Have you been dreaming about travel lots whilst in lockdown? I have. Both me and my husband and been dreaming up future travel plans when lockdown is over and we can start exploring the world once more.

Even though we can’t travel right now, it’s been great fun travelling online and discovering new places we can one day explore. Somewhere we’ve never been together is the USA and Florida always looks like a cool place to visit. It’s actually home to one of the largest cities called Jacksonville.

Read on to discover many of the fun outdoor activities that are apparently some of the best places in Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is the largest city in the contiguous United States, both by area and populous, and it’s not short of things to do.  There are plenty of free, outdoor activities you can take part in, even taking into account any coronavirus travel restrictions. For the latest COVID-19 information in Jacksonville click here and visit the relevant attraction websites to see rules around social distancing and wearing masks.

So whether you  are visiting the city for the first time or are looking for ideas on where to take your date, read on.  Here are lots of ideas to get outdoors in Jax, as the locals lovingly call it, and see some great sights.

The beaches

According to Visit Jacksonville, Jax has “more shoreline than any other city in the nation”.  With 22 miles of beaches and four main beaches to choose from (Jaksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Mayport Beach and Atlantic Beach) there are plenty of miles of coastline to explore when you’re dating in Jacksonville or looking for a fun day out with friends or family.

Atlantic beach is rated in the top 10 things to do in Jacksonville on Tripadvisor and it’s not hard to see why.  It’s away from the crowds, flat, sandy and clean with great views and sunrises.

Friendship Fountain

In St Johns River Park you will find a large fountain called Friendship Fountain which was newly renovated in 2011.  When it first opened in 1965 it was the world’s largest and tallest fountain, bringing it to fame.

The fountain is perfect for a spot of photography, with great views of downtown and is also next to the river which is perfect for afternoon strolls and romantic date ideas outdoors.  If you’re looking for love in the area, then Jacksonville Personals can help with your dating quest!

Riverwalk

When visiting the Friendship Fountain, the Riverwalk on St Johns River  is a 1.2 miles walkway around the Jacksonville waterfront with many beautiful views of downtown and plenty of seating to stop and admire the passing boats.

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

If you’re a fan of nature then the Jacksonville Arboretum is a low cost day out.  They currently ask for just a $3 donation towards maintenance costs of the gardens. 

Mostly built by volunteers in the community, the arboretum offers several walking trails to enjoy natural habitats and planted gardens filled with wildlife, streams and ponds.

Big Talbot Island State Park

This state park is a beautiful natural area with stunning photogenic scenery, including its unique Boneyard Beach scattered with tree skeletons which are a must-see.  An affordable day out at just $3 per vehicle of up to 8 people at the time of writing.

The park is the perfect place for picnicking, kayaking, hiking, boating and many more nature-led activities.

Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the nation with more than 450 urban parks, 7 state parks and 2 national parks.  There are plenty of parks to discover and explore when visiting Jax.

Fort Caroline National Memorial

For a free park with many beautiful trails and lots of wildlife such as owls, woodpeckers, racoons, tortoises and more then visit Fort Caroline.  Many visitors have caught glimpses of dolphins on the river.

Hopefully these ideas have given you some great outdoor places to begin to visit in Jacksonville!