Jacksonville Tourist Attractions

Jacksonville is a city with a lot to offer to tourists and locals alike. It has a long history and is rapidly growing. The following are some destinations tourists can enjoy in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Address: 370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32218, United States

Website: https://www.jacksonvillezoo.org/

Located at the edge of the Trout River, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens will please visitors traveling with their families. This 115-acre facility has been recognized for excellence in animal care, education, conservation, research, and recreation. The zoo has several exhibits that will be interesting to children as well as adults.

The Jacksonville Zoo houses over 1,300 animals. The zoo started as a small collection of animals. Today, the zoo exhibits include many animal habitats representing tropical rainforests, deserts, mountains, and shorelines from different parts of the world.

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

Address: 500 Wonderwood Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32233, United States

Website: https://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/kathryn-abbey-hanna-park.aspx

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville is a 450-acre park developed to be the centerpiece of the community. It has several facilities for people to enjoy, including an amphitheater, picnic grounds, playgrounds, and multiple sports fields.

It is also one of the most visited parks in Jacksonville. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park has trails for walking, biking, playgrounds for children, and even a fishing lake.

Aside from a visitor center, the park has benches, grills, tables, restrooms, and trash barrels.

Atlantic Beach (Jacksonville, Florida)

The Atlantic Beach area of Jacksonville is a small community with only about 1,500 residents but has some of the best beaches in Jacksonville. The Atlantic Beach area is known for its fishing pier and plenty of places for camping at reasonable prices.

Surfers will like this mild but pleasant Atlantic Beach coastline. Oceanfront condos are also available for guests to have more room to spread out while on vacation with family and friends.

Atlantic Beach is on the eastern portion of Bogue Banks, a barrier island on the Atlantic coast. The town is bordered to the south by the Atlantic Ocean and the north by Bogue Sound, which separates it from the mainland.

It is connected to mainland Jacksonville by the Atlantic Beach Causeway to Morehead City. North Carolina Highway 58 leads west from Atlantic Beach, running the length of Bogue Banks to Emerald Isle.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens

Address: 829 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204, United States

Website: https://www.cummermuseum.org/

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. It was established in 1958 by Ninah Cummer, an art collector, garden enthusiast, and civic leader.

The museum has a great deal to offer its visitors. It houses an impressive permanent collection that includes pieces from famous artists. Additionally, it holds an extensive collection of African American art and artifacts.

In addition to this, the museum began hosting its film series, which replaced a previous partnership with a local theatre. Today, the museum has more than 5,000 art collections and is one of the best small museums in America for art lovers and film buffs alike.

Amelia Island (Jacksonville, Florida)

Amelia Island is a part of the Sea Islands chain that stretches along the East Coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida. It is 13 miles long and approximately 4 miles wide at its widest point. The communities of Fernandina Beach, Amelia City, and American Beach are located on the island.

Amelia Island is an exclusive Florida vacation destination. There are many things to do in Amelia Island for visitors with a few days to spare.

Amelia Island has been hosting the annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, the Amelia Island Jazz Festival, the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival, the Amelia Island Film Festival, and the Amelia Island Blues Festival for many years now.

For golfing enthusiasts, the island has five golf courses, including Oak Marsh Course, Long Point Course, Golf Club of Amelia Island, Amelia River Golf Club, and Fernandina Beach Golf Club.

Museum of Science & History

Address: 1025 Museum Cir, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States

Website: https://themosh.org/

The Museum of Science & History is a must-visit institution for visitors in the Jacksonville area. The museum has several permanent exhibits that teach visitors about space travel and dinosaurs. Visitors can also check out the traveling exhibit hall, which features rotating collections from around the world.

Currently, MOSH has a collection of more than 36,000 objects and specimens broken into six distinct collections, such as Natural Science Collection, Living Collection, History Collection, MOSH Archive, and the Library Collection.

The MOSH Library Collection includes literature that aids in the research and development of collections and exhibitions. The themes throughout the Library reflect sub-groups within the collections, permanent and signature exhibits, local history, and science.

Established in 1941, the Museum of Science & History (MOSH) is one of the most prominent museums in Florida. The current location of the MOSH was opened in 1969.

Friendship Fountain

Address: 1015 Museum Circle Jacksonville FL 32207, United States

The Friendship Fountain is a large fountain located in St. Johns River Park in Jacksonville. When the park opened in 1965, the Friendship Fountain was the world’s largest and tallest fountain, capable of spraying 17,000 gallons of water a minute to a height of 120 feet.

Accentuated by colored lights at night, it soon became a local recreation site. This location allows for great views and photo spots of the Jacksonville skyline. Today, it is one of Jacksonville's most recognizable and popular tourist attractions visited by millions of people from all over the world.

North & Southbank Riverwalk

Address South: 1001 Museum Circle Jacksonville FL 32207, United States

Address North: 201 East Coastline Drive Jacksonville FL 32202, United States

The Riverwalk is a beautiful St. Johns River walkway and green space that invites people of all ages to gather, play, eat and enjoy time with friends and family. There are numerous restaurants, cafes, and attractions along the way. The area features shops, entertainment venues, residences, and more.

The 2-mile Northbank area travels from the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville into the Brooklyn district. The 1.25-mile Southbank portion connects to popular attractions such as the Friendship Fountain, Museum of Science & History, and Riverplace Tower.

In addition, there is a kayak/canoe launch site and educational opportunities for students from nearby schools along the Riverwalk area.