Pamela RobertsIt’s always a good idea to relax and unwind after a tiring week. If you’re booking a car rental for a weekend road trip, it’s best to maximize it with the endless activities you can explore in the city.
From visiting parks to dropping by museums, I’ve gathered the best things to do in Jacksonville to help you navigate the town with ease.
1. Little Talbot Island
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Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/little-talbot-island-state-park
Address: 12157 Heckscher Dr, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19042512320
Operating Hours: Daily: 8:00am – sunset
Admission Costs: Starts at $2 for pedestrians and bicyclists
If you ask me, Little Talbot Island is a great destination for creating memories, especially along its pristine beaches. You can bring your friends and family along for a wonderful bonding time over a weekend.
Don’t forget to bring your camera, too, because it’s nice to record your activities with the group like biking through the trails and finding pretty fallen trunks of cedar and palm. These natural sculptures are awesome finds for any outdoor lover.
Little Talbot is suitable for making bold and lasting experiences with its natural beauty where you can get a chance to feel closer to nature after spending so much time in the hustle and bustle of the city.
Pro tips:
- Bring something to barbecue in their grills, so you can just chill at their pavilions, and watch the sunset with friends and family.
- Make sure to bring enough drinking water, too, to keep yourself hydrated, especially during hot days.
2. Big Talbot Island
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Website: https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/big-talbot-island-state-park
Address: Jimmy Buffett Mem Hwy, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19042512320
Operating Hours: Daily: 7:00am – 8:00pm
Admission Costs: Per vehicle: $3
At Big Talbot Island, you can honor your personal time through quiet strolls along Boneyard Beach. If you’re feeling a little adventurous, you can also rent a kayak, so you can explore the water.
The place opens early, so you’d want to greet the sun at the park. You can bring your camera for taking photos of the natural scenery under the morning light.
Bird watching is also a popular activity in the area, so get your binoculars ready. Big Talbot Island is an ideal place for nature study, seeing wildlife, and even sketching the landscape for improved observation skills.
Pro tips:
- Check the tide times when navigating the beach or else you can’t really go so far. You’d want to explore when the tide is low.
- Pack your trusty insect repellant! Spray thick layers, especially on kids, to keep those bugs away.
3. Riverside Park
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Address: 753 Park St, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046302489
Operating Hours: Daily: 7:00am – 7:00pm
If you’ve been busy lately, you’d want to take control of your weekend energy by recharging at Riverside Park. Good news is you can even bring your dog to their dog park!
They have picnic tables where you can bring snacks for your group while you watch the kids run around at the playground. It’s a good way to reintroduce yourself to the beauty of the city’s parks.
To get a little more active, you can explore Riverside Park’s biking and walking trails, too. There’s something for everyone, so bring the whole family for an afternoon of weekend fun.
Pro tips:
- You’d want to park your car near one of the establishments just to make sure that you can keep an eye on your valuables.
- Schedule your visit accordingly to avoid peak times like weekend afternoons. Get the best chance of a good parking spot in the morning.
4. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
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Website: https://www.cummermuseum.org/
Address: 829 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19043566857
Operating Hours:
- Mon: closed
- Tues: 11:00am – 8:00pm
- Wed–Fri: 11:00am – 4:00pm
- Sat: 10:00am – 4:00pm
- Sun: 12:00pm – 4:00pm
Admission Costs:
- Adults: $20
- Members: Free admission
The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens places emphasis on beauty and art among their exhibitions. They feature a wide variety of works across all genres and periods like Late Medieval, Renaissance, and Ancient Mediterranean.
Explore their wonderful gardens, too, so you can witness poetry in the form of greenery. Their gardens are great for taking selfies and portraits, so make sure to bring a good camera when you visit.
The Cummer Museum also holds temporary exhibitions such as on landscapes and sacred imagery, so keep an eye out on their website for updates. A specific exhibition may catch your fancy, so don’t pass up on the opportunity to drop by!
Pro tips:
- Dress up when you visit, so you can wait for golden hour and take photos against the beautiful backdrop including the river and the greenery.
- Take photos of the plants and flowers, too, so you can look them up online, and add to your educational experience.
5. Riverside Arts Market
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Website: https://riversideartsmarket.org/
Address: 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19043892449
Operating Hours:
- Sun–Fri: closed
- Sat: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Riverside Arts Market is a local arts and produce market that is held weekly every Saturday. Brace yourself for a day of finding treasures like art, jewelry, candles, and bath and body products.
You can also buy fresh produce from local farmers, so you can support sustainable agricultural practices. Dropping by the Riverside Arts Market is the perfect way to reconnect with the community, too.
You can also catch live dance and music performances at the market, so don’t miss out! If you’re a musician, you can also reach out to the organizers to grab the chance to perform.
Pro tips:
- Remember to bring cash with you as some stalls may not accept other modes of payment.
- The place can get crowded, too, so it’s best to park about a block away and walk all the way to the market instead.
6. Ritz Theatre & Museum
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Website: https://theritz.jaxevents.com/
Address: 829 N Davis St, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19046325555
Operating Hours:
- Sat–Mon: closed
- Tues–Fri: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Admission Costs: Museum self-guided tour: $12.15
The Ritz Theatre and Museum is an ingredient for cultural education. It features a museum that reflects past triumphs and challenges of those that came before us.
The museum includes exhibitions on the impact of Floridians in our history. It also encompasses the celebration of our rich African American heritage.
Visiting the Ritz Theatre and Museum is an experience that cannot be easily replaced by a quick internet search. Immersing in the physical space of the museum is an engaging way to learn about our history.
Pro tips:
- Their temporary exhibitions change often, so you can always keep it on your must-see list.
- Selfie sticks are not allowed inside the museum. An alternative is to maximize your phone camera’s 0.5 angle feature if you have one!
7. Kingsley Plantation
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Website: https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/kp_visiting.htm
Address: 11676 Palmetto Ave, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19042513537
Operating Hours:
- Wed–Sun: 9:00am – 5:00pm
- Mon–Tues: closed
Admission Costs: Free admission
The park rangers at Kingsley Plantation are knowledgeable and friendly, so the place is accessible even for first-timers. It’s a historic national park that includes the oldest standing plantation house in the city.
It’s best to make the effort to visit to learn more about the history of the place, especially since it also includes remains of slave cabins. Kingsley is an eye-opening experience for all visitors with its graphic and straightforward narrative of the history of slavery.
You can explore the interpretive garden, the barn, and the waterfront during your visit. The place is well-maintained, so you’re sure to have a conducive learning environment.
Pro tips:
- Take note of the paved entry road to the right of the venue which is much more convenient than the dirt road that has deep potholes.
- While it’s best to take advantage of the audio walkthrough, make sure to ask the park rangers for guidance, too. They’re also knowledgeable and can provide additional context and information about the place.
8. Fort Caroline
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Website: https://www.nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/foca.htm
Address: 12713 Fort Caroline Rd, Jacksonville
Contact Details: (904) 641-7155
Operating Hours:
- Wed–Sun: 9:00am – 4:30pm
- Mon–Tues: closed
Admission Costs: Free admission
Fort Caroline is a memorial of the brief French colonial presence in the city. There are no fees to enter the memorial, so you have the freedom to explore and take nature walks through the historic park.
Visiting Fort Caroline is a way to recognize the history of Florida through immersion. You can also engage in the reading material on their website prior to your visit to ensure an enriching experience when you drop by.
Explore the memorial to discover narratives of survival and territorial battles in our rich history.
Pro tips:
- Keep your umbrella with you in case rain clouds catch you in the middle of the memorial.
- If you’re bringing kids along, guide them in keeping the solemnity of the place by avoiding running around and using their indoor voice.
9. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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Website: https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/
Address: 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19047574463
Operating Hours: Daily: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Admission Costs: Adult: $25.95
Exploring the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is an opportunity to let kids associate zoos with fun and learning. It’s an active and exciting way to learn about animal behavior and tendencies.
There are numerous animals that you can observe at the zoo. You can witness exotic wildlife from the African Rock Python and African Spoonbill to Aruba Island Rattlesnake and Florida Box Turtle.
You’d want to get your kid interested in celebrating their birthday at the zoo, too! The zoo is open to holding birthday parties, and it will be an educational yet entertaining idea for kids to enjoy.
Pro tips:
- Anticipate the additional fees for feeding animals and taking the train, so allocate extra budget for those in case you want the full experience.
- To avoid any inconvenience and to save time, make sure to book your tickets online, so you won’t have to line up at the counter.
10. St. Johns Town Center
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Website: https://www.simon.com/mall/st-johns-town-center
Address: 4663 River City Dr, Jacksonville
Contact Details: +19049987156
Operating Hours:
- Mon–Thurs: 10:00am – 8:00pm
- Fri–Sat: 10:00am – 9:00pm
- Sun: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Fashion-forward visitors will get excited by the existence of St. Johns Town Center. Weave through the various retail fashion stores at the center to turn your weekend into a fashionable treat.
Experience life in sweet pastel-colored glasses as you walk along the beautiful shops at the center. From luxury brands to affordable shops, there is surely something for everyone at St. Johns.
It’s worth a visit when you feel like you need retail therapy. However, take note that the center also has dining options, and seasonal events like a Santa Photo Experience, so there’s more to see at the center beyond clothing.
Pro tips:
- Be careful when driving around since pedestrians at the center tend to be too excited that they forget to mind incoming traffic.
- You’d want to consider valet parking for convenience, though there are tons of free parking available.
