FRI/SATNIGHT FEEDING
Book it · ~$45
Catty Shack Night Feeding
Watch 600+ lbs of meat fed to rescued lions and tigers after dark. The wildest hour in town.
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JAXFIRST COAST
Greetings from
Jacksonville
★ FLORIDA · THE FIRST COAST ★
Wish you were here,
Twenty-two miles of Atlantic beaches, a river that runs through the middle of town, the best shrimp you'll ever eat, and a whole lot of sunshine. Come hungry. Stay a while.
— The Bold City
JAXFIRST COAST · FL
Here's the Bold City, figured out for you, what to do, where to eat, where to stay, and what's on this weekend.
22 miof Atlantic beaches
#1by area, lower 48
70°+winters by the sea
7distinct neighborhoods
Welcome, traveler
River City runs on sunshine.
Locals call it the Bold City, and there's a lot to be bold about. The mighty St. Johns River splits downtown in two, the Atlantic lines the eastern edge with wide, walkable sand, and the whole place is stitched together by leafy, lived-in neighborhoods full of breweries, boutiques and Old Florida fish camps.
This isn't a brochure. It's the route a friend who lives here would draw on your napkin — what to do, where to eat, where to crash, and what's happening this weekend.
JAXFLORIDA · FIRST COAST
Wish you were here
Six ways to fall for the city
Pick a postcard,
Pick a postcard,
start your trip.
Every one opens a full guide — real places, honest takes, and a button to book the good stuff.
Things to Do
The zoo, Catty Shack's roaring night feedings, riverfront museums and the Friendship Fountain glow.
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Beaches & Outdoors
Jax Beach to Boneyard Beach, dolphin cruises, surf lessons and kayak runs through the salt marsh.
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Where to Stay
Five lodging zones, from oceanfront resorts at the Beaches to riverfront downtown and Ponte Vedra golf.
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Where to Eat
Fresh-off-the-dock Mayport shrimp, the brewery trail, soul food and waterfront fine dining.
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Events
The Jazz Festival, THE PLAYERS, Jaguars Sundays and the Riverside Arts Market — what's on, season by season.
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Day Trips
The nation's oldest city, wild horses on Cumberland Island, and Amelia's Victorian seaport — all an easy drive.
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Postcards worth sending
Don't-miss Jacksonville.
If you do nothing else, do these. The free legends and the worth-every-penny bookings, side by side.
BIG TALBOTSTATE PARK
Free · iconic
Boneyard Beach
Salt-bleached driftwood and fallen oaks line the sand beneath 30-foot dunes. A photographer's dream.
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MAYPORTSHRIMP TRAIL
Eat like a local
Mayport Shrimp Trail
Sweet local shrimp straight off the boats at Safe Harbor and Singleton's, eaten on the water.
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EVERY SATUNDER THE BRIDGE
Free · Saturdays
Riverside Arts Market
Local makers, produce, food trucks and live music under the Fuller Warren Bridge, year-round.
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ON THEST. JOHNS
Book it
Dolphin & Sunset Cruise
Wild bottlenose dolphins, skyline views and a salt breeze. The easiest hour of joy in Jax.
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SOUTHBANKRIVERWALK
Free · classic
Friendship Fountain
A giant choreographed fountain that lights up at night, with the best skyline view in the city.
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Know your blocks
Seven neighborhoods,
Seven neighborhoods,
seven moods.
Always something on
What's happening this weekend?
From spring's Jazz Festival and THE PLAYERS to fall Jaguars Sundays and the Blue Angels overhead, the Jacksonville calendar never really sleeps. We keep a running, human-picked roundup so you're never scrolling a dead event feed.
See This Weekend → Full CalendarPlan the stay
Pick your home base
Beach toes-in-the-sand, riverfront downtown, or a Ponte Vedra golf escape — five zones, mapped to who they're for.
Where to Stay →
Stamp it & send it
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One short note a month: the best new openings, seasonal events, and where to eat. No spam, ever.
Good to know
Common questions
What are the best things to do in Jacksonville, Florida?
Start with the free legends: stroll the Southbank Riverwalk to the lit-up Friendship Fountain, catch the Saturday Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge, and walk Boneyard Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park. For a splurge, the Catty Shack night feeding and a St. Johns River dolphin and sunset cruise are local favorites.
Does Jacksonville have beaches?
Yes, Jacksonville has 22 miles of Atlantic beaches along its eastern edge, from Jacksonville Beach with its fishing pier and surf to wilder spots like Boneyard Beach on the Talbot Islands. Many, including Boneyard Beach, are free to visit.
What food is Jacksonville known for?
Mayport shrimp is the local signature, sweet shrimp pulled straight off the boats and eaten on the water at spots like Safe Harbor and Singleton's. You'll also find oysters, a craft beer trail, soul food, and waterfront dining around the city.
What day trips can you take from Jacksonville?
Three favorites are all an easy drive: St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city; Amelia Island with its Victorian seaport; and Cumberland Island, known for its wild horses. They make great day trips from Jacksonville.
What neighborhoods should I explore in Jacksonville?
Each Jacksonville neighborhood has its own mood: Riverside and Avondale, eclectic Five Points, the San Marco square, historic Springfield, the downtown riverfront, the salt-life Beaches, and Southside near the St. Johns Town Center.