Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Jacksonville Travel

Jacksonville, Florida is the largest city in the state of Florida when it comes to land area and population.  It has the highest population in Florida with more than 1,313,228 residents.

A. Weather

Jacksonville Florida has 226 sunny days each year.  During winter, the temperature is still quite mild.  Winter temperature is similar to the spring or autumn weather in colder places.  Jacksonville is colder though compared to other parts of Florida.
Hurricanes that come to Jacksonville might scare some people but it is not something to be alarmed of. There is always a weather advisory issued a day or two before hurricanes strike.

B. Tourist Attraction

Jacksonville has many faces. It is not just a progressive city complete with buildings and other structures.  Its natural beauty is also incomparable. It is a city surrounded by lush semi-tropical forest, pine forest, mineral springs and beaches.

1. Jacksonville Landing - The Landing is dining and shopping destination by the riverfront.  You can visit the place by riding a River Taxi in the Southbank Riverwalk.

2. Jacksonville Riverwalks – This is comprised of The Northbank Riverwalk and the Southbank Riverwalk.  Northbank Riverwalk is 2.0 miles (3.2 km) long starting from  Berkman Plaza to St. Johns to I-95 at the Fuller Warren Bridge while the Southbank Riverwalk is 1.2 miles (1.9 km) starting in the Radisson Hotel to Museum Circle.

3. Museum of Science & History or MOSH – This is located in Jacksonville's Southbank Riverwalk. This is the only planetarium in Jacksonville.  Its main exhibit changes every quarter. It features a comprehensive exhibit on the Northeast Florida history. It houses three floors of nature and local history exhibits, a science area and the Alexander Brest Planetarium.

4. St. Johns River Park or Friendship Park – Right next to the Museum Circle is St. Johns River Park, also called the Friendship Park. It is where the famed landmark Friendship Fountain is situated. The fountain was made in 1965 and was considered as the “World’s Tallest and Largest” fountain at that time.

5. Jacksonville Maritime Museum - This museum is on the east side of the Friendship Fountain.  The museum houses ship models, artifacts dated 1562, paintings and photographs.

6. Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) - This facility is now known as Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA Jacksonville).  This was opened in 2003 next to the Main Library.  It has an area of 60,000 square foot or 6,000 sq. miles. The museum provides various permanent and traveling exhibits of arts created after the modernist period.

7. Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens – This museum showcases a huge collection of European and American paintings, and a collection of early Meissen porcelain.  It has 3 acres of picturesque English and Italian style gardens.

8. The Karpeles Manuscript Library has the world’s biggest private collection of original manuscripts & documents.

9. The Catherine Street Fire Station building is part of the National Register of Historic Places. It features the Jacksonville Fire Museum and exhibits more than 500 artifacts such as an 1806 hand pumper.

10. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has the second biggest animal collection in the state. It features a huge variety of animals such as reptiles.

11. Shipwreck Island is a waterpark located in Duval County. It was opened in 1995.  It provides different rides every few years so passholders will come back.

12. Adventure Landing  is an amusement park situated in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach in Duval County.


C. Things to Do

The continuous sunny days and great climate allow you to enjoy various sports and recreational activities such as biking, hiking, surfing, kayaking, fishing, or swimming. You can do outdoors activities for most part of the year.  This is what is so great with Jacksonville travel.Jacksonville has various beaches that allow you to do water sports such as scuba diving, surfing, jet skiing, sailing and snorkelling.

Golfing is a popular activity in Jacksonville. It boasts of several golf courses.  The city has a number of state parks and city parks which make it truly an enticing and distinctive place.   Tourists can also frequent the shopping malls which are conveniently situated along the beach.  You can indulge in your favorite activities such as shopping and swimming.

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