Art

• Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, 829 Riverside Avenue, Phone: (904) 356-6857, [14]. Tu 10AM-9PM; W,F,Th,Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 12PM-5PM. A recently expanded art gallery and formal garden set alongside the Jacksonville waterfront. Features primarily European and American paintings as well as a large collection of early Meissen porcelain.

• Museum Of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, 333 North Laura Street (Downtown Jacksonville), Phone: (904) 366-6991, [15]. Tu, Fr, Sat, Sun 10AM-4PM; Wed, Th 10AM-9PM; Closed Monday. This Museum recently relocated to its Hemming Park location in the historic Western Union Telegraph Building and presents a large number of innovative contemporary art exhibits created by regional, national and international artists.

• The University of North Florida Gallery, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, Phone: 904-620-2534, [16]. M,W,Th 9AM-5PM; Tu 9AM-7PM, F 9AM-3PM. Features several exhibitions each year including regional and national artists and UNF faculty and student art.

• Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach, 50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach, Phone: (904) 280-0614 [17]. M-Sa 10AM-5PM.

• J. Johnson Gallery, 177 4th Avenue North, Phone: 904-435-3200. [18]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa 12PM-5PM.

• R. Roberts Gallery, 3606 St. John's Av., Phone: (904) 388-1188, [19].

• Stellers Gallery, 1409 San Marco Square, Phone: 904-396-9492, [20]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sa 10AM-3PM.

Downtown Jacksonville

• The Jacksonville Landing, located downtown on the northbank of the St. Johns River, is Jacksonville's festival gathering place. This retail and entertainment center has as its attractions waterfront dining, nightclubs and unique shops all in an urban, maritime setting. This is a prime location for holiday celebrations and viewing downtown fireworks. During the Christmas season, the Landing is also the site of the largest Christmas tree in northeast Florida. [21]

• Hemming Plaza is a block sized park in the center of Jacksonville's downtown. Named for Confederate veteran Charles C. Hemming, who in 1898 donated to the City the Confederate monument which is the focal point of the park. The park is surrounded by Jacksonville's City Hall, the United States Courthouse, the Museum Of Contemporary Art, the new public Main Library for Jacksonville, the former Snyder Memorial Church and various restaurants. Step inside City Hall, which is a restored department store built in 1912 and designed in the prairie style by noted local architect Henry John Klutho, and take a look at the large, sunlit atrium which dominates the interior of the structure. The new downtown Main Library opened in 2005 and is the largest Main Library in the state of Florida. The postmodern structure was designed by noted architect Robert A.M. Stern and features a Grand Reading Room and a quiet Courtyard for outdoor reading. [22]

Historic Neighborhoods

• Riverside, located about a mile southwest of downtown on the banks of the St. Johns River, this neighborhood was built primarily between 1910 and 1930 and features a variety of historic homes, churches and apartment buildings. It has as its commercial center eclectic Five Points which features both unique retail and dining all in a bohemian atmosphere. Also notable in the neighborhood is Memorial Park which is situated near Five Points adjacent to the River. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. and has as its centerpiece a statue of Winged Victory as a memorial to the dead of World War I. To visit this area from downtown, take Jefferson Street which becomes Riverside Avenue. [23]

• Avondale, located along the St. Johns River just southwest of and adjacent to Riverside, was built during the 1920s Florida land boom as "Riverside's Residential Ideal". The stately historic houses here were constructed in a variety of architectural styles, including Tudor, Georgian Revival, Prairie, Shingle, Mediterranean Revival and Bungalow. The commercial heart of the neighborhood is known as the Shops of Avondale which are located along St. Johns Avenue between Talbot and Dancy Streets. Here, there are many upscale dining and shopping opportunities. [24]

Miscellaneous

• Fort Caroline National Memorial, Mt. Pleasant Rd., (904) 641-7155, [25]. Daily 9AM-4:45PM. The original French fort, destroyed by Spanish troops from St. Augustine, now lies somewhere beneath the St. John's River. A modern recreation currently stands on the riverbank with a museum dedicated to the first settlements by the French in the area.

• Castle Otttis, on FL-A1A 3 miles north of St. Augustine, [26]. "an original landscape-sculpture, Done in Remembrance of Jesus Christ". This privately owned castle modled after "an Irish castle of 1,000 years ago" is open by appointment to school and church groups. It is clearly visable from SR A1A and is illuminated with blue lights from within at night.

• Kingsley Plantation, [27]. A well-preserved, Southern plantation. Well worth the trip to see.

• Museum of Science and History, 1025 Museum Circle, (904) 396-6674 (Fax: (904) 396-5799), [28]. M-F 10AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 1PM-6PM. Also known as the "MOSH" by locals, the museum has many interesting science exhibits, and some interesting information about local history.

• San Marco Theatre, 1996 San Marco Blvd., 904-396-4845, [29]. The oldest running first-run single-screen theatre in Jacksonville. Serving up your favorite beers, wine and food while you watch the movie. Fantastic midnight film series.

By car

Jacksonville can easily be reached by car. Major highways entering the city include I-10, I-95, US-1, US-90, and FL-A1A.

By plane

Jacksonville International Airport (IATA: JAX), 2400 Yankee Clipper Drive, [2]. Has regular flights to many US cities with major carriers such as Delta, US Air, Continental, American, Air Tran and Southwest.

By bus

• Greyhound Bus Lines, 10 North Pearl Street, Phone: 904-356-9976. [3] Greyhound is centrally located downtown. Station is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.

By train

• Amtrak, 3570 Clifford Lane, 1-800-872-7245, [4]. Service by the Silver Service/Palmetto lines.

Unless you want to spend a lot of time waiting for buses, a car is a must to fully experience Jacksonville; due to Jacksonville's size and low density, most destinations are not within walking distance of each other. Mass transit is limited to the city bus system, and an elevated rail system in the downtown district that links both banks of the river with a crossing on the Acosta Bridge. The bus system is minimally adequate; no bus runs past midnight, and many bus routes stop running at around 8 or 9PM. All buses are linked via GPS to a central control system and stops are well-marked throughout the entire city.

• Jacksonville Transportation Authority, Phone: (904) 630-3100, [5]. The bus system is fairly extensive in scope, but you must plan ahead as the frequency of stops is between 30 minutes to an hour. Buses are air-conditioned and reasonably comfortable, but JTA buses struggle with on-time performance.

Taxi services are available, but expensive due to the sprawl of the city.

• Car rentals are the most convenient for of transportation for visitors, with local companies offering better prices but national chains offering more convenience vis-a-vis return policies and times.

Car Rental Companies include:

• Alamo Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-462-5266, [6].
• Avis Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-331-1212, [7].
• Budget Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-527-0700, [8].
• Dollar Rent A Car, Toll free: 1-800-800-3665, [9].
• E-Z Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-277-5171, [10].
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Toll free: 1-800-261-7331, [11].
• Hertz Car Rental, Toll free: 1-800-654-3131, [12]].
• Thrifty, Toll free: 1-800-847-4389, [13].

It is also possible to bike around the historic neighborhoods of Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill, and San Marco. Starting in Riverside, you can walk or bike down the Riverwalk to the Main St. Bridge, located in downtown. Ride or walk over the bridge to access San Marco and its many shops and restaurants. Biking is a great way to enjoy the urban core's varied and beautiful architecture which is so easy to miss by car.

• The Landing [41] - A downtown shopping district located on the river.

• St. John's Town Center [42] - Located near the intersection of J. T. Butler Blvd and Gate Parkway, this is an open air mall sprawled over a large area. Lots of shopping and fine dining options.

• Shoppes of Avondale [43] - Specialty shops, boutiques, galleries, and restaurants.

• Shops of San Marco [44] - Good used book store, shops, galleries, restaurants, and a Peterbrooke chocolate shop. [45]

• Al's Pizza, Riverside at 1620 Margaret St.904.388.8384, Intracoastal West at 14286 Beach Blvd. 904.223.0991 and the original location at 303 Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach 904.249.0002, one of the best pizzas I have eaten in the world.

• Angies Subs at Jax Beach, 1436 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach (904)246-2519, When seen from the street you may think twice about eating there, but the large amount of cars outside shows that it is a great favorite of the locals. For enjoying the best subs and experiencing local beach flavor, a vist here is a must. Lunch time is peak time and may be crowded. Hours are 11 to 8 pm Monday through Saturday.

• Beach Hut Cafe, 1281 Third Street South, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 249-3516. This is where locals go for breakfast. Weekend mornings are very busy.

• BB's, 1019 Hendricks Avenue, (904) 306-0100. This restaurant has good appetizers, desserts, and a good beer and wine selection. The mushroom and bacon pizza is wonderful. The food is great, but it can get somewhat loud; not the place to go for a quiet conversation.

• St. Johns Seafood & Steaks, [46]. Several locations in Jacksonville. Just what it sounds like, a variety of seafood and steak with all the trimmings. Make sure to have grits as a side.

• Gene's Seafood. Several locations in Jacksonville. The usual fried shrimp, fish, etc. in addition to delicious entrees like stuffed flounder. Consistantly delicious.

• Brick Restaurant, 3585 St. Johns Avenue, (904) 387-0606. Creative menu with good food; on a street with lots of shops. Outside dining is availlable.

• Havana-Jax Cafe, 2578 Atlantic Boulevard, (904) 399-0609, [47]. Delicious Cuban food. Most dinners come with rice, black beans, and plantains. Very good flan.

• The Loop Pizza Grill, [48]. Restaurant chain that started in Jacksonville. Good burgers, pizza, salads, onion rings, milk shakes, etc. Several locations in Jacksonville.

• Biscotti's, 3556 St. Johns Avenue, (904) 387-2060. Cool atmosphere with delicious, interesting food. Take a look at the desserts in the display case. They taste even better than they look.

• The Madrid, 11233 Beach Boulevard, (904) 642-3741. Caribbean and Cuban cuisine. Everything is delicious.

• Max's International Restaurant, 1316 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, (904) 247-6820, [49]. Eclectic European food in a pleasant atmosphere. Several fish dishes are always delicious.

• Grinder's Cafe, 10230 Atlantic Blvd Ste 8-9, Jacksonville, (904)725-2712, One of the very few "down home" southern food restaurants in Jacksonville. Very friendly atmosphere with a wide selection of southern specialties.

• Clark's Fish Camp, 12903 Hood Landing Road, Jacksonville, (904)268 3474, [50]. A local favorite with lots of atmosphere. If you are a supporter of PETA, you might not enjoy this restaurant. Try the Fish Camp Platter or the Prime Rib, you'll be glad you did. Great place to take the kids.

• London Bridge Pub - 100 East Adams Street, about 2 blocks north of the main street bridge. 15 or so draft beers and good cottage pie

• Lynch's Irish Pub - 514 N. First Street, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250. A well known Irish pub in Jacksonville Beach. Many good imported pints on tap, with live music, and a raucous atmosphere.