Six Can’t Miss Things To Do in Jacksonville

Today, I have another guest post on the blog, and this time it is all about Jacksonville. Fans of The Good Place may know it as one of the top 10 swamp cities of Northeastern Florida, but it is so much more! Since I haven’t managed to get up there lately, I decided to have frequent visitor Alex Berger, share some tips. Here are her six favorite things to do in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville things to do

This guest post by Alex Berger is sponsored by Jax Historic Realty

Jacksonville and North Florida, in general, is a place that everyone needs to visit at least once in their life. You see, my parents moved to the area about five years ago and I have been fortunate enough to explore the greater Jacksonville area each time I visit them. My parents, specifically, moved to the area to retire, but the city is so big and has something for everyone, no matter your age or work status. In fact, it’s a place that I could see myself moving to one day because of everything they have to offer, and because it would be great to be close to them, as well. Here are six things to do in Jacksonville, Florida:

Go Fish

North Florida has great fishing and it is one of my all-time favorite things to do. I have been deep sea fishing since I was young. I remember one of my first experiences fishing was in Northwest Florida (so across the state from Jacksonville) and I caught a shark! I couldn’t reel it in myself, so my dad helped me, and when we pulled it onto the boat, I could not believe my eyes. We let it go, but it was definitely one of the coolest days of my life and gave me a love for deep sea fishing.

In the Jacksonville area, there are so many fishing charters to choose from, so if this is something that interests you, check them out. You can even rent a boat in Jacksonville to go fishing yourself! If you do not like fishing, there are plenty of boating experiences to be had in the area too, from sailing to renting a jetski.

Tour Fort Clinch

Fort Clinch is one of my favorite places to visit in North Florida! While it is in Fernandina Beach and not in Jacksonville, I still consider it the greater Jacksonville area. It is only about 30-45 minutes from the city. Although no battles actually occurred at Fort Clinch, it is still an amazing thing to see! You get to view everything like it is currently happening – there is even a ‘soldier’ on site every day in character. Guests can interact with the soldier as he goes through his daily activities.

When we visited, we learned so much about what they carried on them and in their bags, and what they did everyday! It was constructed between 1816-1867. This time period is known as the “Third System of Fortifications.” They constructed the fort at the mouth of St. Mary’s River for two reasons: The main reason is to protect the port of Fernandina and make sure that it did not become a point of invasion. The second reason it was constructed in this area was to make sure the cross-state railroad was protected. In fact, this is Florida’s only cross-state railroad. You learn facts like this and so much more during your visit to Fort Clinch. I highly recommend it for the history and the amazing views.

things to do in Jacksonville

Visit Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island is so cool! When you visit, you might see wild horses running along the island, and you will notice that there are no shops, stores, or other amenities on the island for tourists. Cumberland Island is preserved and protected and you will find designated wilderness areas, undeveloped beaches, historical sites, cultural ruins, nesting areas (for animals), and more. It’s a great experience to take the ferry over and go camping for a night or two!

Hit The Beach

Jacksonville has some amazing beaches. The waves are actually great for surfing, so keep that in mind when going to North Florida for the beach. The sand is fluffy and white and it is the perfect way to have a relaxing day in North Florida, in my opinion.

jacksonville beaches

Explore the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary

The catty shack ranch wildlife sanctuary is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. Their primary focus is in the rescue of exotic animals from serious situations. Their mission is to provide a safe, loving, forever home for endangered big cats and to educate the public about their plight in the wild and captivity, which is so important. They do not breed, trade, sell, or buy any of their animals and they never allow tourists to pet or handle the animals. You can find tigers, lions, pumas, leopards, foxes, and more at The Catty Shack. It’s a very cool tour and I am apparently not the only one that thinks so because it is TripAdvisors #1 attraction in JAX!

Shop at St. Johns Town Center

If you want to go shopping, head over to St. Johns Town Center. This is an outdoor shopping mall with plenty of shops, restaurants, and other fun. This is one of the first places that I visited in Jacksonville and it was a blast! One of my favorite burgers can be found there, as well!

There is so much to do and see in Jacksonville and N. Florida, in general. Visiting the area is great, but to really get a chance to see everything, you would have to move there. Since my parents already live there, if I ever decided to move to Florida, Jacksonville would definitely be my first choice since it’s a big city with so much to do. I already have an agent in mind, too! Erin E. King with Jax Historic Realty is the best real estate agent in Jacksonville. He specializes in historic real estate, such as San Marco historic real estate, and knows the ins and outs when it comes to buying and selling homes in N. Florida, especially Jacksonville.

jax historic realty

He offers a free, no obligation, first-time home buyers coaching session, that will prepare you for purchasing a home, and he can provide you with so much information about the area and the homes that you are looking at. When searching for an agent in Jacksonville, I highly recommend utilizing his services! Plus, even his website is so useful and has a ton of information on it. For example, this home buyers guide is very beneficial (especially to first-time buyers). Check out his website today for more information!

Thank you to Alex for sharing these great Jacksonville travel tips and Jax Historic Realty for sponsoring this post. For more ideas of Things to do in Florida, check out my Ultimate Bucket List.