Guide for First Time Visitors

  • PADL - Full service kayak rentals, tours and lessons

  • Book Margaritaville Jacksonville at JAX Beach

  • Visit JAX - Your Official Guide to Jacksonville, “The Flip Side of Florida.” This is perhaps the most comprehensive, detailed website of any tourism board out there. The site contains a wealth of knowledge and they even have an app.

  • Best Restaurant in Jacksonville: The Bearded Pig - Southern BBQ & Beer Garden

Jennifer Rogers
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How to Spend a Long Weekend in Jacksonville