First Time Visiting Jacksonville?

It’s ok, we understand. If you haven’t been here before you can’t possibly understand our unique, diverse and sometime a little quirky destination. Now if you have found this blog, it’s time. Plan the trip. I’ve got the insight. I think I’m just the expert to be your guide to “The Flip Side of Florida.” So, here’s what first timers to Jax need to know and do.

First off, Jax is a casual place, so be comfortable, no one will judge your shorts and flip flops – we actually encourage them. Also, the food scene here is incredible and you might need some room for all the amazing seafood, southern food, treats, etc. that you will try.

The second thing you need to know, Jacksonville is BIG – like largest city by landmass in the continental USA – over 840 square miles. Accept that if you are staying less than 7-10 days, you won’t be able to see everything, but even two days are enough to explore and see so much. I will mention our size, because if you do want to see everything, you are probably going to need a car. Or a friend with a car…

Next on the list, people in Jacksonville are nice, like super friendly. As a formerly super sarcastic, recovering New Yorker, it was unexpected and a little shocking when I moved here, but now it’s one of my favorite things about living in this city. It probably won’t be hard to make some friends throughout your trip, don’t be surprised when random conversations just happen. For the biggest city it’s kind of crazy how small town and homey it can feel.

Jax is also young, we have a median age of just 36, the youngest major city by age in the state. We are not full of retirees and snowbirds, though we welcome them to come!

Jacksonville is in the South and it’s Florida. It makes for a unique cultural destination built around water and southern hospitality.

Like most major cities, Jacksonville is broken down into neighborhoods. This is important to know for movement purposes and vibe purposes. First off, we do have beaches, over 22 miles worth and a perfect surfer town vibe to go along with it. There are three cities at the beach – Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach, but you probably won’t notice moving from one to the next, so don’t worry too much about which one you are in at any given time - unless you have a dog. Each welcome dogs but has different rules and you can check those out here. Fun entertainment areas to check out in the area are Beaches Town Center and Jacksonville Beach Town Center. Great restaurants, bars, and shops can be found in both places.

Moving west, Downtown Jacksonville and the surrounding historic neighborhoods are really worth exploring for visitors. Riverside Avondale, San Marco, Springfield and Murray Hill - not only do they all house fun entertainment districts and strips of shops and restaurants, but they also all offer unique architectural styles in their homes. Be sure to drive along the St. Johns River and into the different neighborhoods. My husband and I love the variety you can find, each of these neighborhoods is a little different but offer wonderful areas to explore. Read about each one in our neighborhoods section.

No matter what area of town you find yourself in, you will be near the water. Jacksonville has more shoreline than any other Florida city. The St. Johns River runs through the heart of Downtown, and most of the county, with over 50 miles of river in Duval County. I always think the best view of our skyline is from the river taxi or another boat. Take the round trip on the river taxi for a great way to see the Downtown from the water. Also, the North and Southbank Riverwalk also provide picturesque views of the city along with art, parks, and a great place to get a walk in. If you are exploring the Beaches, stop at our brand new pier, which opened in July 2022.

Next thing you must do while in Jax is find greenspace. Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the nation. No matter what area of town you are in, there is a park around the corner. If you’re in the urban core, don’t miss Treaty Oak, Memorial Park or the North or Southbank Riverwalk. At the beaches, check out Kathryn Hanna Abbey Park, Cradle Creek Preserve or Castaway Island. But if you have time, the real can’t miss parks are on the Northside of our city. The National Park Service Sites – The Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve and Fort Caroline National Memorial, and the Florida State Parks Boneyard Beach and Black Rock Beach on Big Talbot Island are iconic. Picture preserved, untouched spaces surrounded by water. Boneyard and Black Rock are home to those iconic “tree skeletons” or petrified driftwood you see in most Visit Jacksonville videos and photos. It’s as special as it looks in those photos. I highly recommend a trip up there if your schedule allows.

Sunrises and sunsets, do I have to say more? Probably not but let me tell you the best places to see them. Sunrises are at the beach, get there early to see the sun rise out of the magnificent Atlantic Ocean. Sunsets are beautiful from the Downtown and San Marco area. Hit up Riverfront Park in San Marco or go for a sunset stroll down the River Walk in Downtown – don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and manatees, both live in the river.

Next on the list of things that might surprise you, Jacksonville is full of artists and makers. Everywhere you turn you will see art. Most people comment on how surprised they were that we have so much public art. We have local entrepreneurs making all kinds of cool products. If you are here on a Saturday, Riverside Arts Market is a mandatory stop. Also look for Art Walks and 904 Popup while you are in town too. Throughout our neighborhoods you will find boutiques selling local wares, as well. Check out our murals list and museums info, too.

I teased earlier about food but let me be a little more specific. We are known for Mayport Shrimp, and you can find it throughout the destination on restaurant menus and in seafood shops. Local shrimp boats have caught them off our coast for hundreds of years and delivered them to the historic Mayport Village. Try it from Palms Fish Camp, Safe Harbor Seafood Market and Restaurant or Singleton's Seafood Shack just to name a few. But we aren’t just shrimp, we are fried chicken, collard greens and biscuits too. Not to mention that we have an incredible middle eastern restaurant scene, taco restaurants around every corner and desserts for days. Check out our Best Bites list for our top recommendations.

Let’s talk about drinks next. Whether you like craft breweries, local distilleries, top notch craft cocktail bars or if you’re just looking for an excellent cup of coffee, we have a spot. Check out all the different blogs we have written on each of these to find the top places in each category. Also, the Jax Ale Trail will be your self-guided tour of our brewery scene with 25+ breweries and prizes for completing it.

We are big sports fans here in Jax! We are obsessed with the NFL’s Jaguars so be prepared to hear a DUUU-VAL yell while you are in town. Jags culture and tailgating are so much fun. Be sure to explore if you are in town for a game. We also love our minor league teams – baseball's Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and hockey’s Jacksonville Icemen games are a blast.

Other active things you can do while visiting – golf, learn to surf, kayak or paddleboard our waterways, hike or bike our trails, book a fishing charter – we have amazing spots to do all that. Check out our outdoors section for all of the great places to move.

While it may be hard to see, Jacksonville’s history is super unique. Jacksonville was the first major city and destination in Florida when the state was being settled. Steam ships from New York and other East Coast cities brought those searching for warmer weather to Jax first. Then the railroad brought even more here over the following decades. In the early 1900s, over 30 moving studios called Jacksonville home and we were the silent film capital of the world. Jacksonville has always been a melting pot of cultures, and our rich Black history includes famous residents like James Weldon Johnson, Eartha M. M. White, A. Phillip Randolph and other pioneers who made their mark on American history. Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing was written here in Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a rich music history, as well. We are the Birthplace of Southern Rock, where Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman Brothers, and .38 Special all formed in this city. There are so many fun history facts I could go on for days. Explore them all in our history section.

While museums and history may appeal to some, there are plenty of other attractions if you prefer something different. The Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens has an amazing collection of animals and plants. The Land of the Tiger is my favorite exhibit, but there are so many great parts of the Zoo to explore. Catty Shack Ranch and Wildlife Sanctuary is a different way to see some big cats. I had never experienced anything quite like it before I went. The very close relationship between the big cats and their trainers is wonderful to see. Check out our Thing to Do section for all our awesome attraction ideas.

In summary, here’s the quick list of 10 things you should do on your first visit to Jax:

1. Explore our different neighborhoods
2. Get on the water or explore near by the water – it’s everywhere
3. Get zen in one of our parks
4. Check out are makers and artists
5. Eat! I’d say Mayport Shrimp, but there are so many options
6. Drink
7. Enjoy a sporting event
8. Get active – golf, surf, kayak etc.
9. Seek out our history or explore a museum
10. Set time aside to see our attractions

I’d love to hear what you thought about your first trip to Jacksonville! Drop me a line and tell me what you think should be included on our list of things that first-timers can’t miss – katie@visitjacksonville.com. Go Jags! 😉