Filed under Jacksonville Living on August 21st, 2008:
Top 10 Places to Go in Jacksonville Florida
If you’re ready to explore what your new home has to offer by way of fun and entertainment, prepare to be surprised by the number of things to do in Jacksonville Florida. There’s always something to do whether it’s day or night.
The Top 10 places to go in the city of Jacksonville include:
1. San Marco – This is a historic district near Jacksonville’s downtown. Within this district you will find some of the best Jacksonville restaurants, shops, clubs and theaters. San Marco Boulevard itself is the stage for a number of arts and music festivals throughout the year.
2. San Marco Theatre – This spot is found within the San Marco district, but it’s a destination worth mentioning all on its own. If you are living in Jacksonville apartments, this is the coolest place to go and catch a flick. The theater is found at 1996 San Marco Boulevard. It’s been around since 1938 and continues to serve up entertainment on a nightly basis. The theater offers a full food and drink menu and is known as one of the best classic cinemas in the entire United States.
3.St. Johns Town Center – If you’re idea of getting out and doing something involves some shopping, this is the place to go. Found at 4663 River City Drive, the town center has 1.1 million square feet of dining and retail space. Here you will find such stores as Louis Vuitton, Pottery Barn and Brooks Brothers. The eateries include The Cheesecake Factory, Maggiano’s Little Italy and The Capital Grille.
4. River Cruises – Found at 200 Wharfside Way, this destination offers cruises on the St. John’s River through downtown. It is possible to take a public cruise and enjoy dinner and drinks. Private parties are also available.
5. Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville – Located at 333 N. Laura Street, this museum is worth a trip. With more than 750 pieces in its permanent collection and plenty of visiting exhibits throughout the year, the museum is a favorite for art buffs.
6. Tree Hill – Found at 7152 Lone Star Road, Tree Hill is a nature center found in the middle of the city. Offering 50 acres of “urban wilderness,” Tree Hill is home to a natural history museum, xeriscape gardens and live animal exhibits.
7. Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve – This 46,000-acre preserve features plenty of land for boating, kayaking, fishing, hiking, biking and more. It also is home to many historic sites that hearken to the area’s native past. Located at 12713 Fort Caroline Road, the park is one of the many treasures found in the city of Jacksonville.
8. Jacksonville Landing – The Landing is the place to be along the St. Johns River. Located at 2 Independent Drive, the Landing features more than 30 stores, tons of restaurants and some incredible scenery right in Jacksonville’s downtown area.
9. The beaches – Just pick one and enjoy! The city of Jacksonville is close to some of Florida’s best beaches. Some of the best and closest include Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach.
10. Budweiser Brewery Tour – If you’ve ever wondered just how Anheuser Busch manages to make its beers so good, Jacksonville is the place to be. You can go on a brewery tour at 111 Busch Drive to see for yourself just how they do it.
The things to do in Jacksonville Florida are almost endless. The more you get to know your new hometown, the more you will discover there is to see and do.
March 15th, 2009 at 8:33 pm
The nightlife here is extraordinary.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:44 pm
Bologny!!! There is nothing to do here. Click on all the websites and then click “events” and you will see what I mean. I’m desperately looking for something to do today, with NO luck. The nightlife here sucks. The locals always ruin the party, with their ignorant fighting and carrying on. If you can get a reservation somewhere classy, by the water then it’s a nice time, but those places are few and far between. Also if you like to go out late, plan on sharing 9A and I-95 with many, many drunken rednecks.
March 17th, 2010 at 12:51 am
you are the ignorant one Hereforcollege. You act like Jacksonville is like that everywhere in the city all the time. Quit being a crybaby and grow up. And if it is such a bad city, then why go to college here?
March 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Well, if you were focusing on your studies rather than going out and getting wasted, maybe you could find something better to do. Get some cultural in your system, go to the art museum.
May 9th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
What a joke. There is nothing to do here. Jacksonville is a business town. There are no attractions. Nobody wants to go downtown at night. The beach is nasty. The traffic is a nightmare. As far as the 10 things to do, go do them. Then you have nothing else to do the next 51 weeks.
May 11th, 2010 at 4:40 am
This person makes a point and all you two can do is insult him. They’re right. I grew up there and moved out a long time ago. There really isn’t a lot of culture in Jacksonville. There’s a smattering, sure, but conservativism generally weighs like a brick in that part of the state and chokes the culture out of it. The folks there are parochial and never move out. You two are probably an example of that.
May 29th, 2010 at 1:49 am
The Landing/Downtown
The first place clueless people go. The Landing and Downtown are deserted most nights, with the possible exception of the Hooters. True, the area is nice to walk around at night with the beautiful river and the lit bridges, but besides that utterly worthless as a place to hang out. More bums than party people 90% of the time. Florida-Georgia weekend is the only time when this part of town is hopping at night, but the city charges cover in order to recoup their losses from the rest of the year. If you insist on going any other time, Dive Bar on Bay Street, The Pearl on Main Street, Hooters, and possibly the horrible honky-tonk on the landing’s second floor are your only options.
San Marco
A nice place to eat and walk around, San Marco is usually where people begin their nights before going to house parties in the rich neighborhoods or to the beach. Square One is a great club that people usually go to Wednesday nights, a really nice place overall. Besides that, its Layla’s (good happy hour) , Jack Rabbits (great music scene), and all stores and restaurants.
Beaches
In my opinion the best scene in all of Jacksonville. Jacksonville beach offers a bunch of bars, especially Freebird Live (famous music scene), and you really cannot miss going down the strip. Ocean Club is very popular with young people, right next to the beach, and is about as good as it gets in this town.
Westside
Five Points is interesting as grunge, ghetto, and gay take over at various times. Fuel is probably your best bet as semi-famous acts come there often and the drink specials are good. Outside of Five Points, the Avondale neighborhood offers Kickbacks and Monty’s. Kickbacks on King Street is a wonderful hole-in-the-wall with an extensive beer selection and great atmosphere. Monty’s, or West Inn Cantina as its officially known, is always a good bet.
Other
Bourbon Street Station- Saint Johns Bluff Road
Four clubs in one(country, techno, oldies, top 40), young crowd., getting a little thuggy lately.
Plush-University Blvd
New and better than most nightclubs in Jacksonville.
Metro
By far most popular gay club. Can’t speak on it from experience, seems to draw a crowd.
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