Comprising 840 square miles in northeast Florida, Jacksonville is the largest city in the continental U.S. (four other cities are larger, but they are all in Alaska). This spaciousness gives rise to the city’s distinct features across neighborhoods, from the collective beaches on the Atlantic Coast to the historic downtown area sliced by the St. Johns River. Jacksonville’s energy is captured in the pride that you’ll see while traveling around the city and hear at Jaguars football games when fans shout their catchphrase “Duuuval!”
If you’re heading to Jax, read on for our best tips for what to see, do, and eat while you’re in town.
Food and Drink
Start your day at a Jacksonville breakfast standby: Maple Street Biscuit, which started right here in 2012 and has since expanded into seven states. The Squawking Goat, a buttery biscuit sandwich made with a fried chicken patty, slab of goat cheese, and a generous drizzle of sweet-and-sour pepper jelly, remains popular after being featured on Food Network in 2016.
maplestreetbiscuits.com, multiple locations
This new Jacksonville Beach restaurant, which pays homage to Oaxacan cuisine with seasonal items like roasted oysters, fresh aguachile made from local fish, and wild mushroom pozole, is a great place to visit on a Tuesday, where you can sample the taco menu for a discounted price. We enjoyed the al pastor, prepared with marinated pork, fresh pineapple, and drizzle of chile piquin salsa.
theoaxacaclub.com, 131 1st. Ave. N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
Orsay, a cozy restaurant that embodies unfussy, rustic French cuisine in Jax’s Riverside/Avondale Historic District, serves a menu where steak frites are celebrated equally to classics like bouillabaisse and beef stroganoff.
restaurantorsay.com, 3630 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205
Jacksonville’s rich cultural diversity is reflected in the myriad cuisine options throughout the city, and a fun way to experience this is on Beach Boulevard on a self-styled boba tea and ice cream crawl. OMG Cafe & Tea serves up adorable (and realistic) shar pei puppy-shaped ice creams, while just across the street Mumuyi Bakery’s delicate crepe cakes in flavors like durian and matcha, plus their boba tea topped with sea salt cheese foam have earned something of a cult following.
Whether you’re dining out for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, shrimp and grits always hit the spot. At this downtown local hangout, the shrimp are perfectly seasoned atop a bed of creamy grits—true Southern comfort food at its finest.
bellwetherjax.com, 117 W. Forsyth St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
With two locations in Jacksonville, the Bearded Pig offers a smoky hug for the palate in the form of spare ribs, brisket, chicken, and Bearded Poutine: cheese curds and fries topped with brisket and pork. Visit the original location in San Marco to experience this vibrant Jacksonville enclave.
thebeardedpigbbq.com, 1808 Kings Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32250
A visit to the 100-year-old mansion that houses Sweet Pete’s is a must on any trip to downtown Jacksonville. You can book a tour of the production facilities and also create your very own signature chocolate bar with your choice of toppings for $6. If you have a bit more time and interest, try out a chocolate pizza-making class or hand-pulled lollipop class.
sweetpetescandy.com, 400 N. Hogan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
For a tipple with a side of history, head to Pete’s Bar at Beaches Town Center. The first bar to open in Duval County following Prohibition in 1933, the bar’s original owner sold bootleg hooch from a nearby store. Author John Grisham wrote his book, “The Brethren,” while stationed here, and the bar has hosted other famous patrons, as well, including Ernest Hemingway.
petesbar.com, 17 First St., Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Treat Yourself in Jacksonville
A stroll through this stunning outdoor mall might just lead to your next favorite handbag or pair of stilettos, with brands including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Tiffany & Co., and Nordstrom represented, alongside nearly two dozen restaurants ideal for a quick midday refuel during your shopping extravaganza.
simon.com/mall/st-johns-town-center, 4663 River City Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32246
Looking for something special to gift or take home that you can only find in Jax? Head to the Atlantic Beach Arts Market, a co-op space featuring more than 100 local arts and crafts vendors, from shell art to handmade soaps. On Saturdays in Historic Riverside, check out Riverside Arts Market for artisan jewelry, gourmet dog treats, and more.
Several treatment rooms, including one designated for couples’ massage, face the Atlantic Ocean at One Ocean Resort & Spa. Treatments take their cues from the surrounding environment, including a Sea Foam Envelopment, an Ocean Polish, and an Orange Blossom and Coconut Crush exfoliation. Even an overcast day with storms rolling in over the waves makes for a soothing spa treatment experience, complemented by a soothing steam shower or soak in the jacuzzi in the women’s locker room.
oneoceanresort.com, 1 Ocean Blvd Atlantic Beach, FL 32233
Get Outside
There’s nothing quite like sipping your coffee while taking in the golden sunrise on the ocean while surfers carve the waves near the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier. The nearly quarter-mile pier has a modest $2 day fee for walkers.
jacksonvillebeach.org, 503 N. 1st St., Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250
The twisted beached driftwood at this Florida state park has earned its moniker, Boneyard Beach—a striking contrast to the more typical Jacksonville beaches located south. This is an easy stop along the scenic portion of A1A on a day trip from Jacksonville on your way to Amelia Island.
floridastateparks.org, State Road A1A North, Jacksonville, FL
One of the things that makes this 450-acre city park unique is the different habitats contained within, including a lake and beach area, which was formerly Manhattan Beach, the first African-American beach in Florida under Jim Crow era segregation. Hiking, camping, ziplining, and kayaking are all available here—including adaptive kayaking for people of all abilities.
visitjacksonville.com, 500 Wonderwood Expressway, Jacksonville, FL 32233
Experience 126 acres of lush tree-lined trails nestled in Jacksonville’s Arlington district, giving an impression of what Florida looked like in its undeveloped state centuries ago. Check the website for scheduled activities and events, like yoga in nature. The Arboretum is also pet-friendly.
jacksonvillearboretum.org, 1445 Millcoe Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225
Explore Jacksonville Culture
So much of Jacksonville’s history is hidden in plain sight—even to locals who’ve lived here all their lives. Explore Jax Core does a great job of transporting visitors through Jacksonville’s history, exploring the lives of notable Jacksonville personalities like Abraham Lincoln Lewis, Florida’s first Black millionaire, and James Weldon Johnson, the man who penned the Black national anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” as well as other unsung stories. Tour guide Yolanda Copeland leads walking tours, shuttles, and even zips visitors around in her electric climate-controlled super-sized golf cart, sharing stories that will leave you in contemplation for days afterward.
explorejaxcore.com, 135 West Monroe St. Jacksonville, FL 32202
The memory previously mentioned Johnson has experienced a renaissance in Jacksonville in recent years, first with a downtown park being named in his honor, and also with a soon-to-be-unveiled Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park, situated in the historic LaVilla neighborhood. This park will honor Johnson and his brother, John Rosamond Johnson with public art, exhibits, events, and more.
visitjacksonville.com, 120 Lee St., Jacksonville, FL 32204
Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2024, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville’s frequently rotating gallery spaces captivate visitors with deep dives into artistic themes (the current exhibit, which runs through early July 2024, peeks into the 1970s art scene in New York with the Norman E. Fisher Collection, with sculpture, video, and installations representing Andy Warhol to Philip Glass).
mocajacksonville.unf.edu, 333 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
Located at the site of the Cummer family 1902 residence, this museum and English garden space has blossomed into a must-visit destination. Seasonal Friday night picnics may be ordered in advance to savor the garden's beautiful outdoor expanse.
cummermuseum.org, 829 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville, FL 32204
Every Wednesday afternoon in James Weldon Johnson Park, pull up a chair, order a snack from one of the on-site food trucks, and enjoy some delicious jazz music along with the locals. It’s a fantastic way to take in a beautiful downtown afternoon.
jamesweldonjohnsonpark.org, 135 W. Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL 32202
904-701-7660
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