The last time I visited Jacksonville, I was probably in my early-mid 20s and living in Orlando. It was a very long time ago. I was eager to visit again, as I know that much has changed in the city since the early 2000s.
If you are ever planning on visiting, I would highly recommend renting a car, especially if you want to get a good idea of all the city has to offer. Jacksonville is the largest city in the country by land mass, and many of its popular attractions are spread out.
I decided to stay downtown for this trip, since much of my itinerary was within a few miles of city center. The Residence Inn Downtown Jacksonville is a beautiful property within walking distance of some of the city's attractions and great restaurants, and a block from one of its popular LGBTQ nightlife spots, Incahoots. The bar offers some incredible drink specials, so be sure to check its social media accounts before you go, in order to capitalize on those. It is also the place to catch a fabulous drag show.
On a budget
I wanted to make the focus of this trip about budget travel. Many times, people tend to not visit certain destinations — or travel at all — because they think they aren't affordable. Before setting out on my Jacksonville adventure, I did some research and discovered some restaurants and attractions that are not only affordable but also some of the most highly recommended in the city.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and the Residence Inn offers a complimentary one for guests, but if you are in the mood to try out a local breakfast spot, head to Cool Moose Café. I met my friend there, and we both had a delicious meal for around $10. Everything was made from scratch, and the service was wonderful.
Next, head over to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, which offers free admission on the first Saturday of each month. I visit so many art museums that sometimes they can become routine, but this one happened to have two very cool exhibitions during my visit. The first was "The Age of Armor," an incredible collection of dozens of pieces of armor dating back hundreds of years. Most were of European descent, but there were a few from other civilizations.
The other exhibition was a display of movie posters from Norman Studios. Jacksonville was a filmmaking hot spot prior to Hollywood, with 26 movie companies calling it home during the silent movie era. In the earliest years, Black actors and actresses were only cast as extras in films, which mostly catered to white audiences. Richard Norman purchased the Eagles Studio complex and went on to create one of the top production companies, featuring predominantly Black cast members. Unfortunately, Norman was forced to close his studio during the Great Depression, but his legacy can be seen in this wonderful exhibition at the museum. The Norman Studio building itself is the last known silent film studio still standing in Jacksonville, and efforts are underway to make it into a museum.
For a quick lunch, head over to Arepa Please, just a few blocks from the museum. Try its signature pabellón arepa, which contains shredded beef, sweet plantains, queso blanco, and black beans. It was delicious and filling but didn't break the bank.
I always like to visit art galleries when I travel. On the way to Jacksonville Beach is Gallery 725, one of the best in the city. It was showcasing the works of late animator Ron Campbell, including artworks based on the Beatles Yellow Submarine and their Saturday morning TV cartoon series, as well as Scooby Doo, The Smurfs, The Rugrats, The Jetsons, and The Flintstones. The gallery also features works from internationally renowned pop artists Peter Max and Roy Lichtenstein, among others.
Nature, shopping, dining
Jacksonville's beaches are beautiful and not as crowded as South Florida's, so I would recommend spending the morning or afternoon exploring, including Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach. You'll find a ton of wonderful seafood restaurants in the area as well.
The highlight of my trip was a visit to Catty Shack Wildlife Sanctuary, which provides a safe, loving, and forever home to endangered big cats. The sanctuary's mission is to educate the public about their plight in the wild and in captivity. It's home to a variety of big cats, but the majority of the residents are tigers. While most of them have their own space, the siblings share an enclosure. It's undergoing a large expansion which will include some additional large enclosures to give the cats more room to roam and play.
I was most intrigued by the black leopard. I don't think I've ever seen one before. Khala Hala, born at Catty Shack Ranch on June 16, 2004, was happily positioned on her perch and made eye contact with every visitor who passed by her enclosure.
If you are in the mood to do some shopping, head to St. Johns Town Center, a beautiful outdoor venue featuring a variety of retailers ranging from Tiffany & Co. and Louis Vuitton to Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware.
There are many dining options available there, including a great Mediterranean fast-causal chain called Cava, but if you are looking for a local option, head back downtown and try S & R Dim Sum, which is located not too far from Memorial Park. I ordered the shrimp dim sum as well as the sweet and sour chicken, and both were wonderful. I especially liked the chicken dish, as it was only lightly breaded and sautéed rather than deep-fried like in other Chinese restaurants.
For one last cocktail in Jacksonville, head to Park Place Lounge, just a short five-minute drive from downtown. It boasts an extensive happy hour — from noon until 7 p.m. — and you can mingle with the locals on the outdoor patio.
If you are looking to escape the harsh winter but avoid the crowds of other beach cities, then Jacksonville is a great option. It provides a variety of indoor and outdoor activities for every budget. River City Pride will take place in November, so there more than enough time to make your Jacksonville Pride plans.
Enjoy the journey!