Jacksonville is the largest city in the USA by area and lies in northeast Florida on the St. Johns River. It is not a classic travel destination, more a city to live in than to sightsee, sprawling and without one big draw. But anyone traveling in northeast Florida will find lovely beaches here, one of the oldest zoos in the country and a pretty historic quarter by the river. And it is a good base for Amelia Island and nearby St. Augustine.
Jacksonville Beach
For many the best part is the beach: wide sandy shores and a lovely boardwalk in Jacksonville Beach, plus the quieter neighboring towns of Neptune Beach and Atlantic Beach. This is where the relaxed Florida beach life plays out.
Zoo, river and Riverside
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is among the oldest in the country and sits nicely by the river, a classic for families. Along the St. Johns River you can stroll at the Friendship Fountain and the Riverwalk. In the historic Riverside and Avondale quarter stand old villas and the Cummer Museum with its gardens by the water.
Gateway to north Florida
Jacksonville is conveniently placed: barely an hour to the south lies lovely St. Augustine, the oldest city in the USA, and to the north the quiet Amelia Island. Many take Jacksonville as a practical stopover on the way up the coast to Savannah.
