Best Things To Do In Jacksonville FL

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens features a collection of European and American art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts, dating from 2100 BC to the present.

The museum's permanent collection includes works by artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, and Renoir, as well as a large collection of Meissen porcelain. In addition to the art museum, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens also features beautiful formal gardens that you can explore. Stroll through the carefully maintained gardens and enjoy scenic views overlooking the St. Johns River. The museum offers a variety of educational programs and events for visitors. A favorite among visitors and residents alike, it remains one of Jacksonville's most notable cultural attractions.

The Jacksonville Zoo, which is consistently ranked as one of the top zoos in the country, may challenge your preconceptions about what a zoo can be. This venue runs dozens of conservation projects around the world and uses innovative, humane enclosures that visitors love to explore.

Both adults and kids will enjoy feeding the giraffes and watching the otters swim in the Wild Florida exhibit.

In addition to the animals, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens also features a number of beautiful gardens that you can explore. It's an enjoyable place for families to spend the day while learning about wildlife, conservation, and diverse plant species.

The Kingsley Plantation is a historic plantation located on Fort George Island in Jacksonville, Florida. It was built in the late 18th century and was once a working plantation that grew sea island cotton and other crops.

The plantation is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to the public for tours. Visitors can explore the plantation's main house, which has been restored to its 19th-century appearance, as well as the outbuildings, including the kitchen, slave quarters, and barn.

History enthusiasts can gain insight into Jacksonville's past while exploring one of the area's most significant historic sites.

Little Talbot Island is a hilly woodland of towering pines, southern live oaks, and ferns that rises abruptly from the sands of ancient dunes.

Along its four miles of length, the Dune Ridge Trail offers views of Spanish moss-covered live oaks and fragrant bay, cedar, palmetto, and holly. You'll emerge from the dunes onto the beach, where bleached tree skeletons line the shore.

The salt marsh on the western side of Little Talbot Island is a haven for nesting and migrating birds. Visitors can also explore the area by bike or canoe while enjoying the island's peaceful natural surroundings.

The origins of this museum, which connects youngsters with local history and the scientific community, can be traced back to 1941. Present-day visitors can enjoy an interactive experience full of hands-on exhibits at the Museum of Science and History.

Health in Motion teaches kids about the importance of exercise and a healthy lifestyle. Atlantic Tails allows them to get up close and personal with intertidal species. Currents of Time takes them on a journey through 12,000 years of history in Northeast Florida.

Kidspace is an indoor playground that incorporates educational themes like science and history for kids younger than five. MOSH offers an engaging blend of science, history, and interactive learning experiences for visitors of all ages.

Fort Caroline National Memorial is a National Park Service site and a memorial to the French settlement of Fort Caroline. Fort Caroline was the first European settlement in what is now the United States, and the site of the fort is now a National Historic Landmark.

Visitors to Fort Caroline National Memorial can explore the replica of the fort, which was built using 16th-century construction techniques and materials. Interactive exhibits, including a blacksmith shop and soldier's quarters, help bring the area's history to life.

In addition to the replica fort, the memorial also features a number of hiking trails that wind through the beautiful natural surroundings. These trails offer opportunities to enjoy scenic views, spot wildlife, and learn more about the region's past.

These riverwalks were gradually constructed between the mid-1980s and the 2000s on both the north and south banks of the St. Johns River. Stretching along Jacksonville's scenic waterfront, these pathways offer one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the city's downtown atmosphere.

Paths on the Southbank stretch for about 1.25 miles, from the west (near the massive Friendship Fountain) to the east (just past the Lexington Hotel).

Connecting major downtown attractions like the old Jacksonville Landing and the CSX Transportation Building, the Northbank Riverwalk is slightly longer. With waterfront views, nearby dining, and opportunities to spot dolphins and manatees, the Southbank Riverwalk remains a favorite among visitors exploring things to do in Jacksonville FL.

The City of Jacksonville acquired the abandoned railbed of the former east-west Atlantic Coast Line Railroad corridor in the early 1990s with the intent of transforming it into a multi-use trail. An easy, paved path connecting Jacksonville and Baldwin for pedestrians and cyclists was built, along with a parallel equestrian trail, making it one of the first initiatives of its kind in the state.

The 14.5-mile-long Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail passes through forested wetlands, flatlands, and hardwood ridges. Whether you're cycling, walking, or horseback riding, the trail offers a peaceful way to experience Jacksonville's natural landscapes. Wild turkeys, buzzards, hawks, rabbits, alligators, armadillos, gopher tortoises, and a few species of snakes are just some of the animals you might see if you take your time.

The Florida Theatre is a historic performing arts center built in 1927. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a popular destination for cultural events in the city.

The Florida Theatre hosts a wide variety of events, including concerts, plays, dance performances, and more. Its diverse calendar of entertainment makes it a great addition to any Jacksonville itinerary. It is a popular venue for touring artists and local performing arts groups and offers a wide range of entertainment options for visitors. In addition to its regular programming, the Florida Theatre also hosts special events and educational programs, including film festivals, workshops, and lectures.

This park's namesake fountain on Southbank was the world's largest and tallest when it was unveiled in 1965. The Friendship Fountain still boasts epic proportions with its 60-meter-wide basin and three rings of sprays, the center of which shoots water 30 meters into the air.

After three bells, the Friendship Fountain will release a maximum of 16,750 gallons (76,147 liters) of water per minute. Visitors can enjoy fountain performances throughout the day while taking in views of the St. Johns River and downtown skyline. The fountain has a schedule of performances throughout the day, but it truly comes to life at night when the 265 computer-controlled lights illuminate the jets.

The elegant Riverside neighborhood, home to Jacksonville's third-oldest park, was planned after World War I. The park, designed by the Olmsted Brothers, sons of the famous Frederick Law Olmsted, was dedicated in 1924 to honor the 1,200 Floridians who lost their lives during the war.

You can look out across the widest part of the St. Johns River from the balustrade that lines the riverbank in front of you. With open green spaces, river views, and a peaceful atmosphere, Memorial Park is an inviting place to relax and unwind. A picnic here would be hard to top, and the sunsets are some of the best in Jacksonville.

This little piece of land was once a massive Mill Cove industrial site. There are thirteen distinct ecologies found here.

The Jones Creek Trail, for example, will lead you through wetlands where swamp bay, swamp dogwood, bald cypress, and American hornbeam thrive. This is just one of seven trails that will lead you into these ecosystems. The Live Oak Trail passes through a grove of southern live oaks that are over a century old. Nature enthusiasts can explore diverse habitats while enjoying a quiet escape from the city's busier attractions.

Alligators, armadillos, foxes, and numerous species of snakes, turtles, and the endangered gopher tortoise all find a home in the park.