Jacksonville Getaway: A fun family weekend!

Jacksonville, Florida is home to more than just the Jaguars and bridges. This city and its nearby Atlantic coast beaches has everything a family could want for a great weekend getaway.

Jacksonville Attractions

The Beaches

The big draw inspiring a Jacksonville getaway might be its 4.1 miles of beaches. With free parking, plentiful oceanfront restaurants and the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier, it makes sense to spend a day here. To learn more about the beaches, access points and bathrooms, click here.

Adventure Landing Waterpark

Beyond the beach, spend a fun-filled day at Adventure Landing’s Shipwreck Island Waterpark. The Jacksonville Visitor’s Bureau invited Ellie and me to spend an afternoon here, and we loved it!

I appreciated the courteous and professional lifeguards (they say, “Yes, ma’am.” and “My pleasure.”). I also appreciated the park’s cleanliness. We had water shoes, but decided to leave them with our towels since the place was so clean. Ellie, of course, thought the water slides were amazing! We rode “The Rage,” which sends you UP and down hill, five times!

The waterpark has a small splash pad area for tiny park-goers. The pirate area has slides for little kids through adults, though it’s geared for the younger elementary set. The four big slides and the wave pool are great for elementary (kids 42 inches or more) through adult.

Take a break from the water to play putt-putt or enjoy the indoor arcade. Each activity has a separate admission fee.

Budget tip: A number of area hotels partner with Adventure Landing to offer discount tickets or free admission with a hotel stay, making a visit even more budget-friendly.

Jacksonville Zoo

The highlight of our Jacksonville getaway was the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Like many zoos across the country, the Jacksonville Zoo is also home to the area’s botanic garden. What makes Jacksonville stand out, though, is how the gardens are mingled in with the animal exhibits. The zoo rivals Disney’s parks with its attention to detail. My favorite was the Asian Garden, and Ellie’s was the butterfly garden near the Trout River.

Of course, the Jacksonville Zoo has animals too! Ellie’s favorite activity was petting the stingrays in Stingray Bay. She laughed as the giant otters (they’re huge) pirouetted through the water. She also loved seeing the animals in the Land of the Tiger exhibit, particularly the tiny Asian small-clawed otters.

For me, the Land of the Tiger exhibit was the standout. I get to visit zoos across the country, but have never seen an exhibit like this. Picture a tiger-sized “habi-trail” (think hamster trail tubes only super-mega-giant-sized) to explore. The five tigers who call the Jacksonville Zoo home are free to roam through their habi-trail from one end of the exhibit to the other, about 2.5 acres. Their “tunnels” give them a chance to roam their territory much like they would in the wild. There’s no running in circles in a half-acre parcel here.

The zoo staff explained that the entire exhibit was designed to give the tigers the most natural experience possible, while allowing the zoo’s visitors a chance to see them. We got to see a tiger sleeping in a tube above our heads. The zoo included an air-conditioned area for zoo guests to watch the tigers through large glass windows. They also do tiger training here, where guests can watch and learn what the animal caregivers do and why.

Other guest activities include feeding the giraffes, attending keeper talks (like the tiger one), riding the train and carousel, or kayaking on the Trout River to get close to the marine animals who live nearby. Some activities require an additional fee.

You can click here for current admission prices and park hours. The zoo is a not-for-profit organization. Ticket sales support the zoo directly, and a portion of the proceeds fund conservation efforts around the world.

Budget tip: The zoo is a reciprocal member of the AZA reciprocal zoos list, offering free admission to members of reciprocal zoos.

The zoo is suitable for all ages.

Jacksonville restaurants

Jacksonville is a foodie destination, like many other cities its size. Click here to explore Jacksonville restaurants by neighborhood. Also consider these family-friendly restaurants near the Jacksonville beaches:

• TacoLu at 1712 Beach Blvd., next to Adventure Landing. Tacos are priced at $2.99 to $4.99 each, so the price is family friendly too. I recommend the Brisket and the Carnitas (each is $2.99). Arrive early and expect a wait. It’s worth it, though!
• Maple Street Biscuit Company (multiple locations). This breakfast/lunch restaurant won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. Locals and tourists alike love the food, all built around the humble southern biscuit. It tends to be crowded and noisy, so if you’re a coffee drinker like me, enjoy that needed cup at the hotel before you venture out ~ just in case there’s a wait!
• For sweets and treats (our favorite!) head to Sweet Pete’s in downtown Jacksonville. Warning, it’s pricey, though upstairs offers bulk candy which is a little easier on the wallet. Ellie and I had fun here, getting sour candy for her brothers and their signature salted caramels for her dad. It’s an adorable place to visit, enjoy a scoop of ice cream and get a treat for the trip home! There is no onsite parking, but nearby meters are only 25 cents/half-hour.

Other things to do

During football season, catch the Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) play at EverBank Field. Explore the many parks throughout downtown Jacksonville or go kayaking or paddle boarding (SUP). Enjoy a budget-friendly family getaway in November, when kids’ admission is free to many attractions including the zoo, the science center and the World Golf Hall of Fame (and more!).

Instead of passing through on your way to theme parks, plan a Jacksonville getaway instead! I think you’ll be surprised at how much there is to see and do… and how affordable it is, too!

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**Ellie and I received a free hotel stay and free admission to Adventure Landing and the Jacksonville Zoo for this review. All opinions here are mine based on my personal experience.**