Outdoor Activities In Jacksonville Fl – Jacksonville, Florida is the largest city, by area, in the United States, so there are an endless number of free activities and attractions to enjoy, if you know where to look. It is possible to have a great vacation without spending a penny, in fact. To keep some money in your pocket, check out our list of the best things to do in Jacksonville, Florida! We have a total of 20 entries, including our 10 favorites.
I have a personal love affair with the sea, which is why it is the number one destination on my list of places to see whenever I visit a coastal city. And if you love the ocean, you’ll be happy to know that Jacksonville Beach is less than half an hour from downtown Jacksonville on Florida’s East Coast and is 4 miles away. The beach itself is not too crowded. There is a cliff about a kilometer into the ocean, but it will cost you a dollar if you want to walk all the way to enjoy the view. Otherwise, you can just enjoy its beauty and take pictures from afar.
Outdoor Activities In Jacksonville Fl
The Jacksonville River is a popular surfing spot, and I had the satisfaction of sitting on the sand while watching the locals surf. The contrast of the beach with the towering buildings rising from the wall also makes for amazing photos, so don’t forget to bring your camera.
Urban Air Adventure Park To Open At Current Rh Outlet Southside Location
The Jax River is bordered by Neptune and the Atlantic Ocean to the north and Ponte Vedra Beach to the south, so it’s easy to spend an entire day just walking or driving along the beach. We never intended to explore them all, but after getting in the car to “drive just a little”, we found ourselves enjoying all the landscapes, hills, and even beautiful beach houses that we could not stop, the next. We knew for a fact that we drove 20 miles south to St. Augustine, where we ate at one of the nicest beach restaurants I’ve ever visited in my life. Come on
When it first opened in 1965, the Friendship Fountain was the largest and tallest fountain in the world, spewing 17,000 gallons of water per minute at a height of more than 100 feet. popular attractions. You’ll find it at the west end of the Southbank River in Downtown Jacksonville’s Friendship Park (St. Johns River Park).
Southbank River overlooks the St. Johns is also a wonderful place to take a stroll day or night. Pedestrian-only, you won’t have to worry about traffic or two-way traffic as you take a leisurely stroll along the river, admiring the skyscrapers and city lights dominating the skyline. Benches and pavilions line the river walkway, providing a quiet place to rest and relax.
This market is unique because it is built along St. Johns is a wonderful place to have fun all year round. At any given time, you can see many boats moored at the water’s edge while their owners join the crowd of people for local celebrations. Jacksonville Landing is home to free concerts, special fireworks displays, shopping, waterfront dining, and even nightlife. Although shopping requires money, of course, there is no perfect money to visit the area, mingle with the locals, and enjoy nature, so we recommend that you add this stop to your list of free things to do in Jacksonville. Must see at least once!
Dog Friendly Activities In Jacksonville, Fl
One of Jacksonville’s most historic landmarks, the Dames Point Bridge spans 10,646 feet, with the longest section reaching 1,300 feet while rising 175 feet high. It is also the longest cable-stayed bridge in the United States. A hike on Dames Point is an adventure for any first-time visitor to Jacksonville, and the scenery for a short time can’t be beat.
This impressive tree is not only 250 years old, but may also be the oldest in Jacksonville, dating back to the founding of the city in the 1820s. Its extended limbs are more like an octopus than a tree, and passing under its roof feels like entering a magical world or a children’s castle, which is closed from the rest of the world. You can find Treaty Oak in Jesse Ball DuPont Park on Prudential Drive in Southbank. If you are a nature lover, definitely do not miss this free attraction in Jacksonville.
MOSH Mouth by artists Luca Berton and Michael Turner | Image used with permission from © Patrice Ross / Visit Jacksonville
Hemming Park is Jacksonville’s oldest public park. I host concerts as well as art and culture events, but my favorite is MOSH Mouth. This unforgettable 18.5-foot-tall sculpture belongs to the Museum of Science and History, but was moved in 2016 to the Children’s Zone of Hemming Park, where it has become a permanent installation. Of all the free things to do in Jacksonville, this is probably the best entry that made our list. And that’s exactly why you should stop by to see it. You won’t find anything like it anywhere else!
Summer Bucket List: Free & Cheap Things To Do In Jacksonville
Dallas Saupe, aka Dallas the Fire Guy, demonstrates his ‘volcanic fire’ technique at the Riverside Art Market | Photo used with permission from © Visit Jacksonville
The weekly Riverside Art Market is hosted under the Fuller Warren Bridge along the St Johns River every Saturday from 10am to 3pm, rain or shine. The popular attraction features local artists, farmers, bakers, entertainers, artisans, and even street performers.
Jacksonville Art Gallery by Artist Shaun Thurston | Image used with permission from © Patrice Ross / Visit Jacksonville
You could probably spend an entire day taking in all the street art in Jacksonville. The city center is an Instagram hot spot, and the level of detail in some of the murals is truly amazing. This mural outside MOSH (The Museum of Science and History) is one of my favorites, but there are many other interesting works scattered around the city.
Clapboard Crossing Way, Jacksonville, Fl 32226
The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens offers free admission every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. and the first Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. College students with ID can also enjoy free admission every Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. at 4 p.m. If you are part of a military family, you can enjoy the gardens for free anytime from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The museum displays art from 2100 BC to the 21st century, and its gardens contain 2.5 hectares of historic 20th century architecture with pools, gardens, fountains and sculptures. It is one of the free attractions in Jacksonville, Florida.
The Jacksonville Skyway, or JTA Skyway, transports passengers to the city’s most popular attractions while gliding over the St. Johns and busy city streets on the two and a half kilometers between Northbank and Southbank. During peak hours, automated trains arrive every 4 minutes, providing easy access to food, entertainment and hotels. It’s completely free, so you can use the service for all your city transportation needs without spending a penny.
Get free admission to the Museum of Science and History, also known as the MOSH Museum, on the first full weekend of every month by presenting your photo ID with a US Bank or Merrill Lynch credit or debit card.
The Sally Company, manufacturers of dark rides and animatronics, offer free hourly rides to the public on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9am to 1pm (except July and August). Advance booking is required, and children must be at least 7 years old to participate. But it’s all fun and completely free!
Jacksonville, Florida, Things To Do Near Ns Mayport
This free attraction has a beautiful lake with a scale replica of Jacksonville’s beautiful bridges that divides its center. Inspirational quizzes, sculptures, and an interactive computer with the names of cancer survivors are the focus of the park, and their combined messages of hope, encouragement, and celebration are really interesting.
The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a 120-acre urban forest filled with more than 3 miles of scenic hiking trails that wind around the lake, over the gorge, and through a series of unique habitats. If you’re a nature lover, then this free Jacksonville attraction is definitely for you!
The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is one of the last intact coastal wetlands on the Atlantic coast and exhibits more than 6,000 years of human history. It is also home to Kingsley Plantation and Fort Caroline National Memorial. All for free!
Explore a fort built by early settlers and discover artifacts from the time of the Timucuan Indians.
Best Things To Do In Jacksonville Fl (perfect For First Timers!)
Every first Wednesday of the month, Downtown Jacksonville hosts a free Art Walk. The event features live music, magic shows, arts, crafts and other entertainment.
Every second Tuesday of the month, from 5 to 9 p.m., Jax Beach hosts a free giveaway.