The 5 Best Things to Do in Jacksonville, FL and Why You Should Visit Now
WRITTEN BY 5 REASONS TO VISIT® EDITORIAL STAFF
PUBLISHED JULY 2023 • 5 min read
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Whether you're looking to discover the undiscovered, ignite romance, reconnect with family, or be inspired by the city’s cultural offerings or vivid sunrises, anything is possible in Jacksonville, Florida. Although much of Jacksonville is urban, this sprawling city also has its share of nature and wildlife preserves, historic residential neighborhoods and is full of golf courses. Attractions in “Jax,” as the locals call it—range from art, science and history museums to brewery tours, the Jacksonville Landing entertainment complex along the St. John's River, to the Bronson Motor Speedway.
Located on the Atlantic coast, Jacksonville, aka the “River City by the Sea,” boasts more than 20 miles of beaches, close to 40 miles of tranquil Intracoastal Waterway canal, and the longest stretch of the stunning St. John’s River. On land, Jacksonville is home to the largest urban park system in the nation, with 10 state and national parks.
1. Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
Located in Jacksonville, FL, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens was founded in 1961 after the passing of Ninah Cummer, who bequeathed her gardens and personal art collection to the new museum. The Cummer Museum & Gardens includes Ninah’s original garden designs, a portion of her home that showcases its historic furnishing, and has since expanded to include property owned by her brother-in-law.
Source: Visit Florida
The museum grounds, designed by landscape designers; the Olmsted Brothers, Thomas Meehan & Sons, and Ellen Biddle Shipman, are home to three flower gardens, some dating back to 1903, and have preserved their original layouts for over a century. Outside, you can enjoy a scenic stroll through its gorgeous riverside gardens, which feature mature oak trees, fountains, and reflecting pools.
2. Big & Little Talbot Island State Park
The Talbot Islands State Parks are an intriguing mixture of beach setting and coastal woodland. An area filled with endless natural beauty and some of the most unique eco-systems in the world! Little Talbot Island State Park offers a four-mile hike through dune covered woodlands made up of ferns, moss-covered oaks, and tall pine trees. Little Talbot is home to an array of wildlife, from white-tailed deer, marsh rabbits, raccoons, armadillos and even bobcats! The perfect spot to sunbathe, surf, go shelling or explore bird watching, as it is home to shorebirds like Wilson’s Plovers and Black Skimmers.
Source: Visit Jacksonville
Big Talbot Island State Park, aka famous Boneyard Beach, is a coastal barrier island two miles east of downtown Jacksonville, along the Atlantic coastal plain. Covered with “skeletons” of bleached live oak and cedar trees that tumbled onto shore after years of erosion. Here you’ll find, Blackrock Beach, which has beautiful black rocks that line the beaches shoreline and are some of the oldest rock formations in the world made up of decayed leaves and compressed sand.
3. MOCA Jacksonville (Museum of Contemporary Art)
Founded in 1924, MOCA has been dedicated to promoting the discovery, knowledge, and advancement of the art, artists and ideas of our time. The Museum of Contemporary Art is one of Jacksonville’s most significant cultural assets, and In 2024, MOCA will be celebrating its 100th anniversary as the oldest art museum in the region, as well as the second contemporary art museum to be established in the United States.
Source: MOCA Jacksonville
Museums are spaces that bring communities together through enriching experiences, new perspectives, and opportunities to learn and connect. Great museums are a sign of a strong metropolitan area with the ability to attract diverse professionals, families, and individuals who contribute to the local economy. MOCA’s permanent collection consists of almost 1,000 works of art, with particular emphasis on works created from 1960 to present, included painting, printmaking, sculpture, and photography from artists Hans Hoffman, Alexander Calder, Joan Mitchell, and more.
4. Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
Catty Shack Ranch is a safe haven and forever home to endangered big cats, such as tigers, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, foxes, and coatimundis. Get an up close and personal experience with these endangered big cats and learn about their habitat, their personalities and their stories behind why they have found home at the Catty Shack Ranch sanctuary.
Source: Catty Shack Ranch
With the mission of providing these endangered animals a safe, loving, forever home, the sanctuary’s primary focus is on the rescue of cats from serious situations.
5. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens sit on approximately 122-acres, with more than 2,400 rare and exotic animals as well as 1,500 unique varieties of plant species in its collection. The zoo's other exhibits include the Plains of East Africa, highlighting African savanna animals; the Australian Outback; African Forest, featuring two of the four great apes, as well as several species pf lemurs; and Wild Florida, which features animals native to the state.
Source: Jacksonville Zoo
