Jacksonville: Beckoning Beaches

The 1880s saw the city of Jacksonville begin to grow into a major vacation center for people around the world, especially visitors trying to escape the cold climate to the north. Railroads helped bring plenty of tourists and businesses to Jacksonville, encouraging the growth of hotels, beach resorts and other services. The St. Johns River also played a major role in the development of Jacksonville by cementing a reputation as one of the major ports in the United States.

The city was put through a major test in 1901, when a fire destroyed much of the town center's buildings. Over 2,000 buildings were burned to the ground, leaving more than 8,000 people homeless and approximately $15 million in damage. Over the next 10 years, the rebuilding period brought over 10,000 new buildings to the area.

With its convenient location along the St. Johns River, Jacksonville also played an important role for the military during both World Wars. Established in 1940, Camp Johnson, now known as the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, held in excess of 27,000 men during WWI. Over the years, shipyards and other military-related industries have grown to accommodate the military and the naval air base.

The city continued to prosper after the wars as more buildings, ballparks and auditoriums were constructed, including the building of the then world's largest Sears store in the post-war era. Good fortune continued to fall upon Jacksonville when the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Tour moved its headquarters to the city in 1979. The arrival of the PGA headquarters brought world-class golfers to Jacksonville and escalated the growth of the golf industry around the city almost overnight, making it one of the more favored golf havens in the world. In 1993, Jacksonville also became home to a franchise in the National Football League (NFL), the Jacksonville Jaguars. The city was also the site of the NFL's Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005.

CLIMATE

Visitors of Jacksonville can enjoy warm weather through most of the year, providing a wonderful platform for outdoor activities. The average winter temperature fluctuates around 50°F (10°C), with summer temperatures rising into the mid to high 80°F (29°C to 32°C) range from April to October. The hottest month of the year is often in July, with average temperature highs of 92°F (33°C) and lows of 73°F (23°C). Jacksonville sometimes experiences slight snowfall during its winter seasons, however, this decrease in temperature generally should not affect the enjoyment of outdoor activities.

TRANSPORTATION

The Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) is located just minutes away from downtown Jacksonville and serves more than five million travelers each year. JIA provides non-stop aerial transportation to all major cities in the United States. Visitors can reach Jacksonville by road using any one of the three Interstate highways (Interstate 295, 95 and 10) that pass by the city. Rental cars can be obtained from a variety of venues in and around Jacksonville giving visitors the option and freedom to control their daily traveling schedules.

As one of the largest cities in the state of Florida, getting around the city of Jacksonville can be accomplished by the public transit system and river taxis. Downtown Jacksonville is served by three trolley lines from Monday to Saturday, starting from as early as 5:30am. Visitors can also take advantage of the Skyway—an automated transit system connecting the two sides of the St. Johns River—to reach the other side of Jacksonville for only a small fee. Jacksonville Transit Authority (JTA) buses are also available. Visitors can choose to ride in one of the city's river taxis to get across the St. Johns River. Taxi stops are available at different locations including Jacksonville Landing and Metropolitan Park.

ATTRACTIONS

Entertainment and Shopping
Located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville and along the banks of the St. Johns River, Jacksonville Landing is one of the places every visitor to Jacksonville must experience. Jacksonville Landing hosts a wide array of restaurants, night clubs and shops, providing visitors with opportunities and venues to purchase, feast and party.

Beaches
Easily accessible from downtown Jacksonville are three beaches—Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach—all along the Atlantic coast. With their ocean views, packed sands and convenient locations, these three beaches provide a perfect location for visitors to savor the sunlight of Florida State. These beaches surprise travelers from across the world with their relatively low volume of visitors in contrast to other famed Florida beaches, allowing newcomers to enjoy their vacation without the disturbance of large crowds.

Sports
In 1993, Jacksonville became just one of a select number of cities in the United States to have an NFL team. Home to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Alltel Stadium is a 10-acre, multi-purpose stadium. Formerly known as the Gator Bowl, this 76,000 seat stadium is the result of a $135-million renovation project. Located in downtown Jacksonville, Alltel Stadium hosts many different events on top of the Jaguars' home games each year, including concerts, college football games and monster truck shows.

For those interested in art, the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art exhibits a variety of artwork including paintings, sculptures and films. The Black Heritage Trail supplies a valuable opportunity for travelers to learn more about African American history in the state of Florida, including details about the first beach resort to welcome African Americans. Budweiser's Brewery Tour is a must see for those who want to learn more about the art and technique of beer brewing, or for those who simply love beer.