LGBTQ+ Weekend Itinerary

Cultural Weekend Itinerary for the LGBTQ+ Traveler Visiting Jacksonville
Written by Manny Velasquez-Paredes , Visit Jacksonville Local

The main thing to keep in mind is that it’s Florida and the Florida weather is often unpredictable, so keep an umbrella handy and be flexible with your plans.

Day 1

Morning

• Hopefully, you found the perfect hotel for your taste and budget. Once you check in, put on your comfy shoes or flip flops and head Downtown.
• For breakfast, here are some quick options: Arepa Please and First Watch are very LGBTQ-friendly places which provide different types of food and some even provide you with a morning alcoholic beverage.
• After breakfast, a stroll along the St. Johns River is a great way to walk off some of the calories from breakfast, as well as take the opportunity to make your friends back home jealous with some iconic pics of the JAX bridges.

Afternoon

• Take a short drive over the Main Street bridge to the Friendship Park. Make sure you pose by the Friendship Fountain and then take a stroll around the 1.25 miles Southbank Riverwalk or get on a Water Taxi.
• You are sure to work up an appetite, be sure to try the local cuisine before your shopping trip around Five Points. Plenty of stores to see, from antiques to clothing stores. This is the unofficial gayborhood, so be sure to frequent the shops that proudly display the rainbow flag.
• Take a leisure drive down Park Street or St. Johns Ave and visit more stores and some of the local bars for a drink.

Evening

• Once you’ve had your dinner in the Riverside area, you are ready to go for a few drinks. Park Place is the perfect spot to visit in this neighborhood. Or, take a short ride to Downtown Jacksonville to visit Hardwicks Bar. If you are going to be drinking, you can always take an Uber or Lyft back to your hotel.

Day 2

Morning

• After breakfast, this is the perfect day to enjoy the beach. Go rent a kayak, or a paddleboard and enjoy the morning relaxing and catching up on your vitamin D.

Afternoon

• Head back to your hotel to rinse off the sand before heading out for lunch.
• A must do for all travelers is Drag Queen Brunch at Hamburger Mary’s featuring local Drag Queens, brunch and all you can drink mimosas and margaritas. You will have memories to last you a lifetime
• Drive to the Riverside area and visit The Cummer Museum
• If you’re visiting on a Saturday, be sure to check out the Riverside Arts Market also known by locals as RAM which is located right by The Cummer Museum

Evening

• Tonight is a good time to visit either Hamburger Mary's or InCahoots to dance the night away, catch a good drag show, or meet the locals.

Day 3

Morning

• If you want to experience some nature time, a visit to Fort Caroline National Memorial is a great way to experience the hiking trails, and learn some local history along the way.

Afternoon

• Then drive to St. Johns Town Center.
• If you missed lunch, there are tons of opportunities to eat in Town Center, from fast food to sit down restaurants. If you are looking for a cool chic place to have a drink while eating lunch, you should try The Capital Grill – the wait staff is super inclusive and helpful and the food is always fresh and delicious.
• Be sure to drive and visit the different areas of this outdoor mall, before heading back to your hotel to rest for a bit.
• On your way to your hotel, drive to the southside and be sure to stop by Say So Sweets Filipino and Hawaiian Bakery for some delicious desserts.

Evening

• Take a stroll through the Beaches Town Center and experience the evening life of the beachside of JAX. From local stores to chain stores and restaurants and bars, this is a must visit for all travelers.
• For dinner, North Beach Fish Camp and Sliders Oyster Bar are always a great choice if you like seafood.