A Local’s Guide to Jacksonville, FL

Published on: 11 June 2019 Last Updated on: 08 December 2021

Situated on Florida’s northeastern coast, Jacksonville has been moving in the right direction for years. Although many people use this place as a jumping off point for nearby beach attractions, this city is worthy of a weekend vacation in its own right. Whether you’re into fine dining, museums, or wildlife, you’ll find something to keep you entertained on a trip through this mega city. Let’s take a closer look at how to best enjoy a weekend vacation in the “River City.”

Where To Stay In Jacksonville:

Anyone planning on staying in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville should look for hotels along the St James River. Not only will these hotels give you easy access to most of the city’s top tourist draws, but they also have fantastic views and exceptional amenities. One such hotel is the four-star Omni Jacksonville Hotel at 245 Water Street. Another luxury hotel to consider is the four-star Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, which is located at 225 E Coastline Drive. Expect to pay around $130 per night at either of these hotels.

People who want more of a budget-friendly option might want to consider the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson at 5945 Youngerman Circle East. This three-star hotel is not directly on the St James River, but it is close to many restaurants and has high ratings from online reviewers. Rates for rooms at the Country Inn & Suites typically hovers around $90 per night.

Jacksonville

What To Do In Jacksonville:

The main attractions in Jacksonville, of course, are the surrounding beaches. The most popular of these beaches include Ponte Vedra Beach, Amelia Island, and Jacksonville Beach, all of which are within a 40-minute drive of central Jacksonville. By the way, if you’re a golfing fanatic, then you must check out the exceptional PGA golf range at the Ponte Vedra Beach Resorts.

One of the most fascinating historical attractions in Jacksonville proper is the Kingsley Plantation. Built in the 18th century, this 32,000-acre plantation once housed 200 slaves who were forced to pick cotton, cut sugar cane, and pick various citrus fruits. On a tour of this facility, you’ll gain a better understanding of northeastern Florida’s past in a pristine natural setting.

Adults traveling to Jacksonville with kids should schedule a few hours at the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens. This top-rated tourist attraction measures almost 120 acres and contains well over 2,000 exotic mammals, birds, reptiles, and more! You can visit the Jacksonville Zoo between 9 AM – 5 PM on weekdays and on the weekends from 9 AM – 6 PM. Tickets for adults cost just under $20 per person and kids between 3 – 12-years-old could enter for $14.95 each.

If you’re in the mood to see a live show while in Jacksonville, then be sure to check out what’s going on at St Johns River State College’s Thrasher-Horne Center. The Thrasher-Horne Center frequently produces professional Broadway musicals as well as live music, kid-friendly entertainment, and special events. To pre-order tickets, you could visit the Thrasher-Horne Center’s main website at www.thcenter.org.

Where To Eat There:

seafood

Unsurprisingly, seafood is Jacksonville’s main culinary specialty. One dive in southern Jacksonville that’s earned quite the reputation for its seafood selection is Clark’s Fish Camp. In addition to this restaurant’s crab cakes and crawfish, Clark’s Fish Camp has earned quite the reputation for its colorful taxidermies and its proximity to a few Florida alligators.

For fine dining in Jacksonville, take a look at the menu at Restaurant Orsay. Modeled on a Parisian bistro, the Restaurant Orsay mainly serves French-inspired seafood dishes with a Southern flair. A few of the most famous entrées at Restaurant Orsay include the lobster pot pie, Carolina trout, and bouillabaisse. Restaurant Orsay also has an extensive wine and cocktail menu as well as a raw bar.

In the mood for some Southern BBQ? If so, then look no further than Jacksonville’s Southern Charm. There’s nothing fancy about this restaurant; here you’ll find huge portions of finger-licking good Southern specialties like fried chicken, BBQ ribs, and fried shrimp served buffet style. Just be sure to bring a big appetite if you’re planning on visiting this restaurant.=

Lastly, no list of Jacksonville restaurants is complete without mentioning the highly-reviewed Terra Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse. As the name suggests, this chain restaurant is best known for its Latin-inspired steaks, but waiters will also bring plenty of other fire-roasted meats and seafood straight to your table. Customers at Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse also enjoy unlimited access to a gourmet salad and hot bar.

Read Also:

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

View all posts

Rory Brown, International Food Critic, Shares The Best Travel Tips After 10 Years Traveling the World

After 30 years in the States, I wanted to add more experience to my travel resume than just Rory Brown, Charleston, SC native. Ten years later, I've traveled the globe from end to end and collected many experiences that I wouldn't trade for anything. If you're planning to take on the open road, here are my ten best travel tips I've learned during my time wandering. Rory Brown’s Top 10 Tips for Travel: Push past your comfort zone: It's amazing how many people travel intending to break out of their comfort zone and find themselves sitting in their hotel room (which by the way, make sure you write down your hotel's address). Put yourself in situations that you'd normally shy away from. You never know what you may find. Learn a few local phrases: Phrases like "hello,""please," and, "where's the bathroom?” will go far to ease your travels and avoid potentially awkward encounters. Learning the native language is helpful in your trips and a sign of respect to the local people. Wander around, and get lost: Go out intending to wander around without any real idea where you're going. Some of the best experiences I've had traveling I arrived at entirely by accident. Talk to the locals: While you're out wandering, stop in at a local establishment and strike up a conversation with the people there. They know the area and can help you have an authentic experience while you're in town. Get travel insurance: You might think you don't need travel insurance, especially if your trip isn't very long, but you really never know what's going to happen. Travel insurance will protect you if you get sick, injured or even robbed while you're out of town. Inform your bank of your travel plans: Credit card fraud is a big problem these days, so banks always monitor for suspicious activity. The last thing you want is for your card to get declined when you're halfway across the world. Travel light when you go out: Leave most of your belongings where you're staying and choose just what you need when you go out. This way if the worst should happen, you only lose a small amount of what you have and can recover quickly. Plan which meals you'll eat out, and which you'll make at "home" Traveling can get expensive. As much as you'll want to eat the local cuisine every night, if you're spending long periods on the road or visiting overseas, plan which meals you'll eat out and ones you'll have in your hotel or hostel. Carry a basic first-aid kit: Like so many other things while you travel, you never know what's going to happen. Carry band-aids, antibiotic, and tweezers to take care of minor injuries like cuts and splinters. Remember patience is key: Unexpected issues are going to pop up. No amount of planning will avoid this. If you're too rigid about keeping a precise schedule, you won't actually enjoy your trip. I've learned to stay patient throughout my travels and say, "whatever happens, happens." Read Also: Tips For Planning An Ideal Holiday Getaway Tips To Help You Learn A New Language In A New Country

Yacht charters and sailing vacations

Crewed yacht charter in Tulum provide unique opportunities to see distant countries from a new perspective: not from a hotel’s window or tourist bus but from the white deck of an elegant yacht. You will be able to visit the islands and beaches that have not been influenced by mass tourism, go to small towns and villages, and get the skills of sailing a cruise catamaran or yacht. Advantages of traveling by yacht You will see more stunning views than within the territory of a hotel or resort. Sailing on the yacht will allow you to explore the new landscapes and beauties every day. You’ll get plenty of opportunities to dive and snorkel. You can plan your sailing itinerary and visit picturesque lagoons, magnificent coral reefs, as well as mysterious tunnels and caves. Yacht gives you the ability to get to almost any part of the seacoast and explore the sea with a scuba or mask. You will be able to visit various smaller port cities and stay there for as long as you want. Get a yacht tour and pick your own route! Unlike the ordinary cruise, your tour will not be spoiled with compulsorily paid excursions. On the contrary, you will get a chance to visit the landmarks, galleries, and museums that you fancy and for as long as you want. No crowded beaches! Most people associate vacations with noisy hotels, overcrowded beaches, and lots of tourists in the streets. Using yacht charters is one of the most effective methods of organizing the perfect trip and avoiding large crowds of tourists. You will be able to visit completely deserted islands and beaches, which is impossible on an ordinary tour. During the cruise, the crew of the yacht will take care of your comfort, and you will be able to enjoy the sea, sun, and sails. There is no need for you to purchase a yacht to travel to distant seas and islands. You can take your friends and family, choose a yacht, and start the most pleasant journey to new seashores. We can offer you 32 destinations in seven regions: Central America, Northern Europe, Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. The number of our destinations is constantly growing! Unforgettable pink sunset, which can be watched only in two places in the world - Jamaica and the Caribbean Islands, in combination with wild white beaches, blue sea, and the gentle sun make the Caribbean an ideal place for both relaxation and adventures. Try to live the life of Vikings and sail the cold waters of the North Atlantic Ocean with an experienced crew. You will see the rocky coast of Iceland, many arches, and stones of unusual shapes created by water and wind. The views are absolutely amazing! Oceania is the perfect place to dive in bays and visit places where Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were shot. You will be able to see waterfalls, climb to the top of the volcano, and experience the real taste of adventures. Order a crewed yacht charter and make your own private cruise on the Mediterranean Sea. It is an excellent opportunity to relax, swim in the see-through waters, and get acquainted with the local nature. You can stay away from well-known resorts and discover small and cozy wild beaches. Renting yachts is especially popular in Central America. Every year hundreds of people escape from Panama City to perfectly organized yacht charters. The rest, try delicious food and entertain themselves with sightseeing, swimming, and diving. The Indian Ocean is the ideal place for diving safaris. Thanks to the clear water, various types of fish, and the coral nature of the islands, the sea world is particularly rich and diverse.

6 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo

There always seems to be an extra safety precaution for women to consider when traveling. However, you do not always need a friend or companion to accompany you when you travel. Traveling solo is not as bad as it seems; in fact, it is beneficial in more ways than one. Here are some reasons why women should travel solo. It is an eye-opener Have you ever felt like you want to get away from it all; like that is the only way you can think in harmony? Well, traveling solo gives you that feeling, especially if it is the first time you are doing it. Traveling solo gets you out of your comfort zone and exposes you to some adventure and the complications that go with it. These complications and your response to them help you determine your weaknesses. After you overcome them, however, you get to realize your strengths and build on them. You will certainly have that spark in your eye by the time you get back. You get to network and socialize You are bound to interact with strangers throughout your travel. If your trip is a professional one, then it offers the ideal chance to network with other professionals in your line of work and possibly broadens your career. If it is a personal trip, on the other hand, you get to socialize and make new friends. Individuals have unique personalities, but you cannot defy the fact that women have greater value for their social circles. As such, traveling will help nourish your society; besides, you never know what new friendships may lead to. It is liberating The tendency of women to travel with a companion makes it seem as though there is an unwritten rule against traveling alone. But then again, there seems to be a lot of unwritten rules concerning women. It is such norms that hold women and the society back, and this is an era when women are breaking the unwritten rules. As such, you definitely should fly solo simply because you can. It may be scary at first, but it will make you feel liberated and much happier by the time you get back. It builds self-confidence The positive thing about challenges is that they become stepping stones once you overcome them. Even in the corporate world, the best way to move up the ladder is to overcome challenges that come your way with style. For women dealing with traveling solo, the ‘challenge’ becomes the ideal stepping stone to higher confidence and self-esteem levels. Traveling may be hectic for a while, but it will feel empowering when you overcome all the challenges. The realization that you can handle it will make you more confident and leave you looking forward to the next solo trip. It is adventurous There is no place like home. However, distant places hold many new things, and the feeling of being in a place when no one knows you is thrilling. However, it may difficult to experience this adventure if you dwell too much on the fear oflo. As such, do your best to settle in when you arrive at your destination. Additionally, be sure to spend as much time as you can spare outdoors exploring your temporary home. Try out the cuisine, do some shopping, dance the tension off, and do every fun thing that you can afford to. It will be refreshing for your body and mind as well, and you will find the strength to work even smarter and harder when you get back. Nurture your power to create and adapt It is great to have a guide to help you dodge all the pitfalls of traveling. However, it also pays to fall into some of these pitfalls and get out of them. It imparts you with a feeling of creativity and resilience, and this makes you stronger and better adaptable. The realization that you are traveling alone will prompt you to create a plan for the whole journey, and the everyday obstacles will motivate you to become even more creative and adaptable with your plan. The Secret to Traveling Solo without Hitches Your traveling experience will largely depend on how well you prepare for the journey. The process will be flawless if you plan for everything beforehand. However, there are two main things to focus on in your planning: your luggage and travel documents. For starters, you need to carry only what is necessary for the journey to avoid a bulky and heavy load. Efficiency will also depend on your choice of bag. The packing cube is undoubtedly the best choice for traveling for several reasons. First, it helps you save space so that you can pack as much luggage as you need. Second, it is already divided into compartments for every type of belonging you are carrying: clothes, shoes, jewelry, and electronics, just to mention a few. Finally, a packing cube is ideal for women as it is stylish and flashy. Additionally, you need to have your passports and other travel documents ready to avoid delays at security checks. It pays to have a passport wallet as it is not only easier to access but also keeps your documents safe. Read also: The Top Destinations For New Year Celebrations 7 Travel Tips To Feed Your Wanderlust In Europe 5 Places You Should See If You’re Visiting Hong Kong For The First Time

A Local’s Guide to Jacksonville, FL

Where To Stay In Jacksonville:

What To Do In Jacksonville:

Where To Eat There:

5 Great Places to Ride your Motorcycle in Perth

5 ideal London locations you may not have considered staying

Content Rally

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Technologies For Creating A Startup Idea

How to Download Facebook Videos on Android?

7 Rules of Effective Ecommerce Web Design

The 10 WordPress Plugins Every Sucessful Blogger Uses

Follow Us

Recent

What to Expect from Upcoming IPOs in the Next Quarter

Map Your Content Strategy: Finding Hidden Topic Opportunities

Beauty Marks On Face Meaning And Implications: A Complete Guide

Easy And Cheap Flapper Makeup Hacks: A Complete Beginners Guide

Related

Rory Brown, International Food Critic, Shares The Best Travel Tips After 10 Years Traveling the World

Yacht charters and sailing vacations

6 Reasons Why Every Woman Should Travel Solo

A Local’s Guide to Jacksonville, FL

Where To Stay In Jacksonville:

What To Do In Jacksonville:

Where To Eat There:

Share this Article

5 Great Places to Ride your Motorcycle in Perth

5 ideal London locations you may not have considered staying

Content Rally wrapped around an online publication where you can publish your own intellectuals. It is a publishing platform designed to make great stories by content creators. This is your era, your place to be online. So come forward share your views, thoughts and ideas via Content Rally.

Leave a Reply

Popular

Follow Us

Recent

Related