From our unspoiled beaches to the exciting Intracoastal Waterway and the sparkling St. Johns River, water defines this “River City by the Sea.” Work on your tan or get active, learn to surf, rent kayaks and paddleboards, hope on a a fishing charter boat at Jacksonville’s Beaches and stay at our oceanfront resorts and wake up every morning to amazing sunrises over the Atlantic Ocean. Less than 3 miles from the Beaches you will find the Intracoastal Waterway, 40 miles of peaceful canals and natural inlets where visitors explore the local wildlife, including dolphins, manatees and hundreds of bird species.
In the heart of Downtown Jacksonville, the St. Johns River takes the spotlight, enjoy a river cruise, walk the 3-mile RiverWalk and visit the Riverside Arts Market, all while enjoying breathtaking views of our unique riverfront downtown skyline.
Thanks to our extensive park system, green is Jacksonville’s color and adventure is our game! Just minutes away from Downtown Jacksonville, the city’s wild side flourishes at the Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve. This 46,000-acre Preserve is made for those seeking a natural thrill. Swim, boat, hike, fish and enjoy historical sites like Fort Caroline National Memorial, often called Florida’s “Atlantis,” and Kingsley Plantation, Florida’s last remaining Plantation-era house and the 7 Creeks Recreation Area, newly minted on Jacksonville’s northside.Explore the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, with over 3,000 rare and exotic animal and plant species. Venture out to Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary and hand-feed lions and tigers and other big cats. You can also let romance and adventure merge as you ride horses on our white-sandy beaches with Kelly Seahorse Ranch, one of the only places in Florida where it’s allowed.
Jacksonville is consistently ranked as a Top 25 Arts Destinations in the nation. We have the best Symphony in Florida, a Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), a Museum of Science and History (MOSH), The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, a Broadway Series, one of the last remaining dinner theaters in the nation, The Alhambra, and the oldest continuously operating community theater in the country, Theatre Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the second-largest jazz festival in the U.S., brings an impressive lineup of performers and more than 130,000 jazz lovers to downtown Jacksonville each Memorial Day weekend. All year-long, from January to December, there is something exciting to do in Jacksonville. Come explore Florida’s Natural Water Wonderland!