Jacksonville is massive. Seriously, it's the largest city by land area in the contiguous United States, which means if you’re just searching for "jacksonville stuff to do," you’re likely going to end up staring at a map of a thousand square miles feeling completely overwhelmed. Most people stick to the Landing (which isn't even there anymore) or they just park at the beach and call it a day. But if you actually live here or spend enough time wandering the neighborhoods, you realize the best parts of Jax are tucked away in pockets like Riverside, Murray Hill, and the weird, marshy edges of the Intracoastal.
It's not just about the sand.
You've got these ancient live oaks dripping with Spanish moss in places like Fort Caroline, and then twenty minutes later, you're in a sleek rooftop bar in Brooklyn—the neighborhood, not the borough—watching the sun drop behind the Acosta Bridge. The scale of the place is its biggest strength and its most annoying hurdle. You can't see it all in a weekend. You shouldn't even try. Instead, you have to pick a vibe and commit to it, whether that’s the salt-crusted dive bars of Mayport or the refined, historic brick streets of San Marco.
The Riverside and Avondale Ripple Effect
If you want to understand the soul of the city, start at the Five Points intersection. This isn't the sanitized Florida you see in brochures. It’s gritty, it’s historic, and it’s where the locals actually hang out. You’ve got the Sun-Ray Cinema, which is a literal treasure. It was the first theater in Florida to show "talkies," and today it’s still the best place to grab a beer and a slice of pizza while watching an indie flick. Honestly, the smell of popcorn and old velvet in there is just... it's home.
Just down the road is the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. People hear "art museum" and they think "boring afternoon," but the gardens here are the real draw. They sit right on the St. Johns River. Standing under the Cummer Oak—which is basically a massive, sprawling entity that’s been alive for over 150 years—you feel the weight of the city’s history. It’s quiet. It’s a total contrast to the noise of the city.
Riverside also hosts the Riverside Arts Market (RAM) every Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge. It’s loud. There’s live music. There are people selling everything from local honey to handmade pottery. It’s the best way to spend a morning if you don’t mind a little heat and a lot of crowds. You’ll see everyone from young families to retirees with their greyhounds.
Why Murray Hill is the New Favorite
Murray Hill used to be the "little brother" to Riverside, but it’s found its own legs lately. It’s got a bit more of an edge. If you're looking for jacksonville stuff to do that involves incredible food without a dress code, this is the spot. You have to go to Community Loaves. Their sourdough is legendary in this town. Then there’s The Walrus, which is this funky, vegan-friendly bar and record store that feels like a fever dream in the best possible way.
The murals here are everywhere. You can basically do a self-guided walking tour just looking at the street art. It gives the neighborhood this vibrant, lived-in energy that you don’t get in the suburbs.
Getting Lost in the Great Outdoors (Beyond the Beach)
Everybody goes to Jax Beach. Fine. It’s great. But if you want the real Florida—the prehistoric, wild, tangled version—you head north to Little Talbot Island and Big Talbot Island State Parks.
Boneyard Beach is the standout.
It’s not a swimming beach. It’s a graveyard of massive, bleached cedar and oak trees that have fallen due to erosion. They look like giant skeletons against the Atlantic. It’s haunting. It’s also one of the most photographed spots in the state for a reason. You can spend hours climbing over the driftwood or just watching the tide come in around the roots.
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The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
This is 46,000 acres of coastal wetlands. It’s enormous. If you’re into kayaking, this is your mecca. Launching from Kayak Amelia lets you paddle through the salt marshes where you’ll likely see herons, egrets, and if you’re lucky, a manatee or two. It’s incredibly peaceful. You realize very quickly that Jacksonville isn't just a concrete jungle; it’s a city built inside an estuary.
Kingsley Plantation is also part of this preserve. It’s a heavy visit, but a necessary one. It’s one of the few places where you can still see the original slave cabins made of tabby (a mixture of lime, sand, and crushed oyster shells). It’s a stark, somber look at the history of the South that doesn't shy away from the reality of the past.
The Sport and Spectacle of the Bank
You can't talk about Jacksonville without mentioning the Jaguars. The stadium is a whole thing. We have swimming pools in the north end zone. Seriously. It’s peak Florida. Even if the team is having a "rebuilding year" (which, let’s be real, is a frequent occurrence), the atmosphere at EverBank Stadium is electric. The "Duuuval" chant is inescapable. It’s the city’s rallying cry.
But it’s not just football.
The Jumbo Shrimp (our Triple-A baseball team) games are arguably more fun for a casual night out. The tickets are cheap, the stadium is right downtown, and they do "Thirsty Thursdays" which are exactly what they sound like. It’s a very low-stakes, high-fun way to see the skyline while eating a hot dog.
The Food Scene is Actually Way Better Than You Think
For a long time, Jacksonville was a desert of chain restaurants. That’s dead now.
We have a massive seafood culture, obviously. If you want the real deal, you go to Safe Harbor Seafood in Mayport. You’re literally sitting on the water watching the shrimp boats come in with the catch you’re about to eat. It’s not fancy. You’re eating off plastic baskets. But the Mayport shrimp? You won't find better shrimp anywhere on the East Coast.
Then there's the Middle Eastern influence. Jacksonville has one of the largest Syrian-American and Palestinian-American populations in the country. This means our pita game is elite. Places like Hala's Mideast Eatery and Market or Casbah Cafe in Avondale offer food that is lightyears beyond the standard fare.
Late Night and Liquid Bread
The craft beer scene here exploded about a decade ago and hasn't slowed down. Intuition Ale Works and Aardwolf are the big names, but Revelry Brewing and Southern Swells are doing some really creative stuff too.
If you're more into cocktails, Sidecar in San Marco is the place. It’s dark, the bartenders know their chemistry, and it’s attached to V Pizza, so you can get a wood-fired pie delivered right to your bar stool. It’s a dangerous combination.
Misconceptions About the Bold City
People think Jacksonville is just a stop on the way to Orlando or Miami.
They’re wrong.
The biggest misconception is that there’s "nothing to do" downtown. While it’s true that the retail side of downtown has struggled, the Elbow district is a legit nightlife hub. Places like 1904 Music Hall and Underbelly bring in great touring acts. The James Weldon Johnson Park often has food trucks and live jazz during lunch hours. It’s a city in transition, sure, but the bones are there.
Another myth is that you need a boat to enjoy the water. Not true. The Riverwalks (Northbank and Southbank) give you miles of pedestrian paths right on the St. Johns. Crossing the blue-tinted Main Street Bridge on foot at sunset is a rite of passage. The wind is whipping, the cars are humming, and the whole city turns gold.
How to Actually Do Jacksonville
If you're planning a trip or just a day out, don't try to cross the ditch (the Intracoastal Waterway) more than once. The traffic on J. Turner Butler Boulevard or Atlantic Blvd can ruin your mood fast.
Morning:
Hit the beach early. Go to Mickler’s Landing in Ponte Vedra if you want to find shark teeth. The sand is coquina-orange and the crowds are thinner.
Lunch:
Grab a sandwich at Angie’s Subs. Order the "Peruvian" and don’t ask questions. Just put the green sauce on it.
Afternoon:
Head inland to the Riverside area. Walk the shops on Park Street. Stop by Chamblin’s Uptown or Chamblin Bookmine. If you like books, these places are dangerous. They have miles—literally miles—of used books stacked to the ceiling. You will get lost. You will buy three books you don’t need.
Evening:
Dinner in San Marco. Walk through the San Marco Square, see the lions, and grab a drink at Grape & Grain.
Late Night:
If you still have energy, go to a show at the Florida Theatre. The architecture alone, with its Mediterranean Revival style and atmospheric interior, is worth the price of a ticket. It feels like you're sitting in an outdoor courtyard in Spain under a starry sky.
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Jacksonville isn't a city that hands its secrets over on a silver platter. You have to drive for them. You have to explore the strip malls that hide the best taco spots. You have to be okay with a little humidity and a lot of bridge crossings. But once you find your rhythm here, you realize it’s one of the last places in Florida that still feels like the "real" Florida—messy, beautiful, and stubbornly itself.
To make the most of your time, download the "Visit Jax" app or check the local "Void" or "Folio Weekly" archives for event listings. The best jacksonville stuff to do is often the pop-up market or the local band playing in a brewery parking lot that you only find out about the day of. Keep your plans flexible, keep your AC running, and don't be afraid to take the scenic route along Heckscher Drive. That's where the magic is.