Road Tripping Northeast Florida

Story and photos
by Kathleen Walls

What better place to do a winter road trip than the northeast section of Florida? You'll still have warmer weather, but not blazing hot or freezing cold. Drive from Gainesville to Jacksonville stopping at hot spots in between like St. Augustine and some lesser-known treasures in Clay County.

·         Gainesville is the home to the University of Florida. Its mascot is an alligator, and its football team is the "Gators."

·         Keystone Heights in Clay County is home to the elusive fox squirrel.

·         Middleburg near Camp Blanding Museum, telling how Camp Blanding became the fourth largest city in Florida during WWII.

·         Orange Park, once a major winter destination for its healing spring.

·         St. Augustine, the oldest city in the United States.

·         Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S.

Gainesville

Gainesville's not all study and sports. It has a tremendous range of things to see and do. There are several museums, some amazing natural attractions, and historic sites that make history a real-life fun experience. There is something for every interest. Many are sponsored by the college and free, making it not only fun but an inexpensive spot to visit. Some things you do not want to miss:

The Museum of Natural History

The museum features sections like "South Florida People & Environments," "Florida Fossils," "Underwater Walk-Through," and the "Discovery Zone" for kids. My favorite is the "Butterfly Rainforest." Although it's a paid exhibit, it's worth it, with over 1,000 butterflies and birds flying freely among tropical plants and waterfalls. A butterfly landed on my hand as I walked through.

Harn Museum of Art

The Harn Museum of Art, a free UF museum, features "Florida Impressions" with paintings of Florida's landmarks, coastlines, and waterways. I loved its contemporary art.

Matherson History Museum

Matherson History Museum is a small free museum, showcases music and theater. The exhibit "Return to Forever: Gainesville's Great Southern Music Hall" highlights the venue's history from 1974 to 1978, featuring some of my favorite artists like Jimmy Buffett, Bob Seger, Ray Charles, Muddy Waters, Steve Martin, Ike and Tina Turner, Count Basie Orchestra, and Bo Diddley.

UF Bat Houses

In Gainesville, I watched 500,000 bats from UF Bat Houses fly out at sunset, consuming up to 2.5 billion insects nightly. This event controls mosquitoes naturally and offers a fascinating show. Free parking is available nearby.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens features Florida's native flora, the Southeast's largest herb garden, and Florida's largest bamboo garden. I explored along paved paths, past small waterfalls, koi ponds, sculptures, and a vibrant children's playground.

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park holds historical significance. Arrowheads found in the sinkhole suggest prehistoric visits by native people. Early settlers believed bones and fossils at the bottom indicated meetings with the devil. The millhopper pond is a small rainforest in a 120-foot-deep sinkhole. Near the entrance, a pavilion explains its formation.

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation is home to over 100 animals, including 30 rare and endangered species. Christine and Barry Jenks rescue big cats and other animals from zoos or dangerous situations.

I did the walking tour but there are also riding, or private tours to meet the wildlife. I met Tank, their largest Bengal tiger, and Tabitha, a rare golden tabby. Guides will introduce you to big cats, otters, and more, sharing stories and watching them eat or play.

Dudley Farm Historic State Park

Just outside Newberry, I visited Dudley Farm Historic State Park, a 325-acre "Cracker" farm from the 1850s. Originally owned by Phillip and Mary Dudley, it was donated to the park service in 1983. The museum displays Dudley family artifacts. During my visit, musicians in period clothing played a fiddle and banjo on the porch.

The park features historical buildings like the commissary, blacksmith shop, and antique farm equipment. You can tour Ben Dudley's 1880 home, pump water from the well, and visit the 1800s-style kitchen. Free-range turkeys, chickens, Cracker horses, and cattle roam the grounds, creating a peaceful, historic ambiance.

Bo Diddley Community Plaza

Did I tell you Bo Diddley lived here in his later years? The city named a plaza in his honor. Bo Diddley Community Plaza is across the street from the famous Florida Theater. There's an amphitheater, and you will often find concerts and festivals happening here. There's plenty of green space and outdoor seating. It is also surrounded by some great restaurants.

Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille

My choice is Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille, housed in Gainesville's historic 1987 Opera House. Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille combines excellent dining with a touch of Louisiana. The three-story red-brick opera house was a popular spot in the 1880s. You'll still see a few touches of the old building's history inside. Outside, a plaque tells it earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places.

4th Ave Food Park

Venture back into town and visit 4th Ave Food Park complete with an outdoor biergarten if you are looking for a big variety. There are multiple restaurants in the food park to please any taste. The biergarten in back has entertainment most weekends.

My favorite there is Fehrenbacher's Artisan Sausages. The owner, Adam Fehrenbacher, is a world class chef who has cooked in Paris, London, Vienna, and Munich but returned to Gainesville to open his combination deli, butcher shop, and retail store.

Satchel's Pizza

For pizza, you can't beat Satchel's Pizza for both the food and the crazy decor, including a 1960s hippie van. He serves made-to-order pizza and their own homemade colas. You can dine in the van or under the antique airplane atop the back outdoor seating area and gift shop. Satchels is a Gainesville icon.

Clay County

There are hidden gems in Clay County just south of Jacksonville and west of St. Augustine.  

Mike Roess Gold Head Branch State Park

Entering Clay County from the south, you drive into Keystone Heights. I love Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights, one of Florida's first state parks, developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) during the 1930s. It's home to bald eagles, Sherman's fox squirrels, red-cockaded woodpeckers, gopher tortoises, and enough songbirds to offer a pleasant wake-up to visitors camping there. Their lodging options range from tents to RVs to cabins. It has something unusual in Florida, a ravine.

Camp Blanding Museum

Drive north on Highway 21 to visit the Camp Blanding Museum in Clay County. Located in a WWII barracks, it features an outdoor Memorial Park with a Liberty Road Borne from France honoring American liberators. Inside, watch a film and explore exhibits about the camp's history, including soldier training and its role as a German POW camp. During WWII, Camp Blanding was Florida's fourth largest city.

Parks

Clay County has an abundance of parks. Black Creek Park and Trail, on the north side of Black Creek, is a wonderful place to hike or bike a wooded trail. Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park on Lake Asbury honors its most famous county singer. In Middleburg, Master Sgt. John E. Hayes Memorial Park offers a boardwalk trail along Black Creek, a playground, and a dock for launching your boat, anything from kayaks to larger motor boats.

Camp Chowenwaw County Park is a newer park, also offering camping. For 70 years, it was a Girl Scout camp. The county bought it in 2006 and developed it. It's on beautiful Black Creek, so it's perfect for fishing, kayak, or canoe access. It's also set up for outdoor fun like hiking, volleyball court, picnic areas, seasonal pool, nature center, and playground. A museum tells the history.

Green Cove Springs

The county's hot springs were a popular vacation destination for northern visitors in the late 1800s. Today, the spring feeds a public swimming pool at Spring Park, on St. Johns River where you can walk or fish on the pier. If you're more of a landlubber, picnic or watch the wildlife from egrets to squirrels. Events include Food Truck Friday and Third Saturday Market in the Park.

Green Cove Springs Railroad Museum and Old Jail

Green Cove Springs Railroad Museum and Old Jail offer a glimpse of life in small town old Florida. There is a depot and an old caboose. The museum was once the county courthouse. The Old Jail is authentic and would cure even a hardened criminal condemned to spend a night it its tiny cells.

Military Museum

The Military Museum, next to the St. Johns River, was the site of former Naval Air Station, Benjamin Lee Field. The museum displays exhibits ranging from WWI to Desert Storm. Outside, there is a display of vehicles and tanks.

Dining

For dining, there is something to suit every taste. Clay County has a varied assortment of individual restaurants that can hold their own anywhere. These are just a few.

Whitey's Fish Camp in Fleming Island was once a favorite of the Lynyrd Skynyrd Band leader Ronny Van Vant.

Dalton's Sports Grill is in a fantastic building decorated with old western murals and décor near Lake Asbury. It's a family-style restaurant that serves typical American fare. My favorite is the Wing Basket, but the Gator Tails tempt me.

Roger That is the top spot for wings. They're across from Spring Park and offer a 2-for-1-wings-special on Tuesday.

Salsas Cocina Mexicana & Cantina is in a new building. They offer authentic Mexican food. Grumpy's has a location in the same building. (Middleburg is growing fast) They are the top of the line for breakfast and lunch.

In Keystone Heights, try Florida Cracker Kitchen with live entertainment.

St Augustine

St. Augustine has so many things to see plan on spending several days here.

Fort Matanzas

This is where it all began. Fort Matanzas is St. Augustine's back door, located 14 miles south, near the Flagler County line. In 1565, the place where this small fort now stands changed Floridian history forever and guaranteed the Spanish control of colonial Florida with the murder of 245 French soldiers. You can ride the free ferry over to Rattlesnake Island and tour the fort. It is a national monument and an interesting free attraction for visitors.

Castillo de San Marco

The Castillo de San Marco is St. Augustine's best-known attraction. This National Park fort saved the city from many pirate attacks.

Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park

Before St. Augustine was founded by Pedro Menendez, Ponce de Leon arrived searching for the Fountain of Youth Though he failed, you can now explore the Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park and sample the water from the fountain of youth. The park includes the Spring House, Timucuan Village and the Mission of Nombre De Dios replicas, and the Menendez Settlement. The planetarium explains ancient navigation, and there are historical reenactments and Spanish weapons demonstration.

Mission de Nombre de Dios

A giant cross, chapel, and more mark the site of Menendez's landing. The stainless steel cross rising 208 feet was erected in 1965 to commemorate the city's 400th anniversary.

Pirate and Treasure Museum

Pirate raids were dreaded occurrences in St. Augustine's early history. The Pirate and Treasure Museum tells this story in lifelike and animated exhibits, like the head of Blackbeard and a simulated ride on a ship. You will see the only authentic pirate treasure chest in existence.

Colonial Quarter

Too often people forget there were 15 colonies, not 13. The colony of East Florida, including St. Augustine, and West Florida, remained loyal to the King, and are often overlooked in the American Revolutionary story. Colonial Quarter tells St. Augustine's earliest history with costumed docents and reenactments. The highpoint is a 35-foot wooden tower that preceded the fort. Tour an early Spanish home and view the Quarter's several military compounds, a 16th-century Spanish military outpost, and an 18th-century British garrison. You can also glimpse how ordinary people lived. You can follow a costumed docent to watch a blacksmith work metal, learn about firing a musket, and much more.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine

This magnificent church is the fourth of a series of cathedrals built on St. Augustine's historic Plaza de la Constitución. The earlier three were all destroyed by fire. The present church, a cross between the Spanish Mission and Neoclassical styles, was completed in August 1797. While here, take a little time to explore the Plaza de la Constitución and Governor's House Cultural Center and Museum located on the corner. All of these are free.

St. George Street

St. George Street is the heart of the old city. Many of its buildings date back to the Spanish period. Today they are unique shops, restaurants, art galleries, and museums.

Oldest Schoolhouse

There are lots of "old" here. For example, what is believed to be the oldest schoolhouse in the country. It was built soon after the British took possession of Florida between 1800 and 1810.

Mill Top Tavern

Just across from the school there's an old gristmill circa 1880 that is now the Mill Top Tavern. It's a good lunch spot.

St. Photios Greek Orthodox National Shrine

Located midway down St. George Street, St. Photios Greek Orthodox Church tells a lot about the Minorcan culture. St Augustine's history is intertwined with the early Minorcans who brought their religion here in 1777.

Medieval Torture Museum

The Medieval Torture Museum displays historical punishment methods. Exhibits include the Spanish boot, which injured prisoners' legs with spikes, and a small iron sandal that crushed feet. This exhibit reveals the harsh methods used in the past.

Oldest House

The Oldest House, González-Alvarez home, is where Spanish infantryman Jose Tovar lived. When the British took over Florida in 1763, an Englishman bought it and added the second story. Each section of the house represents the period it was added to and used as a residence. During the British period, one resident was Mary "Maria" Evans. Her somewhat fictionalized story is told in Eugenia Price's book, Maria.

Admission for the house additionally gives access to the Manucy Museum, the gallery which displays historical exhibits, an ornamental garden, and the museum store and the St. Augustine Surf Culture Museum. Marineland's Marine Studios Exhibit is also located upstairs. It houses lots of memorabilia from the actual Marineland.

Pena-Peck House

Then there's the Pena-Peck House, built in 1750 for the King of Spain's Colonial Treasurer and later home to two British governors. The nicest thing is there is no traffic on St. George Street. It's for pedestrians only. You just walk and enjoy life at a slower pace as the early settlers did.  

Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center

The Lincolnville Museum and Cultural Center, originally opened in 2005 as the Excelsior Museum, was renamed in 2012. A key exhibit features a section of the original Woolworth counter where sit-ins were held before the Civil Rights Bill. The museum highlights early African slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, focusing on local events. Displays include photos of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in St. Augustine jail and James Brock dumping acid in the Monson Motor Lodge pool to prevent integration.

ACCORD Civil Rights Museum

ACCORD Civil Rights Museum opened on July 2, 2014, on the 50th Anniversary of the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. It tells a more personal story and is open by appointment only. There are many exhibits related to the Civil Rights Movement in St. Augustine and a replica of local Black dentist and Civil Rights leader Dr. Hayling's office.

Fort Mose

Before the days of the Underground Railroad, escaping slaves headed south to the welcoming Spanish colony of San Agustín. Here, in 1738, the first free community of former slaves, Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mose (Fort Mose), was established. Today, it's Fort Mose State Park.

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum

Our guide, Katy, took us to a replica of a second Spanish period hospital, where she combined a history lesson with an amputation demonstration. Though no limbs were actually severed, the tools showcased the procedure accurately. She noted that Moorish/Muslim influence in Spain promoted hand washing, making this hospital healthier than many other European hospitals of that era.

Potter's Wax Museum

Potter's Wax Museum is America's oldest wax museum in the United States. In 2014, the museum changed hands and moved into the Authentic Old Drug Store, with more space and its own art director. I loved the exhibits of Elvis and Ray Charles especially.

Flagler College

The college was once Hotel Ponce de Leon, Henry Flagler's first, and many say most magnificent, St. Augustine hotel. This imposing Spanish Renaissance building was one of the grandest resorts of its time. Its wealthy guests include three U.S. Presidents. Today, it is Flagler College. The college offers tours during normal college semesters.

Lightner Museum

Flagler built another hotel across the street: The Alcazar. The Alcazar sported a casino, Turkish and Russian baths, a gymnasium, a grand ballroom, and other amenities the super-rich appreciate like an indoor swimming pool. Otto Lightner purchased the building and filled it with his collection of rare and unusual things. Today it is Lightner Museum and is still filled with the rare and unusual.

St. Augustine's Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum

This was once called Castle Warden and owned by William G. Warden who wanted to see Flagler go bust. He was one of Flagler's robber baron rivals. Today it is the Believe it or Not Museum. Be sure to visit the Tree House camper out front and the full-sized replica of Michelangelo's David behind the boxwood hedge.

Villa Zorayda

This architectural gem was built by another of Flagler's contemporaries and sometimes partner, Franklin Smith. If you ever wanted to visit the Alhambra in Spain, you can save the airfare and come here instead. Smith modeled his home on the famed palace.

Old Jail

When you visit, Deputy Clyde or one of the other "deputies" will "book" you into the jail and show you your cell. Looming over the cell block on the second floor is a life-size mannequin of Sheriff Perry who was 6'6″ and weighed about 300 pounds. I would never have relapsed if I had to serve a day in that jail.

You also get to tour The Sheriff's Home in the front section of the jail. It's a big contrast to the cells. The sheriff lived in the height of style for 1891.

Admission includes the Oldest Store Museum and a gift shop along with the jail. Old Town Trolley's Ghost and Gravestones tour offers visitors a chance to visit the jail by night and do a Ghost Tour.

Oldest Store Museum

The Oldest Store Museum is the latest attraction at the Old Jail Complex. Listening to Molly, the "salesclerk," try to "sell" us items like a combination of butter churn, baby rocker, and an authentic gramophone, is a hoot. She guided us on our tour through the store and demonstrated items, including a gramophone that played a song from a wax cylinder, a couple of big front-wheeled bicycles, and a washing machine you can power with the family goat.

Classic Car Museum

The Ancient City's Classic Car Museum opened a 30,000-square-foot facility in June 2020. At the entrance, there's a diner replica with a vintage 10 cents Coca-Cola vending machine, Formica tables, and vinyl booths, evoking the 1950s. Sidney Hobbs, the museum's creator, let me explore freely. The collection, featuring drivable cars and pickups from the 1800s through the 1960s, made me nostalgic for my teenage years.

St. Augustine Aquarium

The aquarium is small but offers a lot of interactive things like snorkeling, feeding, touch tanks, and classes for school groups. It's more personal than some larger ones, as all the animals have names, and some seem to know the keepers.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

It's worth the drive to the beach for the history and the ghost tales. You can climb the 219 steps to the observation tower and see far beyond. Besides the lighthouse itself, you can visit the Keepers Home, a small museum telling the story of the Harn family. William Harn was the keeper from 1875 to 1889. There are many exhibits on the grounds, so plan on spending lots of time here.

Come back at night and take the historic ghost tour. Trolly ghost tours around town are also available.

St. Augustine Alligator Farm

You can zip over alligators and watch exotic birds. There are keeper shows throughout the day about birds and reptiles and don't miss the alligator feeding. It is amazing how close the keeper gets to the animals.

Marineland

For the uiltimate in marine life, drive down to the St. Johns-Flagler county line and see marineland.

St. Augustine Wild Reserve

Another place to visit wildlife is the rescued animals at St. Augustine Wild Reserve.

St. Johns County Botanical Garden

Venture out towards Hastings and visit St.Johns Botanical Garden for a look at Florida's native plants and some exotics and wildlife.

Dining

There is an unbelievable array of dining choices in St. Augustine, but here are just a few.

St. Augustine Distillery

St. Augustine distillery is housed in a 1905 ice and power plant. The original building's exterior and much of the interior have been maintained.

There is a small museum with a theater where a movie about the distillery shows. The corn, cane, and citrus used to create the distillery's bourbon, gin, vodka, and rum come from local farmers. Last stop is the tasting bar where you are given samples of the different spirits. The free tours and tastings begin every half hour until 5 p.m. The Ice Plant Bar that adjourns the distillery is a great place for dining and cocktails.

Witty Whisker Cafe

The Witty Whisker Cat Café is a place where you can relax and enjoy a soft drink, coffee, tea, beer, or wine while you nibble on a tasty bakery treat and visit some adorable adoptable felines. You can enjoy your food and drink in the café, or you can join the kitties in their special room.

Ancient City Brunch Bar

Ancient City Brunch Bar is a perfect spot for breakfast or lunch. It grew out of twin daughters, Emily and Sophie Schroeder's school project when they invented the concept of bruncharcuterie that moves charcuterie boards to a whole new level.

Columbia Restaurant

Columbia Restaurant is the gem of St. George Street and a branch of the original Columbia in Ybor City in Tampa where the Cuban Sandwich was invented.

Where to Stay in St. Augustine

Again, choices are vast. They run the range from camping or staying in a cabin at Anastasia State Park to luxury digs at Casa Monica Hotel, built by a Flagler contemporary. Bed and breakfasts abound along the bay front, in Lincolnville, and around the city.

Parking Tips

Parking has become a problem in St. Augustine. The best way to get around the historic section is to take the trolley and park in their free lot. I use Old Town Trolleys and enjoy the driver's informative talks as he or she stops near each attraction. There is a trolley that takes you to the beach area, although parking is easy there.

Jacksonville

From expansive beaches and natural attractions to art galleries, museums, and even an award-winning zoo, there's so much to see in Jacksonville that it's easy to spend a few days here. It's home to the largest urban park system in the U.S. with seven state parks, two national parks, a national preserve, plus approximately 400 city parks and gardens. Nature lovers will appreciate all of the outdoor activities while art and history buffs will want to see the museum and galleries. There are a lot of choices.

The Beaches Museum and Pablo Historical Park

The Beaches Museum is one of three Visit Jacksonville Welcome Centers in the city. It's in front of Pablo Historical Park with early 20th century buildings.

Fort Caroline

Fort Caroline is where Florida's history began. Timucuan Preserve Visitor Center shows the tragic history of Fort Caroline's French Huguenot settlers and early Timucua Native Americans' culture. Walk through the wooden fort exhibit along the St. Johns River to step back to 1564.

Kingsley Plantation

Kingsley Plantation provides insight into a different side of slavery. Anna Kingsley was the wife of Zephaniah Kingsley, her former owner, who freed her and her children. He bequeathed Kingsley the plantation following his death. You can visit the grounds and see remains of the tabby slave cabins, kitchen, parlor, and barn. The home is open for tours on weekends.

The Ritz Theater

The art déco-style Ritz Theater was built in 1929 and was once the heart of the African-American community in the historic neighborhood of LaVilla. It's still a live theatre and a museum that tells the story of Black history in Jacksonville.

Dr. Eartha White Museum

While you're in LaVilla, tour the Dr. Eartha White Museum. Eartha's adoptive mother, Clara White, was a former slave and founded the mission. The museum was Eartha's home from 1932 until she died in 1974. A popular artifact is the antique pump organ, a gift from big-band jazz legend, Duke Ellington.  

Florida Theater

The Florida Theatre completed extensive renovations in October 2023. It first opened in 1927 and, as Jacksonville's oldest theater, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Some of the locals claim the ghost of a former worker haunts its grounds.

Underground Tunnels

You might be surprised to know Jacksonville has a secret system of tunnels from the days when the city was a major finance center. They were used to move money between city banks and some are still accessible. There's a section between The Northbank Truist Tower, previously the BB&T Bank building, and the former Atlantic National Bank. An old vault still exists, with a Diebold safe dating back to the 1930s. It served as a bomb shelter during the Cold War. Tours are available. 

Jacksonville Naval Museum

The Jacksonville Naval Museum's USS Orleck will take you back into military history. It was built in 1945 and used as a floating artillery in the Korean and Vietnam wars. The Gearing Class Destroyer is open for tours and you can walk the entire ship to observe the navigation deck, dining galley, officers and enlisted men's quarters, as well as a torpedo launcher on deck.

Cummer Museum of Art

Cummer Museum of Art will thrill you no matter what genre you prefer. Exhibits range from Italian Renaissance to Remington Sculptures. There are three gardens with reflecting pools, fountains, more sculptures, arbors, and a 200-plus-year-old oak. The gardens are on the National Register of Historic Places. Admission is free on Tuesdays (4 to 9 pm); Fridays (from 4 to 9 pm); and the first Saturday of every month (11 am to 4 pm).

Museum of Contemporary Art

Another art lovers' attraction is The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA), which features one of the largest contemporary collections in the Southeastern U.S. It's across the street from James Weldon Johnson Park, where events are commonly hosted.

Sweet Pete's

Sweet Pete's, one of the largest candy shops in the southeast, is close by and you can watch candy being made or even take candy-making classes. It has an on-site restaurant, Fizzies and Fare.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens

For a peaceful space to relax, the botanical gardens have a lake, creek and seven nature trails. You can do just a short walk around the lake or spend hours hiking the entire area.

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

Ranked as one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S. by TripAdvisor and recognized with several awards, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens spans 97 acres with more than 2,000 animals and 1,000 exotic plant species. Banks, a jaguar cub born there in 2023, moved to the Waco Zoo as part of the breeding program. It's one of only seven zoos in the U.S. with an animal wellness center - the Manatee Critical Care Facility.

Catty Shack

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit that provides a "forever home" for big cats that're homeless due to private zoo closures, confiscation, or abandonment. So many beautiful animals that might have been put down had it not been for this wonderful shelter.

Museum of Science and History

Cross over to the south side of the river and visit The Museum of Science and History (MOSH). With a wealth of displays ranging from prehistoric exhibits to current scientific discoveries, an exciting attraction is the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, where you can observe the night skies. The Hixon Native Plant Courtyard showcases Northeast Florida's native species. Just outside, visit Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk.

Walter Jones Historical Park and Museum

Walter Jones Historical Park and Museum in the Mandarin section is a great place for a picnic or learning about the Mandarin section's history.

Veterans Memorial Wall

The Veterans Memorial Wall, a 65 ft granite monument commemorating Jacksonville's servicemen and women from World War I through present, is going to get a permanent shade roof built over it.

Five Points Neighborhood

The Five Points neighborhood on Park St. along the St. Johns River is filled with a mix of 'unique shops, dining experiences, and green spaces.

If you're into 'rare or thrifty finds, visit 5 Points Vintage, housing more than 20 antique dealers selling a mix of antiques and collectibles. Fans & Stoves Antique Mall is another option located across Memorial Park on Lomax St.

Jacksonville River Taxi

Traffic in Jacksonville isn't worse than any big city, but there's a better way to get around along the river area. Take the River Taxi. You can use it to get across from North to Southside or take waterfront tours of the city, see manatees or enjoy the Sunset Cruise. I did the Sunset Cruise and love it for the beautiful sunset and gorgeous nighttime views of the well-lighted skyscape of River City.

Dining is varied and plentiful. There are several trendy yet casual restaurants ranging from Bavarian-inspired pub food, Mexican and Asian-inspired dining options to distilleries and brew houses and much more.

Alhambra Theater and Dining

The Alhambra Theatre and Dining, begun in 1967, is one of the oldest continuously operating dinner theaters in the country. There's a cozy Library Lounge with a roaring fireplace and a fully stocked bar. Each play gets a different menu based on the theme.

Manifest Distilling

If you would like an adult beverage, visit the taproom at Manifest Distilling. This distillery is almost all organic. It began as the brainchild of David Cohen, a graduate of the brew school the Siebel Institute. Corey Gros, bar manager, took me for a tour and introduced me to the distillery cat, Ginnie.

Their Cocktail Room is a comfortable spot to enjoy mixed drinks and taking a Distiller's Tour is a great way to learn about craft distilling.

Don Juan's Restaurant

Don Juan's Restaurant is a family-owned restaurant in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville. There are complimentary chips and fresh salsa with your meal. My choice is the shredded Chicken Quesadilla and for dessert, Chocolate Lava Cake.

Lodging

If you plan to stay several days or longer, several campgrounds are available. Little Talbot Island State Park is one of the few remaining undeveloped barrier islands in Florida. The campground is located among its ancient dunes and has 36 sites. Power and water are available, but camping locations only accommodate trailers and motorhomes up to 30 ft. Two additional options include Huguenot Memorial and Kathryn Abbey Hanna city parks. Both can accommodate larger RVs.

There is an array of hotels downtown or on the beaches.

Public Disclosure Please Read FTC has a law requiring web sites to let their readers know if any of the stories are  'sponsored' or compensated. We also are to let readers know if any of our links are ads. Most are not. They are just a way to direct you  to more information about the article where the link is placed. We have several ads on our pages.  They are clearly marked as ads. I think readers are smart enough to know an ad when they see one but to obey the letter of the law, I am putting this statement here to make sure everyone understands. American Roads and Global Highways may contain affiliate links or ads. Further, as their bios show, most of the feature writers are professional travel writers. As such we are frequently invited on press trips, also called fam trips. On these trips most of our lodging, dining, admissions fees and often plane fare are covered by the city or firm hosting the trip. It is an opportunity to visit places we might not otherwise be able to visit. However, no one tells us what to write about those places. All opinions are 100% those of the author of that feature column.