Best Things To Do with Your Family in Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a sprawling city that merges an array of urban attractions with an idyllic natural setting. It is a popular tourist destination with its many waterways and sandy beaches. Frequently, families visit this place because of the abundance of child-friendly activities.
Lonely Planet ranks Jacksonville as one destination of best value. With its beautiful beaches, parks, affordable hotel rates, and family-friendly food scene, it is a destination where every member of the family – and your wallet – can relax.
Read on to explore some of the best things to do on your family vacation in Jacksonville. We also have tips for you to get the most out of this memorable getaway.
Getting Around Jacksonville
More than any other city in the nation, Jacksonville has the most shoreline and 1,100 miles of navigable water. One of the most memorable and fun ways for tourists to get on the water is aboard the St. Johns River Taxi. It has a 30-minute loop with multiple downtown stops and tours focusing on science, history, and the environment.
Also known as the Mayport Ferry, it has been operational since 1874, ferrying passengers between Mayport Village and Fort George. It is a scenic way to spot manatees, dolphins, and other sea creatures on the water.
The Best Beaches in Jacksonville
This Bold City on the South has four main beaches in its 22 miles of shoreline. Jacksonville Beach, Mayport Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach are the top choices for families looking for some fun under the sun. Best of all, these beaches are for public use and pet friendly.
The beach break and sandy bottoms at the Jacksonville beaches make it a prime surfing location to ride the waves. The Wave Masters amateur surfing competition has been drawing tourists from around the country every May since 1983.
Besides that, Jax Surf & Paddle in Neptune Beach offers surf camps for kids ages 6 to 16. In Jacksonville Beach, Saltwater Cowgirls provides girls-only surf camps for ages 7 to 17 and private lessons for all ages.
Just south of downtown Jacksonville is the quieter seaside community of Ponte Vedra Beach. It is home to some of the best golf courses in Florida and 40-foot dunes and is a favorite upscale retreat for families.
For families looking for outdoor recreation, Huguenot Memorial Park is a beachside park that offers fishing, RV and tent camping, surfing, kayaking, and hiking options. In Mayport, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park offers parents a great surfing experience while the kids can play in the splash park. Additionally, this oceanfront park also offers cabins and camping spots for families.
The maritime forest at Big Talbot Island State Park is a must-see to take unforgettable pictures, with the giant driftwood collection on the mile-long Boneyard Beach.
Also, the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier provides a beautiful backdrop for family photos. It stretches over 600 feet into the ocean, making for a beautiful view and a good spot for fishing. You can also drop by the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach for free concerts, moonlight movies, and light shows.
More water-related adventures await through airboats and fishing tours on the Intracoastal Waterway. Popular options include going to Crazy Fish on Port Arthur Rd. or renting a Stand-Up Paddleboard or a kayak to explore by yourself.
Child-Friendly Animal and Wildlife Encounters
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens offer a 122-acre facility home to over 2,000 animals. One of its noteworthy features is the award-winning African Forest exhibit of primates. Children can interact with animals like giraffes, stingrays, and lorikeets. Other activities include a night hike for children over five years old and a BTS group tour to view the after-hours activities of reptiles, jaguars, and tigers.
If your family likes big cats, the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is the place to be! This sanctuary for rescued and endangered big cats offers guided day and night-time feeding tours where visitors can learn more about these animals.
Tree Hill Nature Center is also a must-visit for families with children. In its 50-acre wildlife preserve, it offers an interactive environmental education with its trails, a butterfly garden, animal and nature exhibits, and engaging shows.
Interactive and Educational Indoor Retreats
For a break from the sun, or when the weather is not cooperating with your beach plans, downtown Jacksonville offers many activities where children can run around and engage with their surroundings.
First, the Museum of Science and History (MOSH) features daily and live animal shows, interactive exhibits, and a single-lens planetarium. Next, the Hand-On Children’s Museum on Beach Blvd. features a castle, a grocery store, and other play areas that serve as a small refuge for children under eight.
Also, you should not miss the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and its Art Explorium for 16 interactive and educational art stations for kids. If you chance upon Jacksonville on the first Wednesday of the month, you can see Art Walk come alive where family-friendly live arts events.
Other notable places to visit for an engaging learning experience and immersion in history are the Ritz Theater and Museum, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Kingsley Plantation, Theatre Jacksonville, Museum of Southern History, and Fort Clinch State Park, and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
Downtime and Family Time at Jacksonville
Jacksonville has over 80,000 acres of green spaces and is home to one of the best urban park systems in the country. Families looking for some downtime in their vacation would find these parks a reprieve from the excitement this city offers.
Hemming Park is a historic downtown public square with a fenced-in Kids Zone that features creative construction opportunities using big blue foam blocks. Parents can also have fun occasionally exploring food trucks in the park, concerts, and other events.
You can also visit the oldest landmark in the city, the 250-year-old Treaty Oak tree at Jessie Ball Dupont Park. It is an adventure to walk through the octopus-like Southern live oak over 7- feet tall and 25 feet in circumference.
Jacksonville also boasts world-class golf courses in an ocean-side setting. Topgolf at Brightman Blvd. is the perfect place for families who want to bond over some games. There are giant Jenga pieces for a game or two, and families can hold a golf competition using micro-chipped golf balls to see who hits the most targets.
Another perennial family favorite is the Batt Family Fun Center. Here, a bowling alley, games, billiards tables, 18 holes of Krazie glow golf, and other fun activities will keep children and adults entertained for a whole afternoon.
Experience Travel Convenience at Jacksonville
In this mix of coastal and inland adventures, Jacksonville offers plenty for families planning a Florida vacation. While a family vacation is a time for families to enjoy and relax, it often becomes stressful for parents. Flying with a baby or with several children is a complicated ordeal.
Thankfully, Kidmoto Technologies has a solution so families will have a less stressful time at the airport. By booking a car service with pre-installed car seats, you can ditch the car seats and enjoy a safe ride to or from Jacksonville International Airport.
When you book a Jacksonville Kidmoto car service with car seats, you can experience travel convenience by having fewer things at hand and less stress at the airport. The professional drivers at Kidmoto are friendly and dependable, so you can focus on making memories on your vacation.
The booking process is easy and done in a couple of taps! Download the Kidmoto app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to book your car service with car seats at the Jacksonville Airport today!
