Jacksonville, Florida Travel Guide: Riverwalk, State Parks & Vibrant Nightlife

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

The Cummer Museum of Art is one of Florida’s favorite art museums that hosts one of the best art collections in the Southeast. Housed in a series of twentieth-century buildings that overlook the St. John’s River, the Museum has more than 6,000 works of art spanning the period between 2100 B.C. and the 21st century, with distinct genres of European and American paintings. The Museum also boasts the Wark Collection of Early Meissen Porcelain.

The Museum is surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens, the oldest of which date back to 1903 and some of which have recently been added to the National Register of Historic Places. The 2.5 acres of gardens boast unique examples of early 20th-century garden design, featuring tranquil reflecting pools, ornate fountains, antique ornaments, and eye-catching sculptures. The garden’s most famous resident is the majestic Cummer Oak, one of the oldest trees in Jacksonville with a broad canopy of more than 150 feet.

829 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida 32204, Phone: 904-356-6857, Map

Southbank Riverwalk, Jacksonville, FL

Overlooking the St. Johns River, Downtown Jacksonville’s North and South banks are surrounded by the skyscrapers of the Fortune 500 companies that have a contemporary, urban vibe and relaxed ambiance. Locals and visitors alike head to the banks of the river to enjoy the wealth of lunch and dining options, ranging from casual cafés to fine dining establishments, as well as a variety of nightlife options of buzzing bars and elegant lounges.

The Southbank Riverwalk is a 1/4-mile boardwalk that winds its way along the river, offering a great place to hike or sit on the benches and soak up the beautiful views. Stroll down to the famous Friendship Fountain at the west end of the Southbank Riverwalk, one of the city’s most popular attractions and the perfect setting for a quiet picnic or romantic evening under the stars.

214 N. Hogan St. Suite 120, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, Phone: 904-634-0303, Map

MOSH! The Museum of Science and History

MOSH! The Museum of Science and History specializes in a variety of outstanding permanent and temporary exhibits that focus on science and local history. Located on the famous Southbank Riverwalk, the museum is one of the city's top attractions. Signature exhibits at the museum include ‘Brain Teasers’, featuring brain-boosting skills to explore the innermost workings of the mind, while traveling exhibits include full-scale skeletons, fossils from around the globe and ‘Dinosaurs Unearthed’, an interactive exhibition that features life-sized dinosaurs.

The Museum also showcases the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, one of the largest single-lens digital dome planetariums in the United States. Watch live star shows, cosmic concerts, and productions at the Alexander Brest Space Science Theater, as well as plays, presentations, and community events. MOSH! The Museum of Science and History is one of the top fun things to do with kids in Jacksonville, FL.

1025 Museum Circle, Jacksonville, Florida 32207, Phone: 904-396-6674, Map

Riverside and Avondale

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the neighborhoods of Riverside and Avondale are a part of a famous historic district that offers a distinctive mix of history, culture, character and community. Riverside and Avondale are two of Jacksonville’s oldest suburbs and are home to a hip, young population with a warm and welcoming urban atmosphere.

Managed by the Riverside Avondale Preservation Society, the area boasts a wealth of things to see and do for the whole family and is one of the top Jacksonville, FL points of interest. Riverside's ‘Five Points’ is a trendy bohemian neighborhood with unique shopping, quaint antique stores, art galleries, buzzing sidewalk cafés, busy restaurants and vibrant nightclubs. King Street has become the new food and beer district with a number of excellent breweries and restaurants. You won’t want to miss the outstanding Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens overlooking the St. Johns River. Other top attractions to explore in the area include the Riverside Arts Market, Memorial Park, and the Shoppes of Avondale.

Riverside and Avondale, 2623 Herschel Street, Jacksonville, Florida 32204, Phone: 904-389-2449

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is one of Jacksonville’s top attractions, featuring a unique walking safari during which visitors can view the zoo’s 2,000 animals and 1,000 exotic plant species. Located at the mouth of the Trout River, the zoo and gardens offer a real family adventure with a range of outstanding exhibits, such as the award-winning ‘Range of the Jaguar’, Giraffe Overlook and the beautiful Savanna Blooms garden.

The ‘Land of the Tiger’ features an innovative walk-through trail system for the zoo’s two Sumatran and three Malayan Tigers. Other exhibits include the ‘Plains of East Africa’, highlighting African savanna animals; ‘Great Apes of the World’, featuring two of the four great apes among other primates; the ‘Australian Outback’, including lorikeets, cassowaries, and kangaroos; and ‘Wild Florida’, which features animals native to the state of Florida. If you are wondering what to do in Jacksonville with kids, this is a great place to visit.

370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida 32218, Phone: 904-757-4463, Map

Riverside Arts Market

The Riverside Arts Market is one of Jacksonville’s top attractions, drawing crowds every Saturday to browse the myriad of stalls where vendors, producers, farmers, and artists showcase their wares.

The ample farmers market features local produce, as well as artisan breads, fresh cheeses, gourmet spreads, and other delicious handcrafted treats, while more than 100 artists display the city’s creative side with a range of handmade products from paintings and sculptures to pottery and silkscreen shirts. Three stages around the market present an array of excellent live entertainment including great regional bands, barbershop quartets, belly dancers, fire-eaters, and jugglers.

Tucked beneath the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge at the end of Northbank Riverwalk, the market is conveniently situated close to Memorial and Riverside Park and with its gorgeous riverfront setting, makes a perfect free family outing.

Riverside Arts Market, 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, Florida 32204, Phone: 904-389-2449

Big Talbot Island State Park

When it comes to state parks in Florida, Big Talbot Island is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. This natural preserve isn’t just a great place to enjoy recreational activities, it’s also truly fantastic for birdwatching, nature studies, and photography.

Big Talbot Island State Park is situated on a unique sea island along Florida’s northeastern coast, which is why the preserve has such a diverse landscape to explore.

Take a tour of the salt marsh from a boat, hike the Blackrock Trail, or take Jones Cut to see a spectacular maritime forest. Bring a bicycle with you when you visit Big Talbot Island, as this park is home to a multi-use Timucuan Trail that offers breathtaking views of Spoonbill Pond.

Big Talbot Island State Park, State Road A1A, Jacksonville, Florida 32226, Phone: 904-251-2320

The Jax Ale Trail

The Jax Ale Trail offers beer lovers a unique adventure with self-guided tours of the craft breweries in the city. Two companies run the Brewery tours, Brew Bus Jacksonville and Play Harder Tours , and head to most of the breweries in and around town, including Aardwolf Brewing Co., Bold City Brewery, Engine 15 Brewing Co, and others.

Tours also visit restaurants and bars that brew their beer, such as Seven Bridges, and include samplings and tasting of local craft beers and delicious local cuisine along the way. Visitors will receive a Jax Ale Trail Brewery Passport to stamp at every brewery visited in order to receive cool prizes and giveaways.

208 N Laura St, Jacksonville, Florida 32202, Phone: 800-733-2668

Salt Life Food Shack

Designed to echo the laid-back beach lifestyle of Jacksonville Beach, Salt Life Food Shack is the perfect place to drop by for a snack or a drink in a relaxed, casual environment. Offering a subculture of sun and water lovers and located just a few blocks from the beach, the Shack is an open-air café that serves seaside-style fare such as freshly made sushi, local fried shrimp, and beer can chicken.

There is no need to dress up since flip-flops and bathing suits are the norm. The Salt Life Food Shack also hosts private parties and events with tailor-made menus to suit your needs.

1018 Third Street North, Jacksonville, Florida 32250, Phone: 904-372-4456, Map