Beach Activities

Immerse yourself in Jacksonville's 21 miles of wide, uncrowded beaches.  Visitors will find plenty to do, with diverse activities, restaurants, nightlife hotspots, souvenir shops and oceanfront hotels blending into the scene without crowding views of the shoreline. 

Get visitor information and explore the beaches' colorful history with a stop at the Beaches Museum & History Center in Jacksonville Beach.  With its replica boardwalk of photos and displays, visitors will be whisked back in time to an era when Jacksonville's beaches were the playground of politicians, celebrities, gangsters and socialites and where one could ride a seaside roller coaster or Ferris wheel and race cars along the sand.  Today, the rides and beach driving are gone, but left in its place is a peaceful boardwalk nestled into white, rolling sand dunes and a fishing pier launching nearly a quarter of a mile into the Atlantic Ocean. 

EXPLORE BY LAND OR SEA
Aside from the refreshing trips to the beach, Jacksonville's beaches have so much to offer.  For an overview of the ecosystems, history and architecture join a guided tour with e2ride (pronounced "red-e to ride").  The newly created Jacksonville tour company has tours of many of the neighborhoods around Jacksonville, including a beaches neighborhood tour.   

If you prefer water immersion to dry land, take a surf lesson from a local surf shop like Aqua East or explore the ocean for dolphins and sand bars that come and go with the tide.  Kayak Adventures offers unique guided excursions, including the Shell Hunter and Island Hopper tour where paddlers discover what the tide leaves behind on sand bars - sharks teeth, shells, crabs and more.  Or head out to sea on the Dutton Island Dolphin Adventure.  You'll not only catch glimpses of dolphin, but also Florida's birds and occasionally a manatee.

Visitors with the family in tow must head to Adventure Landing Jacksonville Beach now celebrating its 15^th anniversary.  During the summer, cool off at Shipwreck Island Waterpark with four major water slides daring you to test your adventurous side.  And families looking to dry out after a day at the beach will also find mini golf, laser tag, arcade, go karts and batting cages.  A little friendly competition is always fun!

WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN
There's no need to sit around your hotel room once the sun bathing sends you running for shade.  Families looking for an easy activity after the sun sets should grab a blanket or beach chairs and head to the Sea Walk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach.  There is always a festival or special event at the ocean-side venue.  One of the signature events of the summer are the Cool Sounds of Hot Summer Nights jazz concert series, welcoming regional jazz performers on three separate Sunday evenings.  Other events held at the Sea Walk Pavilion, include Springing the Blues and the Right Whale Festival. 

Another signature beaches event is the North Beaches Art Walk, held on the third Thursday of each month from 5-9 p.m. in the Beaches Town Center of Atlantic and Neptune Beach.  Stroll, enjoy great live music and support over 40 artists of all mediums.  There is also a children's art table for the kids and incredible restaurants on every corner. 

Catch fresh seafood at some of the beaches most popular restaurants.  The newly opened Salt Life Seafood Shack is unique in that the t-shirts came before the restaurant.  Jacksonville Beach surfers created the easy-going lifestyle brand a few years back and have within the past year created a restaurant with innovative seafood dishes to go along with it.  Families looking for great pizza must head to Al's Pizza, a local chain, for thin pizza pies with an assortment of topping creations.  And there are many options for couples looking for an intimate dining experience including  Restaurant Medure featuring a menu with Asian flare and simple, yet scrumptious dishes in a elegantly casual environment just blocks from the ocean.  Perfect for a fabulous meal, followed by a romantic walk on the beach. 

There are plenty of places to catch live music at the beaches, but one popular spot hosting local favorites and national recording artists is Freebird Live.  The beachside hangout honors the legacy of Lynyrd Skynrd and is run by the widow of Ronnie VanZant, the original leader of the local grown band.

In addition to live music, guests seeking nightlife at the beaches will be excited to find a number of bars, clubs and lounges within walking distance of one another.  Hidden on the top floor of the Casa Marina Hotel and Restaurant, Jacksonville Beach's most historic hotel, is the Penthouse Lounge.  The outdoor wooden deck allows for incredible views of the expanse of shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, as you sip on a martini and nibble on tapas.  Local hangout, The Ritz is a great place to grab an ice cold beer and mingle with local singles.  When you are looking to party at Jacksonville Beach, The Atlantic and Ocean Club offer many options, no matter your mood with DJs spinning popular hits.  A trolley system, running in the summer, will whisk you to the Beaches Town Center for more bars, like local microbrewery, Ragtime Tavern. 

A PLACE TO LAY YOUR HEAD
The gentle crash of the ocean lulls active travelers to sleep at accommodations scattered along the coast.  For those seeking refuge in a natural setting, accommodations near Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park are ideal, and are also convenient to the JAXPORT St. Johns River Ferry, which departs for Fort George Island regularly.  Fort George Island is home to guided kayaking and Segway tours, each featuring the rich Florida history and ecosystems of the island. 

The Palms Retro is ideal for couples looking for a kitschy beach motel.  Each of the 10 rooms nestled around a tropical courtyard is decorated in a theme, down to the ceiling fan and light switch plate.  Choose from the "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" room or the Marilyn Monroe suite, complete with a bright pink bathroom, or simply choose "The Beach" for vintage beach scenes.  Guests are treated to a complimentary breakfast in the morning and beach cruisers for easy access to the beaches.

For a truly relaxing experience, select a resort where your every whim is met.  One Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa oozes luxury, from its ocean color scheme of soft blues and greens, to an oceanfront spa and docents on every floor, tending to each visitor.  Guests also receive access to the greens at Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club.  Those taking up respite at the hotel or those just staying nearby must dine at Azuréa Restaurant, the resort's restaurant with sweeping views of the ocean.  Chef Ted Peters plans the menu seasonally to take advantage of the freshest ingredients, but with the nearby ocean, seafood is always a delectable item to choose.  

In the heart of Jacksonville Beach, visitors will find many options for affordable, oceanfront rooms, including the Quality Suites Oceanfront.  Easy beach access is high on the list of amenities and making it even easier is resident company, Rent Beach Stuff.  This company has everything on hand to make your say at the beach enjoyable, from bikes, to umbrellas and, boogie boards, there is something to make your day at the beach even better.  And the best part is pick-up and drop-off is a part of the service.