15 Best Things To Do In Jacksonville Beach, Florida

things to do in jacksonville beach florida
Marina
Marina 
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Welcome to the city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida! It’s so wonderful around here that any newcomer will certainly fall head over heels for the beauty that this lovely place offers! These include luxurious beachfront hotels and Airbnb rentals. Indeed, there’s more than meets the eye here, and Jacksonville Beach absolutely proves it. Believe it or not, the cozy city of Jacksonville Beach is not only a gorgeous tourist destination but a favorite spot where all beach lovers enjoy soaking up the sun. After all, you can’t turn such a lovely place down, especially given its pretty name and natural beauty, right? With this, let’s not waste more time; let’s dive right into its charismatic nature, here are the best things to do in Jacksonville Beach!

1. Sunrise yoga (from USD 25.0)

things to do in jacksonville beach florida | sunrise yoga
Source: www.airbnb.com

Take a break from the bustling beach life, and try a different experience that will set all your senses in motion. Make the most of your vacation at the beach, wake up early, and savor your Florida mornings with a Vinyasa yoga and meditation class. Let the ocean breeze relax your senses and surround you with positive energy. At the same time, you will focus on deep pranayama, a breathing technique that stimulates your physical body and clears all emotional distress.

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Epic Sunrise Yoga and Guided Meditation

Duration: 1 hour

7 reviews

2. Dockside Seafood Restaurant Jax Beach

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

A staple on Jacksonville’s food scene, Dockside Seafood Restaurant, Jax Beach is your go-to restaurant for fresh, local seafood, water views, and a relaxed atmosphere. You can get to the restaurant by boat or car and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner right on the water. They serve starters, baskets, salads, combos, rolls, tacos, and soups. Some of the most ordered items on the menu include baskets with shrimp, calamari, scallops, and haddock. They come with fries, slaw, hush puppies, and sauce.

Dockside Seafood Restaurant Jax Beach

Address: 2510 2nd Ave N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Dockside Seafood Restaurant Jax Beach

Opening hours: 10:30am - 9pm (daily)

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3. Beaches Museum

Jacksonville Beach FL msm and hist center01
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Ebyabe used under CC BY-SA 3.0

Nestled in a beautiful yellow house, Beaches Museum is the local history museum that tells the history of Jacksonville and its beach communities, including Neptune Beach, Jax Beach, Mayport, Palm Valley, Ponte Vedra, and Atlantic Beach. The museum hosts various permanent and temporary collections that showcase the region’s uniqueness, from gilded-age pioneer settlers to modern-day culture.

Beaches Museum

Address: 381 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Beaches Museum

Opening hours: Tue - Sat: 10am - 4pm; Sun: 12pm - 4pm (closed on Mon)

Price: Free

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4. The Shim Sham Room

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

It wouldn’t be an authentic Jacksonville experience without checking out its social scene. The Shim Sham Room is undoubtedly one of its most iconic spots for evening drinks, local fun, and vibrant nightlife. They pride themselves on state-of-the-art cocktails, freshly prepared by their trained bartenders. Order a classic boulevardier at the bar or spice it up with an orange jalapeno margarita, then head upstairs for live music in the lounge. There’s also a patio out in the back, so you will have plenty of options to relax. Don’t forget about their food menu, and try an order of nachos, a bowl of tacos, or their tasty mini burgers.

The Shim Sham Room

Address: 333 1st St N #150, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: The Shim Sham Room

Opening hours: 4pm - 2am (daily)

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5. Thompson Surf School

Jax Pier Surf
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Rob Bixby used under CC BY 2.0

Jacksonville is famous for some of the best surfing in Florida, so what better place to learn how to surf or perfect your skill than right here on its beaches? The waves here are great for surfing year-round, with big winter waves being ideal for pros and summer waves more suitable for beginners. If you’re looking to take a surf lesson, Thompson Surf School offers classes for all ages and skill levels. You can book lessons with professional surfers. A lesson includes beach instructions, surf sessions, and in-water training with an instructor. All you need to bring is your bathing suit, sunscreen, fluids, a towel, and a signed waiver.

Thompson Surf School

Address: 45 6th Ave S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Thompson Surf School

Opening hours: 7am - 5pm (daily)

Price: 65 USD

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6. Bocce (from USD 35.0)

things to do in jacksonville beach florida | bocce
Source: www.airbnb.com

With its long history that can be traced back to Ancient Rome, bocce ball is one of the most-played beach sports in Jacksonville, Florida. The game can be played at all ages and doesn’t require much technique, fitness level, or experience. If you want to see what it’s all about and also learn a thing or two about top things to do in Jacksonville, this tour is for you. The guide will provide water, sunscreen, and a bocce ball set. All you have to bring is your positive vibes.

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Super Bocce Spectacular

Duration: 1 hour

2 reviews

7. Jax Beach Pier

Jax Beach Pier
Source: Needpix

Located at the intersection of 4th Avenue North and the Atlantic Ocean, the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier is almost a quarter of a mile long and the end of the pier is T-shaped. Indeed, this place is one of the most popular tourist spots in Florida, and it provides quite an amazing view of the Atlantic Ocean. All newcomers have the chance to enjoy some fishing and actually catch deep-water species. Jax Beach Pier is open from 6 AM to 10 PM as it also features many cute and cozy shops, restaurants, restrooms, plus lots of entertainment. During Hurricane Matthew (2016), it got completely destroyed but has been fully refurbished.

Enjoy some fishing: The lovely Jax Beach Pier is now open to visitors from 6 AM to 10 PM. Don’t miss it!

Jax Beach Pier

Address: 503 1st St N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Jax Beach Pier

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8. Oceanfront Park

Meet the wonderful Oceanfront Park found at 1st Street South between 5th and 6th Avenue. Oceanfront Park spans over 2 acres (0.8 hectares), and it’s totally suitable for families and big tourist groups searching for some calmness and tranquility outside of the central parts of the busy city. You can spend your free time with your children playing and running around. Also, there are special picnic areas and many exciting walking paths. What’s more, there is a children’s playground alongside a beach volleyball court, so if you are keen on the sport, you can learn the rules pretty quickly.

Enjoy Oceanfront Park: This place is famous for the Sea statue that symbolizes protection of the ocean. Come around and explore it!

Oceanfront Park

Address: 429 1st St S, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Oceanfront Park

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9. Castaway Island Preserve

Castaway Island Preserve is located in Jacksonville, and the length of the place is about 0.9 miles (1.4 km) long. Indeed, it’s a wonderful, breezy spot where you could totally get away from the big city. The splendid Castaway Island Preserve is absolutely the right place to enjoy walks outdoors and breathe in fresh air. In addition, Castaway Island Preserve protects over 300 acres (121.4 hectares) of coastal habitats that run along the meandering, estuarine San Pablo River. Visiting this preserve with you partner is also worth adding to your list of romantic things to do!

Visit it: As such, it certainly is a great spot that’s good for all ages, and especially for kids thanks to its lovely abundance of benches along the way.

Castaway Island Preserve

Address: 2885 San Pablo Rd S, Jacksonville, FL 32225

Website: Castaway Island Preserve

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10. The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach is the best spot to get to know more about the artistic side of things. You can not only create here, but you can also view and understand the artistry around here. It simply offers the chance to meet local, regional, and national artists through a variety of mediums. Moreover, this is the right place to join exciting events, quality art classes, lectures, and workshops.

Enjoy it: This cultural center is located in a ritzy area of Jacksonville that’s certainly a great tourist spot that any visitor will totally love!

Come around: Make your visit a memorable one by stopping by at the emblematical Cultural Center!

The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach

Address: 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082

Facebook: The Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach

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11. Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach

Adventure Landing - Jacksonville
Source: Photo by user Leigh Caldwell used under CC BY 2.0

Come around and explore one of the city’s best attractions! As a leader in the theme park industry, Adventure Landing can offer any newcomer a slew of outdoor activities and lovely memories while in Jacksonville Beach. Florida is the United States’ hotspot for family entertainment centers. Adventure Landing will keep you on edge with its numerous fun activities for all ages. All in all, this is truly the right place to entertain yourself and your kids!

Visit it: Since its grand opening, visitors have grown to more than 5 million! How crazy is that?

Adventure Landing, Jacksonville Beach

Address: 2315 Beach Blvd #203, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Adventure Landing

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12. South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground

Meet the wonderful South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground that’s located on Osceola Ave. and South Beach Drive. This is a great place for both grown-ups and children, as this spot is simply perfect for walking around and having fun.This is the dream destination for all kids because there are also picnic areas and two grills situated near the playground. Additionally, there are also many other awesome facilities! Naturally, this lovely spot also features volleyball courts, a basketball court, fitness trail, and an amazing skate park.

Come around: Don’t miss taking your kids to the wonderful South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground where you could have an amazing time!

South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground

Address: 2514 S Beach Pkwy, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground

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13. Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Heritage

Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account

Posted by Rhoda L Martin Cultural Heritage Center on Thursday, March 18, 2021

Initially, the famous Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Heritage started as The Jacksonville School for Colored People. Today it’s a popular tourist spot where you can find some fascinating information about Mother Rhonda L. Martin, the founder of The Jacksonville School for Colored People. The building is actually a pretty unique place because it features restored original classrooms.

Don’t miss it: Today, the museum displays the rich history and facts surrounding this emblematic place. Don’t miss its rich culture while in Jacksonville Beach.

Rhoda L Martin Cultural Heritage

Address: 376 S 4th St 32250 Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Website: Rhoda L Martin Cultural Heritage

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14. Cradle Creek Preserve

The noteworthy Cradle Creek Preserve is located on the corner of South 15th Street and Fairway Lane. Actually, it is a beach park along the Intracoastal Waterway where you could enjoy passing by a lovely system of nature trails and elevated boardwalks. You can also see exceptional panoramic views from the observation platform overlooking Pablo Creek Estuary. Also, you’ll enjoy great views from the canoe and kayak landing pier.

Walk around: You can learn more about Cradle Creek Preserve via the education signs posted along the trails.

Cradle Creek Preserve

Address: Fairway Ln & S 15th St, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Website: Cradle Creek Preserve

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15. Jax Beach (from USD 50.0)

Cruising through Jacksonville, Florida, on boards is not just for the cool kids anymore. It won’t take you long to master the skill, and it will offer you a new, fun way of enjoying Florida’s buzzing beach life. With a short demo lesson of no more than 10 to 15 minutes in advance, you will feel comfortable riding an electric skateboard. Afterward, get ready to cruise Jax Beach Pier region and admire some of the landmarks and tourist attractions along the way, including Shim Sham Room, Neptune Beach, and the iconic Lemon Bar.

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Explore Beautiful Jax Beach

Duration: 1.5 hours

11 reviews

What to expect

With its wonderful range of Vrbo accommodations, recreational parks, and nature reserves, it’s so easy to understand why Jacksonville Beach happens to be so popular with international tourists. After all, the lovely, pretty, sunny weekend ahead needs to be spent in the best possible way, right? With this in mind, why don’t you come around and make the most of it? The lovely city of Jacksonville Beach, Florida and its exciting adventures await you. Have fun!

If you wish to spend a day out enjoying yourself, why not go on a day trip? Check out our recommendations on 5 excellent day trips from Jacksonville, Florida.

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Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Marina Yoveva is a creative thinker, adventurer, and a poetry lover. In her spare time, she loves reading, writing on her personal blog and spending time with her family and friends. She's also a...Read more

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