Make It a Long Weekend: Your Fall Jacksonville Itinerary

Morning

Fuel up for your day with breakfast at or near your hotel, then start your Jacksonville getaway by venturing north to Fort George Island Cultural State Park, a peaceful stretch of maritime forest, marsh and shoreline that feels a world away from the city.

Then continue to Kingsley Plantation, part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Visit the historic buildings and grounds while learning about the people who lived and worked here, including the enslaved people whose stories are an important part of Jacksonville's history.

Afternoon

Enjoy lunch near the water at Billy Jack’s BBQ or Sandollar Restaurant.

Continue your coastal adventure at Big Talbot Island State Park and make your way to Boneyard Beach. Instead of the typical sandy shoreline, you'll find massive, weathered trees scattered across the beach, creating one of Jacksonville's most distinctive landscapes. Bring your camera, take a walk along the shore and stay awhile to enjoy the scenery.

Evening

Head to Downtown Jacksonville for dinner at Dorothy’s or Indochine, then spend the evening exploring Downtown. Check out The Elbow, a collection of more than 20 restaurants, bars and performance venues all within one block of Downtown. Make your way to the Southbank Riverwalk to see the light show at Friendship Fountain which happens every day at 7, 8 and 9 pm.

Morning

Start your second day on the Jax Coffee & Donuts Trail and visit one of the participating Downtown shops like Urban Grind, Jacksonville Coffee Company, Setlan Coffee, Chamblin’s or Birdie Coffee before heading into LaVilla, one of Jacksonville's most historically significant neighborhoods.

Visit the Ritz Theatre & Museum to learn about the neighborhood's important role in Black culture and Jacksonville's music history. Make other stops at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park, Riverfront Music Garden and visit landmarks along the LaVilla Heritage Trail.

Afternoon

Make your way south to the Mandarin neighborhood to visit the Mandarin Museum & Historical Society at Walter Jones Historical Park to learn about the area's history and see historic buildings that tell the story of this once-rural riverfront community.

After you’ve built up an appetite, dine at Blue Bamboo or Picasso’s for some exceptional food.

Evening

Plan your evening around one of Jacksonville's riverwalk events. If your visit falls on a third Thursday, check out Sip & Stroll along the Southbank Riverwalk for live music, food, drinks and views of the Downtown skyline. If your visit falls on the first Friday of the month, head to Friendship Fountain for an evening of food trucks, local vendors and sunset views along the St. Johns River. And if you’re here on the first Wednesday of the month, make sure to explore Downtown’s art scene during Art Walk.

Otherwise, look for live music, seasonal festivals or special events happening during your visit. Jacksonville's events calendar gives you plenty of reasons to plan your trip around a particular weekend. October brings Beaches Oktoberfest and Halloween events, while November brings Porchfest, Super Girl Surf Festival and the Jacksonville Fair.

Morning

Stop in the Springfield neighborhood for breakfast at 1748 Bakehouse or Tulua Bistro before heading north to visit Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary. The nonprofit sanctuary provides a permanent home for rescued big cats and offers visitors the chance to learn more about the animals and their stories. For something especially memorable, look into one of the sanctuary's night-time feeding tours.

Afternoon

Spend an afternoon at the Jacksonville Zoo & Botanical Gardens. From giraffes and jaguars to elephants and penguins, there’s plenty to see. Be sure to make time for the J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Manatee River Habitat, where you can see Florida manatees up close and learn about the Zoo’s rescue, rehabilitation and conservation efforts.

Evening

Round out the day with dinner and drinks in one of Jacksonville's neighborhoods like San Marco, Murray Hill or Riverside Avondale. Each of these neighborhoods has a distinct area of shops, restaurants and bars to wander into.

If you've made it this far, why rush home? Use your fourth day to experience a few of Jacksonville's more leisurely pleasures.

Morning

Spend the morning browsing local shops, galleries and boutiques in the Beaches Town Center, Riverside Avondale or San Marco.

Afternoon

Head to the coast and actually give yourself time to enjoy it. Instead of squeezing in an hour at the beach between attractions, spend the afternoon swimming, collecting shells along the shoreline or if you’re feeling adventurous, book a surf lesson!

Grab lunch at a local favorite like Angie’s Subs or TacoLu before heading home.

Why Stop at a Long Weekend?

Jacksonville is a place where you can spend one day exploring coastal wilderness, another learning about local history, another relaxing at the beach and another simply wandering through a neighborhood you've never visited before. So don't just plan a weekend in Jacksonville. Plan enough time to actually experience it. Start with this itinerary, add a few stops of your own and make your fall getaway as long as you can.