My husband and I visit Jacksonville, Florida, every winter.
We escape the sub zero temperatures, vicious wind chll and feet of snow of the northeast.
It is such a relief to step out of the airport terminal and feel the warm air. The blue skies, sunshine and palm trees are always a welcome sight. We rent a property with access to Jacksonville beach so that we can enjoy views of the ocean. Although the weather in December of January is typically to chilly for swimming, we still enjoy walking on the beach, smelling the salt air and collecting shells. There are a variety of different styles of restaurants in the near vaccinity from American-style to Mexican, Chinese and Italian. The seafood is especially fresh and tasty. It’s such a change from the limited variety of seafood up north. There is opportunity to shop, play golf, visit a bag cat preserve and spend a day at the zoo. We like to check out the Riverside Arts Market on Saturday mornings, located under the canopy of the Fuller Warrent Bridge. The outdoor markety always offers local artisans, artists, crafts and the produce of local farmers. There are food trucks, live music and even free yoga classes. The view of the St. Johns River is spectacular. Another favorite of ours is Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park. There are twenty miles of beautiful oceanfront parkland offering numerous biking and hiking trails. We can go fishing, kayaking or paddleboarding. There are miles of white sand beaches. The St. Johns Town Center is an open-air shopping center encompassing over 1.2 million square feet and more than 175 retailers and over twenty restaurants. From luxury stores to bargain outlets and speciality boutiques, I always find something to make the trip worthwhile.