Travel Guides > Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville Florida Travel

Once one of Florida's more industrial cities, Jacksonville has gradually become a more hospitable place in which to live, work, and vacation, thanks in large part to recent revitalization and the disappearance of the city's long-time premiere industry, paper mills.

Just 45 minutes south of the Georgia border, Jacksonville boasts 20 miles of pretty Atlantic Ocean coastline and lacks the crowds of some of the more southerly beaches, making it a delightful destination for those who prefer a little extra peace and quiet on their vacation.

The beaches here are fine, especially during the summer. Northern Florida can get a bit nippy during the winter months so most vacationers head south. However, when the weather's warm, the four beach communities near Jacksonville are quite popular.

Jacksonville Beach is the best surfing beach, Atlantic and Neptune Beaches are great for families, and nearby Ponte Vedra Beach is popular with golfers who travel here to take advantage of the many courses near that beach town.

Speaking of golf, there are more than enough courses in the Jacksonville area to please even the most avid golfer, including some that have been ranked among the best in North America.

While Jacksonville is not teeming with museums, there are a few that are certainly worth a visit. Art lovers will want to make two stops. The first should be at the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens. Situated on the banks of the St. John's River, this museum is well-known for its collection of American Impressionist art and its early Meissen porcelain. The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art is also excellent and even offers an interactive loft area to help children learn about contemporary art.

The Museum of Science and History takes a look at local Florida history, native plants and animals, outer space, dinosaurs, and the fascinating world of physical science. It'll be hard to get your kids to leave!

The northern Atlantic coast of Florida was once protected by a number of forts and visitors to Jacksonville can view several in or near the city. Check out Fort Clinch State Park, a pre-Civil War fort that's now a National Historic Site. Not only is the fort well-preserved and fun to explore, but visitors to this state park can also camp here, go fishing, hike, bike, or swim.

When it's time to find a place to eat or do a little shopping, head downtown to two of Jacksonville's most recently-built entertainment areas, Jacksonville Landing and Southbank Riverwalk, where you can choose from a number of excellent restaurants and stores of all kinds.