Jacksonville occupies one of the most coveted spots on the Atlantic coast. Set amongst abundant beaches and possessing an ideal subtropical climate, its crown jewel is the unique habitat and natural beauty of the St. Johns River. For this reason and more, "The River City" is a popular destination for vacationers looking for a laid-back Sunshine State escape.
The city is in the Northeast Florida region, about 25 miles (40 km) south of the Georgia state line and about 340 miles (547 km) north of Miami. Jacksonville is the largest city, by land area, in Florida in and the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968. That merger gave Jacksonville its great size and placed most of its larger metropolitan population within the city limits; with a population of 949,600, it is the most populous city in Florida, and the eleventh most populous in the United States.
Jacksonville is sprawling with most of the city's more popular destinations not within walking distance of each other, with the exception of the city center. There, monorail service is free and connects the north and south banks of the river, offering travelers a great view of the city and an easy route to their destination. Most travelers to Jacksonville will want to venture out, see the beaches, shop and dine in its commercial districts, or visit historical sites and parks. This would be impossible or greatly hindered without a car.
1 City Hall (St. James Building), 117 West Duval St. One of the most beautiful city halls in America and open to the public. The building was designed in Prairie School style by noted local architect Henry John Klutho. It was constructed as a department store in 1912, purchased by the city in 1993, and became the new city hall in 1997. The name was chosen by its investors, businessmen from Connecticut, the relevance being that Saint James is the patron Saint of travelers. The interior features a spectacular sunlit atrium with a dominating octagonal glass dome. The defining feature of the structure is the large abstract decorative cornices on the buildings exterior.
Jacksonville Jazz Festival. Jazz festival featuring major names in jazz as well as local and up-and-coming jazz artists. Main Street Cruise, 1st St. to 12th St. on Main St.. 4th Sat of every month. A surreal experience and a fun time, this old school cruise is like stepping into the 1970s movie American Graffiti. Poodle dresses, classic music, and an endless array of cars. Springing the Blues. Florida's largest free outdoor blues festival. Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival. Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island (about 35 mi (56 km) from Jacksonville), holds an annual festival every summer, the highlight of which is a mock pirate invasion terrorizing the locals.
Bay Street Sports Grill, 119 East Bay St, ☏ +1 904-993-1350, bssgjax@gmail.com. Sports bar and grill features on reality TV show "Bar Rescue". (updated Mar 2024) 1 BB's, 1019 Hendricks Ave, ☏ +1 904-306-0100. This restaurant has good appetizers, desserts, and a good beer and wine selection. The mushroom and bacon pizza is wonderful. The food is great, but it can get somewhat loud; not the place to go for a quiet conversation. 2 Brick Coffee House, 214 N. Hogan St (Ed Ball Building Adams St Entrance), ☏ +1 904-354-9945. (updated Oct 2015) 3 Chamblin's Uptown Cafe, 215 N. Laura St (between Adams and Monroe), ☏ +1 904-674-0870. Good vegetarian selection.
1 1904 Music Hall, 19 Ocean St. (between Bay and Forsyth), Booking@1904musichall.com. Beer and wine only. It does offer great local music and a great atmosphere. (updated Aug 2015) 2 Dos Gatos, 123 E. Forsyth St., ☏ +1 904-354-0666. Full bar. A nice place to dress up and go out to. Great selection of cocktails. (updated Aug 2015) 3 Keane's Tavern, 315 East Bay Street, ☏ +1 904-404-1849. Traditional Irish pub with food and drink, live music and sports. (updated Jun 2026) 4 Underbelly, 113 E. Bay St., ☏ +1 904-374-9351, mike@underbellyjax.com. (updated Aug 2015) 5 The Volstead, 115 West Adams St., team@thevolsteadjax.com.
Guide content from Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA) — abridged; the full article has much more.
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