Jacksonville: Nature, Wildlife and History

Jacksonville offers several distinct focal points for a trip: salt marshes and waterways, forest areas and wildlife, as well as historical themes, art gardens and a riverwalk. If you're looking for a hotel, it helps to first decide which of these interests will shape your stay. The places differ not only in theme, but also in perspective: kayaking offers a view from the water, a hike takes you through several ecosystems, and historical stories are conveyed through a fort model, an audio tour or the layout of cabins.

Nature and landscape: water, forest and trails

The Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve covers 46,000 acres; individual park sites are open to visitors. Kayaking in the preserve offers views of salt-marsh plants and wildlife along waterways that can't be seen from land. At Theodore Roosevelt Area, a hike offers the chance to experience five different Florida ecosystems. The nature experiences therefore differ in perspective: kayaking takes you onto the waterways, while a hike brings different Florida ecosystems into view.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is a 120-acre urban forest. Another clearly defined outdoor option is the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail: it stretches about 14.5 miles from Imeson Road in Jacksonville to the Town of Baldwin. So, along with a forest area and a hike, you can choose a trail with named endpoints and an approximate length.

Wildlife and distinctive visitor experiences

Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens is home to more than 2,000 exotic and rare animals; thousands of plant species also grow there. The Giraffe Overlook exhibit brings visitors eye to eye with a giraffe. The zoo thus combines wildlife and plants with an exhibit whose perspective is specifically focused on a single animal species.

You'll encounter different wildlife at Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, home to tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, bobcats, servals, caracals, bears, foxes and coatis. The animal population may change. The sanctuary offers educational tours for school groups year-round.

History, art and other travel interests

The model of Fort Caroline National Memorial recreates the original as depicted in drawings from the 1564 expedition. At Kingsley Plantation, the audio tour “The Lion's Story Teller” offers an immersive experience of the past. The semicircular layout of the cabins for enslaved people at Kingsley Plantation was intended to foster a sense of family connection. The model, audio tour and layout each offer a different way to explore the history of these places.

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens houses nearly 5,000 works of art; the museum also includes historic gardens covering 2.5 acres. The Southbank Riverwalk adds a riverfront promenade to these cultural attractions: it is 1.25 miles long, made of concrete and runs along the St. Johns River. Along the Jax Ale Trail, visitors can get their Brewery Passport stamped at each local brewery they visit. The brewery experience thus stands apart from the nature and cultural attractions with its own interactive format.

The St. Johns River Ferry carries vehicles and pedestrians between Mayport and Fort George Island. If you plan to take the ferry, check the schedule in advance.

Explore more destinations: Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach

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