Things To Do in Jacksonville, FL

Are you looking for things to do in and around Jacksonville, Florida? Follow along as we discuss some of the top attractions and parks within Jacksonville.

Relocating to a new area can bring a lot of questions to mind. Learning about what Jacksonville has to offer to its residents is important before making the big move. A great thing about living in Jacksonville is that there are tons of fun, family-friendly things to do throughout the city. 

Before we discuss further the things to do in Jacksonville, here are some facts about the town itself. Jacksonville, Florida, also known as 'Jax' or 'J-ville,' is one of the best places to relocate. If you love the outdoors and want to be surrounded by beautiful scenery, then you are likely considering moving to Jacksonville. It offers its residents a suburban feel and is one of the best cities to live in Florida. This city is safe and full of restaurants, parks, and various things to do.

This is the most populous city in the state, with nearly 912,000 residents. This large population makes Jacksonville the 12th most populous city in the United States. Not only is it a highly desirable place for its remarkable restaurants and location, but it is also an affordable city to reside in.

Here are the eleven popular things to do in Jacksonville, Florida.

Take A Trip To The Beach

What better way to spend a day outdoors in Florida than at the beach? Most people who relocate to Florida or even visit the state love going to the beach and experiencing either shoreline. Jacksonville is located on the east coast, which is the Atlantic Ocean. Just a short drive from the coastline, you will find the city of Jacksonville. 

Jacksonville is less than a 30-minute drive from Jacksonville Beach. Most people who reside in Jacksonville go to Jax Beach to enjoy the white sand and the ocean. This beach is great because it has an abundance of things to do right within the beach town. When living in Florida, having access to water and sand is a staple in most areas. Because of the hot, humid weather, spending your day at the beach is a great choice.

Another great beach near Jacksonville is Neptune Beach. This is a quieter, less touristy beach area North of Jacksonville Beach. A unique thing about this destination is that the beach is fully pet-friendly. Mickler's Landing is also another popular beach option for those who are looking for a pet-friendly beach. It is also an excellent spot for golf lovers. 

Enjoy The Sports Scene

For those who love everything about sports, you are in luck. Jacksonville is home to the National Football League team, the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars play at the TIAA Bank Field right within the city. This stadium is amazing to visit, whether you are going to root for the Jaguars on game day or taking a tour of the arena on Saturdays. This stadium is about to go under renovation to make it bigger and better than ever before. Learn more about the stadium of the future and what they have planned. 

Another excellent option for those who love sports, visit the 121 Financial Ballpark and watch a baseball game. This premier ballpark is home to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, which is a Minor League Baseball team. The Jumbo Shrimp is a Triple-A affiliate of the Major League Team, the Miami Marlins. This stadium has over 11,000 seats for all of the fans, a playground for children, and a variety of food from concession stands all throughout the park.

Visit A Brewery

For those who don't know, Jacksonville is one of Florida's largest beer destinations, with over 20 local breweries. A unique thing about this city is that they offer a beer tour. Enjoy the Jax Ale Trail Passport by visiting local breweries and getting stamps for each beer you get. Once you fill out the entire passport, you are able to win prizes. 

Some of the local breweries that participate in the trail are:

• Intuition Ale Works
• Engine 15 Brewing Company
• Aardwolf Brewing Company
• Veterans United Craft Brewery
• Bold City Brewing

This activity is perfect for those who are of age to drink and enjoy the unique breweries. Grab your friends and family and head to any of the 26 (and counting) breweries in Jacksonville to pick up your Jax Ale Trail Passport.

Jacksonville Zoo

Who doesn't love visiting the zoo with your friends and family to enjoy the experience of wildlife? The Jacksonville Zoo has over 2,000 exotic animals and over 1,000 varieties of plants. Visiting this zoo is a great way to interact and learn about the wildlife and habitats of each species. 

A unique thing about this zoo is that it is one of only seven zoos in the United States with an animal wellness team, helping provide the best care for the animals. Come visit the Jacksonville Zoo and experience the award-winning exhibits, Land of the Tiger, and African Forest. Other exhibits that they have here are Africa Loop, Australian Adventure, Giraffe Overlook, Range of the Jaguar, River Valley Aviary, Stingray Bay, and Wild Florida. 

Visiting the zoo is a great way to spend your day outdoors with your peers. There is also a park and splash pad located at the zoo for you and your children to cool down or take a break to play. 

Museums

A great activity to enjoy with your friends and family in Jacksonville, especially on a cold or rainy day, is visiting the museums throughout the city. Jacksonville is rich in history, culture, and amazing art. Here are some of the more popular museums in Jacksonville for you to visit and enjoy.

• MOSH (Museum of Science and History): Visit this museum to learn about science and history in America, around the world, and Florida.
• MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art): This museum is full of amazing art pieces and exhibits created by some of the most talented artists out there. 
• Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens: This museum was founded in 1961 after the passing of Ninah Cummer. Ninah had given her gardens and personal art collection to the museum for locals to experience.

For The Golf Lovers

If you love to golf, whether you live in Jacksonville or are just visiting, you are in luck. This city has 22 golf courses within city limits. Three of these courses are municipal courses. There are also another 19 golf courses, all within 20 miles of Jacksonville, including nine public courses, two municipal, and eight private courses. 

Jacksonville, Florida, is a great place to enjoy a day of golf. The weather is amazing, the scenery allows you to enjoy the courses even more, and there are a variety of courses to choose from. This is a great activity to enjoy alone or with your friends. Here are some of the best golf courses in Jacksonville, Florida.

• Bent Creek Golf Course
• Hyde Park Golf Club
• Blue Sky Golf Club
• Windsor Parke Golf Club
• Brentwood Golf Course
• And more.

Enjoy The Parks

A great activity to do with your friends, family, and even your pets, is to visit a local park. Jacksonville is full of parks with walking trails, biking trails, playgrounds, open grass fields, and more. These parks are great places to visit to enjoy relaxing or to bring your children to play to let out some energy. Here are some of the favorite local parks in Jacksonville, Florida.

• Timucuan Ecological Preserve
• Fort Caroline National Memorial
• Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail
• Guana Pine State Park and Wildlife Management Area

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

This unique sanctuary has a variety of wildcats for you to visit and learn about. Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization. Their mission is to provide a safe, loving, forever home for endangered big cats and to educate the public about their lifestyle in the wild and captivity. 

This sanctuary has a main focus of rescuing cats from serious and dangerous situations. Once the animal is taken in at the Catty Shack Ranch, they will then call the sanctuary home. The current cats that you will see at the sanctuary are tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, bobcats, arctic foxes, and more. 

You can take a day tour around Catty Shack Ranch from 1 pm until 3 pm. Adult tickets are $15, children (3-11) are $7, and children who are two or younger are free. 

If you are interested in watching the big cats get fed, check out the night feeding, which is held every Friday and Saturday from 6 pm until 7:30 pm. Adult tickets are $35, children (3-11) are $20, and children younger than 2 are free. 

Escape Rooms

If you are looking for a challenge to enjoy with your friends or family, visit one of many escape rooms in Jacksonville, Florida. Escape rooms are becoming a popular activity to enjoy with your peers because of the mental challenge and teamwork that needs to be done to solve the puzzle. Escape rooms are better done in medium size groups. These rooms are interactive and a great way to bond with other people while working together to escape the room.

Here are some of the escape rooms located in Jacksonville, Florida.

• The Escape Game Jacksonville
• Breakout Games
• Mind Bender Escape Rooms
• Prototype Escape Games
• And many more.

Go Camping

Camping is a great activity to do with your friends and family. It is a great way to bond with one another and enjoy the perks of nature and wildlife. Camping at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is one of the best things to do in Jacksonville, Florida. This park has a variety of camping sites, beaches, and over 20 miles of hiking trails. It also has a freshwater lake for those who enjoy fishing and kayaking. 

There are 300 campsites in a wooded area that is easily accessible by paved roads. RV, tent, or rustic cabin camping is available at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. Tent camping costs $18 a day, RV costs $30 a day, the cabins cost $30 a day, and is a two-day minimum stay required. Amenities that you will find at this campground are electric and water hookups, a dump station, restrooms with showers, security, a camp store, laundry, and kayak and bike rentals.

Adventure Landing Waterpark

Adventure Landing is located in Jacksonville Beach, which is about a 30-minute drive from Jacksonville. This attraction is one of the most popular establishments in the area. Located all within one business, you will find an array of activities for your friends and family to enjoy. This is a great place to visit on any day of the week and is a fantastic way to let your children run around and socialize.

Here you will find Shipwreck Island Waterpark, Cabanas to rent out, Gator Alley, Miniature Golf, Laser Tag, Roller Coasters, Batting Cages, a large arcade, Go-Karting, Teddy Bear Factory, and Sweet Adventures Candy Shop. With a plethora of things to do, you can spend an entire day exploring Adventure Landing. 

Things To Do in Jacksonville, Florida - Our Final Thoughts

We hope you found this guide helpful when trying to decide what to do in Jacksonville. This guide is for whoever is relocating to the area, visiting the area, or who is already resident in Jacksonville, Florida. Because this city is one of the largest cities in Florida, there is an abundance of things to do. 

If you are considering moving to Jacksonville, Florida, you can contact us today to get connected with a local Real Estate professional the learn more about the buying and selling process in Jacksonville.