For Atlantans, Jacksonville, 35 miles south of the Georgia border, contains a surprising array of affordable attractions. Set on the banks of the northward-flowing St. Johns River near the Atlantic Ocean, many of the Jacksonville area’s best attractions are either free or dirt cheap.
Don't miss
Jacksonville Landing and the Riverwalk
The Jacksonville Landing is the recreational heart of downtown for tourists and locals. This waterfront shopping, dining and entertainment complex sits beneath skyscrapers on the north bank of the St. Johns River and contains a mix of chains and locally owned shops and restaurants. The large courtyard area facing the water is the site of many holiday celebrations and special events, such as the before-and-after parties for the annual Georgia-Florida football game played in the city each fall. After getting your fill at the Landing, take the Riverwalk -- which runs along both sides of the river -- across the Main Street bridge to the Southbank Riverwalk for the best view of the city skyline, where the skyscrapers can be seen reflected in the water of the wide river. At sunset, stroll the wooden walkway with other walkers, joggers, hand-holders and people-watching bench-sitters to Friendship Fountain, a 200-foot-diameter fountain with shooting jets of water that are spectacularly lit in the evening.
Beaches
From downtown Jacksonville, it's less than a half-hour drive to miles of sandy shoreline. Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach all run together from the north to south into Ponte Vedra Beach, an upscale golf resort area that likely wouldn't interest those on a budget. The other three communities are cheaper to visit and each has its own identity, but they don't really differ much when it comes to the beach, as it's all the same easily accessible stretch of Atlantic coast. At Jacksonville Beach, you’ll find a pier stretching nearly a quarter mile into the ocean ($1 admission, $4 to fish from the pier, no license required). Also in Jacksonville Beach is the Beaches Museum and History Center ($5 and under), where you can explore exhibits that relive the rich history of tourism along the strand, including a replica boardwalk from the Gilded Age.
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
This large park, named after a Native American tribe that inhabited the area centuries ago, comprises 46,000 acres on the north and south banks of the St. Johns River. It is managed by different public and private entities for the purposes of preservation and enjoyment. The National Park Service (www.nps.gov/foca) owns 9,000 acres of the park and doesn’t charge for admission, parking or even guided tours of the sites under its jurisdiction. Nature enthusiasts will enjoy a hike through the 600-acre hardwood forest and marshland of the Theodore Roosevelt Area, where the bird-watching is supreme. History buffs will not want to miss the Kingsley Plantation on the north side of the river that features one of Florida's oldest existing plantation homes, well-preserved and open for tours. Also on the grounds are 23 slave quarters made out of tabby (a mixture of sand, water, oyster shells and lime). The Kingsley Plantation has a long history that includes the story of Anna Kingsley, a slave who ended up becoming a free woman and managing the plantation. A guided tour by a park ranger is highly recommended to learn more about this fascinating story.
Museums
If you have kids in tow, the Museum of Science and History, or the MOSH ($8-$10; $5 on Fridays), next to the Southbank Riverwalk is a must-see attraction offering many hands-on, interactive exhibits that explore general science as well as the history and ecology of the region. Think Fernbank, but more geared toward children (it used to be known as the Jacksonville Children's Museum, after all). For fine arts and formal gardens, visit the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens ($6-$10, free on Tuesdays between 4 and 9 p.m.) on the north bank of the river near downtown. The highly manicured gardens and exquisite landscape architecture are as much of a draw to this museum as its art collection featuring works from 2000 B.C. to the present that includes plenty of American impressionist paintings and 18th-century Japanese woodblock prints.
Stay
The Riverdale Inn. Ten-room inn in a historic house near the riverfront, the Cummer Museum and downtown. Rates start at $110. 1521 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville. 1-866-808-3400, www.riverdaleinn.com.
The Palms Retro. Old-school Florida motel converted into a boutique property within easy walking distance to the beach. Each room has a different showbiz/retro theme. Rates start at $119. 28 Sherry Drive, Atlantic Beach. 904-241-7776, www.palmsretro.com.
Eat
River City Brewing Company. Waterfront brewpub and restaurant on a scenic urban portion of the St. Johns River across from downtown. You can take the water taxi from the Jacksonville Landing. 835 Museum Circle, Jacksonville. 904-398-2299, www.rivercitybrew.com.
Salt Life Food Shack. Despite the name, it's not a shack. The decor at this restaurant three blocks from the beach is modern beach-casual, and the prices are surprisingly affordable, a refreshing contrast to the coastal upscale vibe. 1018 Third St. N., Jacksonville Beach. 904-372-4456, www.saltlifefoodshack.com.
Visitor info
Visitor Center at the Jacksonville Landing. 2 Independent Drive, Jacksonville. 904-791-4305, www.visitjacksonville.com.
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