It was surfing that brought Michael and me to Jacksonville one weekend.
Not what you expected, right? Perhaps a sporting event or convention or family or something, but not surfing. Yet there we were on a recent Saturday, standing on the beach in our swimsuits and wondering what we’d gotten ourselves into.
This post contains affiliate links and I may receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking one of these links (at no additional cost to you). Doing so helps keep this blog ad-free, so thank you for your support!
As part of our commitment to visit one place in our home state each month this year (you can read past Florida posts here), and after enjoying our last watersport adventures, we decided to give surf lessons a try. There are many surf schools and teachers in the state, but one in Jacksonville stood out to us above the rest. Since the idea of riding all the way home wet and sandy didn’t really appeal to us, we also decided to book an Airbnb and make a weekend of it.
Heading to Jacksonville, too? Lucky you! Here is my take on 36 hours in the largest city (by area!) in the lower 48:
WHAT TO SEE & DO IN JACKSONVILLE
Visit the beach
Jacksonville Beach
No, the beaches in the Jacksonville area aren’t the kind you picture when you think of “Florida beaches” (you have to go south or west for those), but they’re still worth a visit if the day is right and the mood strikes. They are busy but tend to be filled with locals rather than tourists. Simply cruise down A1A until you find a spot that strikes your fancy.
—
Surf something other than the web
Jacksonville Surf and Paddle | 241 Atlantic Blvd #102, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Jacksonville Surf and Paddle offers group surfing lessons each Saturday at noon over at Neptune Beach. Make your reservation in advance, and join a group of up to fifteen beginners as the instructors work closely to provide directions and tips both in and out of the water. The instructors are passionate and eager to help novice surfers along, no matter your athletic ability. The price of a 90-minute class was a steal and made even better by a Groupon (still available at the time of publication).
—
Go ape
Jacksonville Zoo | 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, FL 32218
A visit to the Jacksonville Zoo is in order for any animal lover (particularly for the otters, who were also, uh, animal lovers during our visit). Don’t miss the Zoo’s many unique features, like the well-cared-for gardens or the tiger causeway looming over the sidewalk. Save a little on admission by flashing a college ID – oh, the perks of working in Higher Ed! – or a AAA card. Not afraid of the heat? You can also take half-off of admission when it’s 92°F or higher during the summer months (2022 update: it appears this deal is no longer available).
—
Be artsy
Riverside Arts Market | 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204
The Riverside Arts Market is held each Saturday under the I-95 overpass and boasts local farmers, food trucks, artists, and artisans. Go with the flow of the crowd and wander in wonder at how some of the crafts are made. A free parking lot is located just north of the market.
—
Poke around Jacksonville boutiques
Gloss Goods | Now Closed APB | 817 Lomax St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 The Copper Closet | Multiple Locations 5 Points Vintage | 1046 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204
Five Points is a funky little area of town with a five-point intersection (gold star if you figured that out already!), and shops and businesses along its radiating streets. Our visit fell on a Sunday, which meant at least half of the shops were closed, but we enjoyed perusing Gloss Goods (permanently closed), APB, The Copper Closet, and 5 Points Vintage.
—
Get active
Winston Family YMCA | 221 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32202
The YMCA’s Nationwide Membership program allows Y members from other groups to use their facilities for free, and we like to squeeze in a workout upon arrival, when we can, to set the tone for the rest of our trip (or at least burn a few extra calories before we eat everything). The First Coast YMCA’s flagship Winston Family YMCA provided a nice place for us to work out after our car ride to Jacksonville complete with with sweeping views of the St. John’s River. Check with your gym to see if they have affiliates before you travel.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK IN JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville coffee shops
Vagabond Coffee | 934 Edgewood Ave S, Jacksonville, FL 32205 BREW Five Points | 1024 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 Bold Bean Coffee Roasters | Multiple Locations
Jacksonville has fewer local coffee shops than I expected, but there are definitely a few gems. Vagabond Coffee on Edgewood Avenue has a nice, relaxed vibe with a hint of quirk for good measure. BREW Five Points rotates through a carefully curated selection of beans for their pour-overs, which I can’t recommend enough. There are several Bold Bean Coffee Roasters locations in Jacksonville, and their coffee was so good we visited twice. Chances are there will be one near you when you visit, so you have no excuse but to go.
—
International dining options in Jacksonville
Ibex Ethiopian | Now Closed Bistro Aix | 1440 San Marco Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Jacksonville’s international dining options have slowly begun emerging in recent years. On this trip, we enjoyed Ethiopian food at Ibex Ethiopian (now closed) and French food at San Marco’s trendy Bistro Aix.
—
Visit one of Jacksonville’s breweries
Aardwolf Brewery | 1461 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207 Bold City Brewery | Multiple Locations Intuition Ale Works | 929 E Bay St, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Jacksonville has no shortage of breweries, and more magnificently, no shortage of good breweries. Aardwolf Brewery has a neighborhood atmosphere; it’s the kind of place you’ll no longer feel like a stranger in by the end of the night. Bold City Brewery’s Production Facility is only open certain days of the week but puts you right in the middle of the beer-making process. Intuition Ale Works has an industrial glitz to it that would work well for large parties or late evenings and has snacks from BLK SHP to boot (Update: they have their own full kitchen now).
—
Get them while they’re fresh
Good Dough | 1636 Hendricks Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32207
Good Dough offers a wide variety of delicious flavors of doughnuts, dough-oasts, and doughwiches, all made fresh throughout the day. Our tip? Visit early for the best availability of choices.
—
Go classic
The Fox | 3580 St Johns Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32205
The Fox, located among the Shoppes of Historic Avondale is as old-school diner as you can get. We marveled at how the staff seemed to know nearly everyone by name and fueled up for our surfing lesson with lasting protein. Don’t miss their biscuits – they are the perfect iteration of a Southern biscuit.
—
Tacos for every meal
BREW Five Points | 1024 Park St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 Flying Iguana | 207 Atlantic Blvd, Neptune Beach, FL 32266
I’m not sure why Jacksonville has such a thriving taco scene, but I also don’t really care because they’re just that freaking good. BREW Five Points serves a killer breakfast taco every day (some with and some without eggs, for the egg-averse). Flying Iguana in Neptune Beach offers a wide variety of tacos and other dishes, as well as guacamole made table-side.
WHERE TO STAY IN JACKSONVILLE
Riverside Neighborhood
Riverside Neighborhood
An Airbnb near Riverside and Avondale was the perfect launching point for our stay. There were restaurants, pharmacies, and grocery stores within walking distance, though it was simply too hot to go more than one block at a time. Thankfully Jacksonville’s heavy commuter traffic thins on the weekend, and we found the trek across the Fuller Warren Bridge to visit San Marco or traversing the full city to reach the beach to be quick and painless. Though we didn’t spend much time downtown or visit other areas like Southside or Baymeadows, I suspect the traffic would have been pretty manageable.
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is about fourteen miles from downtown and is served by several major and budget airlines (it’s also our favorite departure airport!). Due to the city’s size, a car is essential unless you plan on staying in one neighborhood and/or using extensive rideshare services. The heat during our late-July trip was nearly unbearable, and I highly recommend visiting outside of the summer months unless you plan on planting yourself at the beach the entire time. It’s also worth noting that most of Florida receives a near-daily afternoon summer rain, lasting for perhaps an hour before moving on.
Jacksonville boasts several sports teams, most notably the Jaguars. We weren’t there during the NFL season, but I do know that traffic is congested on game days, as expected. There were a few things we missed out on during this trip that we hope to see on our next visit (we can’t review them, but in case you’re interested as well!), such as the Cummer Museum and the farm tour at Congaree and Penn.
Looking for more? You may enjoy these other Florida guides:
- St. Petersburg, Florida Day Trip
- How to Spend a Weekend in Destin, Florida
- 10 Things Everyone Should Know Before They Visit Florida for the First Time
- Traveling Light: Destin, Florida (30A) Packing List
- A Bit of France in Florida: Attending the Petanque Amelia Island Open
- Small-Town Florida: A Day Trip to Mount Dora
- Miami Beach Photo Diary
- Old Florida: Weeki Wachee
- Wild Florida: Tubing on a Natural Lazy River
- Ten Tips for a Successful Day Trip to the Kennedy Space Center
- A Tallahassee Day Trip
- Traveling Light: Jacksonville, Florida Packing List
- St. Augustine Day Trip
- A Different Side of Orlando
- A Day Trip to Cedar Key, Florida
- Two Nights in Miami
- Miami’s Wynwood District
- Bern’s Steak House – Tampa, FL
Have you ever visited the First Coast? Tell us what we missed here – we’re itching to explore more of Jacksonville!
