Location: Jacksonville
Top Things to do in Jacksonville
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What to do and see in Jacksonville, Florida (FL): The Best Historic Sites
Although much of Jacksonville is urban, this sprawling northeastern Florida city also has nature and wildlife preserves, historic residential neighborhoods and lots of golf courses. Attractions in Jax, as the locals call it, range from art, science and history museums to a brewery tour, from the Jacksonville Landing entertainment complex, along the St. John's River, to Bronson Motor Speedway. The city's beaches offer soft sand and warm water perfect for swimming, surfing and kayaking.
Restaurants in Jacksonville
1. Kingsley Plantation
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 703 reviews
Reviewed By Thehoppygal
This National Park site is part of the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Admission is free. Access to the park, located on Ft. George Island, is via Heckscher Drive. Once you turn onto the island from Heckscher, you can choose either fork in the road to get to the plantation grounds. The road is maintained by the City of Jacksonville who only grades it once a year, so go slow and expect a number of bumps down the narrow road. When you first enter through the gates of the park, you’ll see the tabby-constructed slave quarters on either side of the road. It’s okay to pull off to the side of the road at this point to visit the interpretive signs posted near the cabins. The larger (although still small) parking lot is further down the road on your right. It can accommodate larger vehicles, buses and RVs, depending on how busy it is. The Barn and Kitchen House are all open and unlocked with interpretive exhibits inside both. There is also a garden where sea island cotton, citrus, sugar cane, and indigo are seasonally grown and tended to by the NPS staff. The Planter’s, or main, house is open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays in an open house format: it will be staffed by a volunteer and/or ranger during 11:00, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00, generally for a half hour at each appointed time. Special events are also scheduled throughout the year, including the annual Kingsley Heritage Celebration in February and Harvest Day in October, where NPS staff, volunteers, speakers, and entertainers come together to share some Living History ideas, demonstrations, and practices. Be sure to check out the Junior Ranger program at the Visitor Center building, located west (down the path to the left) of the main house. There are also a lot of nicely-curated books and souvenirs at the shop and you can check out a self-guided audio tour device with a current photo ID. Water is the only refreshment sold on the premises. Bathrooms are also located in this building (which used to house the Ft. George Club back in the ‘20s & ‘30s) There are really rich and interesting stories of the people that traveled to the island, worked the plantation, and lived in the structures within the park’s purview. This is definitely worth the trip to uncover a little what life was like for different folks in Florida’s history.
2. James P. Small Park
3. Ribault Club
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By 882ivanh - Austin, United States
A little visited part of the national park system in Jacksonville, is the Ribault Club. It was built in the 1920's as a social club for the uber wealthy. The club is off the main highway and down a winding country road beside the water and under a canopy of trees. The club's demise started during the depression and after numerous attempts by private companies, the club building was abandoned. A partnership between the National Park Service and the City of Jacksonville restored the building to better than original condition. The grounds are beautiful, a small museum tells the history of the island, it development and people and the club. The club is rented for all types of events and especially weddings. It is lesser known than the other parks in the area and when we were there only one other couple was on the grounds. The staff are very knowledgeable and welcoming. Definitely worth the time.
