They say Jacksonville is where Florida begins, but what you may not know is Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States! Go Jax! It is home to 7 sports teams, most notably the Jacksonville Jaguars. The PGA Tour is also based here, and Jacksonville is home to the Florida-Georgia college football game every year.
In addition to sports, there are many museums and parks with trails for kids to run and play, delicious restaurants, and of course, our beautiful beaches! My family and I spend most weekend mornings at the beach. It doesn’t cost anything; we get fresh air and the kids tire themselves out!
So without further ado, here is a list of must dos: places to go and eat in our beloved city of Jacksonville, Florida. I should also add a quick disclaimer that there are SO many places to go in this beautiful city, it is hard to narrow down the choices, but I did my best!
This post is sponsored by Jax Historic Realty
Places to Go
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
When you see a zoo on the list, you may be thinking “oh great, another zoo.” However, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has some neat features, so hang in there with me!
First there is the recent addition of the African Forest section, which is home to Bonobos, Angolan Colobus, Guereza Colobus, Western Lowland Gorilla, Black-and-white Ruffed Lemur, Ring-tailed Lemur, and Mandrills. The animals have access to a 40-foot kapok tree, as well as several pathways above guests’ heads that allow them to roam more freely than before. This design is remarkably similar to the award-winning Land of the Tiger exhibit, which can be found at the back of the zoo. There you can marvel at Sumatran and Malayan Tigers. They too can be found on pathways above your head, and you can also view them close as there are many glass divider viewing areas. Once a day you can also participate in Tiger Talk, which is when the trainers talk to you about how they get the tigers to cooperate and how they earn their trust. During this chat the trainers also talk about conservation efforts that the zoo supports.
Another beautiful feature of the zoo is the gardens. Located towards the back of the zoo, the peaceful koi pond is a quiet place to relax and recharge. My kids and I often bring a picnic lunch and enjoy it at a table in the garden.
The final section of the zoo that I want to highlight is the Wild Florida section. There you can view plants and animals that call Florida home. Everything from Florida panthers to alligators to snakes, bobcats and even two bald eagles (which have a neat story explaining why they are at our zoo). Our favorite exhibit in Wild Florida, though, is the manatee rescue area. Manatees come to the zoo to be rehabbed, then are released back into the wild!
You cannot go wrong strolling around the zoo for a few hours. It is great exercise and you just might learn a thing or two!
Big Talbot Island- Boneyard Beach
The first time I went to this beach, I was wondering what I had gotten myself into! I went down a wooded trail in a state park, then found myself descending a cliff of sorts while several months pregnant with my second child.
However, once my feet touched the sand, I immediately saw the trek was worth it. All around me trees had toppled over and lay sporadically along the shoreline, just waiting to be climbed and of course, many pictures taken!
Fast forward to my most recent visit when I found the “right” path down to the beach, which is still a slope, but is a much better access point than my original visit. This time we had all three kids in tow, and they had such an amazing time. Boneyard Beach is truly nature’s playground.
How do the trees get to laying on the beach? The Florida State Parks website describes it best.
“As the waters move around the barrier island, channels deepen, fill in and shift.
Relatively recently (within the past few hundred years) this has meant a swift retreat for the shoreline resulting in rapid tree fall. Their bones are bleached, smoothed and battered by sun, sand and wind. While no longer standing, these trees still have an important job to do. They protect the remaining woods and uplands by dispersing and breaking up wind and wave energy and slowing further erosion. Their buffering effect keeps the barrier island in place so it can play its vital role of absorbing the brunt of the Atlantic hurricane season’s fury and protecting the cities, towns and salt marshes inland. Without the intricate root system of the forests here squeezing the sand and soil in place, the bluff would be eroding much faster, leaving Jacksonville exposed to more extreme sea level rise and storm impacts.”
To get into the parking lot of Boneyard Beach, a $3 fee is requested, but is done so on the honor system.
For even more outdoor places to explore in Jacksonville, check out this post about 15 Places To Explore the Great Outdoors In And Around Jax.
Beaches Town Center
Beaches Town Center is where Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach meet. It is an incredibly fun, family friendly area with many shops and restaurants, mere steps from the white sandy beaches! It is a place we’ve been frequenting for years! This is the full map, but our favorite spots include Whit’s for Ice Cream, Joseph’s for pizza, Flying Iguana for their table side guacamole, Fig and Willow/Jax Surf and Paddle/Kyd’s Boutique are great for clothes, Southern Grounds for coffee and food (hello avocado toast!) and Poe’s Tavern is great for burgers! You really cannot go wrong with anything here- it’s fun to just stroll and shop and eat!
Congaree and Penn
Congaree and Penn is truly a unique experience! It began as a rice farm and has branched off into other directions! Activities like Christmas cookie decorating, farm rides, goat meet ‘n greets, blackberry picking, visiting the taproom and ordering yummy food from their kitchen are some of the most recent options I have seen! They really have thought of a lot of amazing experiences, and it’s one of my all-time favorite places in Jax! One thing we love about them is even during all the social distancing changes, they have changed right along with it, finding unique ways to allow people to enjoy fresh air!
The food is fresh and local, and you just feel good being there, out in the open air, in nature! Leashed dogs are also welcome- they even have canine days where you can let your dog go unleashed in the back fields.
Be sure to check out their Instagram page and website-most experiences require reservations.
Speaking of places in Jacksonville- if you are in the market for a new place or a first time place of your own, be sure to call Erin King of Jax Historic Reality. Erin specializes in historic real estate (such as San Marco real estate) and offers a free, no obligation, first-time home buyers coaching session. It will prepare you for purchasing a home, and he can provide you with so much information about the area and the homes that you are looking at. When searching for an agent in Jacksonville, I highly recommend utilizing his services! Plus, his website is very useful and has helpful information on it. Check out his website today for more information!
Restaurants/Cafes
Florida Juice and Bowl
This fresh café popped up on the scene in Jacksonville Beach in 2017. I had seen it many times from the road, but finally stopped to try it out. Florida Juice and Bowl has a simple menu that focuses on 7 items, and they are full of healthy flavors! They serve acai bowls, pitaya bowls (pitaya is cactus fruit), smoothies, poke bowls, coffee, cold-pressed juices that are made fresh in small batches almost daily, and kombucha.
I tried the Florida acai bowl for breakfast, which included acai, coconut water, banana, pineapple, and blueberry and was topped with strawberry, blueberry, banana, kiwi, bee pollen, coconut flakes, and granola. It was almost too pretty to eat, but don’t worry, somehow, I managed!
This was the first of many trips to come. It is remarkably close to where we go to the beach, so expect to see a lot of this awesome brand on my Instagram feed in the coming months.
French Pantry
I will be completely transparent and tell you this is the only place on my must do list that I haven’t been to- mostly because I hear there is always a long line, and with three little kids, waiting is not our strong suit. However, I am making it a priority once school is over and we can also do take out now!
This much sought-after bakery is a Jacksonville staple, and it’s story is very sweet. When the owners moved from California to Jacksonville, they started a baking business near a local high school. They began making sandwiches on the side because kids at the high school requested it. Twenty years later they are continuing their tradition of lunch with hours that reflect this meal: 11am-2:15pm Monday- Saturday (they are closed on Sunday).
The French Pantry delivers bread to several restaurants in Jacksonville. Browse their menu for all of the yummy goodness!
ABBQ
Located in Atlantic Beach, ABBQ is a family owned Texas bar-b-que joint that includes the WHOLE family. Check out the menu and know that there are two ways to order once you arrive. One is to go straight to the counter in the middle of the restaurant. Here you can order freshly smoked meats by the half pound. The other option is to handle it more like a “regular” restaurant and grab a table and order off the menu with a server. Be sure to check out the specials!
Everything on the menu is a la carte. When my family and I went we each got a sandwich and split some sides. A full bar is also available, with specials listed on the menu. They use 4 smokers on site that were brought in from Texas!
The food is outstanding, and you can sit inside and enjoy the air conditioning and stay cool. However, there is an outside option that is super fun for the kids. There are small picnic tables, games and a chalkboard wall to keep the littles entertained while the grown ups can relax, have a drink, and enjoy adult conversation! Be sure to check out the “outhouse” if you are playing in the yard. It’s a hoot!
It is worth mentioning that the parking situation can be a bit tricky. There is valet parking in the restaurant parking lot, otherwise across the street may be your best bet! You can read my full review of ABBQ here!
Black Sheep Restaurant
Located in the 5 Points area of Riverside, Black Sheep is a sophisticated yet friendly watering hole with a unique menu. There are choices for adventurous palates as well as classic dishes for the less brave. My personal favorite is on both the brunch and dinner menus: Wild Georgia Shrimp and Grits!
They also have delicious cocktails, and the restaurant boasts a rooftop deck! Be sure to check out this gem of a place when you are in Jacksonville!
It should be noted that Black Sheep is closed on Mondays!
The Mini Bar
Mini Bar Donuts has quickly become a Jacksonville staple since opening a few years ago. In fact, they just opened their second location, in the Southside/Tinseltown area. What is it? It is a gourmet mini donut shop. There are over 15 signature donut flavors, plus specials every weekend, holiday and any other time they want (like on the Star Wars themed day, May the 4th)! Donuts are made to order (aka served warm- yum!), and there is even a viewing window for littles to stand and watch them being made. You can order donuts in packs of 3, 8, 16 or 24. I tend to let each kid do a three pack, because it negates any arguing!! And they feel special having their own box. Winning!
Not only do they have little round circles of deliciousness, but The Mini Bar serves local coffee from Bold Bean Coffee Roasters, and they always have 6 local beers on tap. Mimosas are also an option!
You really can’t go wrong visiting this awesome spot. The Jax Beach location also has a great courtyard with blocks, a chalkboard and corn hole, as well as a drive through kiosk in the parking lot!! As they say, “You Can Never Have Too Mini.”
Well friends, I have come to the end of my list of great places to check out in Jacksonville!! Have you visited any of the places on this list?! Let me know in the comments! Thanks for reading along and I hope you have a chance to try these out, and be sure to give Erin King a call if you need to find a home here in Jax!
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Awesome post!