Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida, yet places like Miami, Orlando, and Tampa seem to get all the love from tourists — and that's unfortunate! Jacksonville has a lot to offer. If you're heading to Jacksonville to depart on a cruise, consider staying a few days before or after to check out some of the city's fantastic attractions.
🏖️ Jacksonville's Beaches
With 20 miles of beaches stretching along the Atlantic, the beach is one of Jacksonville's most famous destinations — comprising of Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach. Boasting a 1,000-foot long fishing pier and the Beaches Trolley (only $1.50/ride), you can explore all the shops, restaurants, and recreational activities each area has to offer.
🏘️ Riverside / Avondale District
Jacksonville's Riverside/Avondale District is a great place to glimpse the area's colorful history. A meticulously well-preserved district of more than 5,000 historic buildings, with parks and mom-and-pop shops — truly a village from a bygone era.
Referred to by the Financial Times as Florida's version of Greenwich Village, the entire area is listed by the American Planning Association as one of the top ten neighborhoods in the country.
🎨 Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)
Art aficionados will find plenty to enjoy at the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Widely known as MOCA, it offers one of the most extensive collections of contemporary art in the Southeast United States — with numerous works by European and American masters as well as more contemporary artists.
🐆 Catty Shack Wildlife Sanctuary
Catty Shack Wildlife Sanctuary is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a safe and loving home for endangered big cats — including lions, Siberian tigers, cougars, leopards, and bobcats.
☀️ Daytime tours
Meet all of the residents up close during guided daytime tours.
🌙 Nighttime feeding tours
Most cats are nocturnal and are most active at night — the nighttime feeding tour is an unforgettable experience.
🦁 Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
At 73 acres, Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens is the only zoo in Florida's northeast. What sets it apart is that the Botanical Gardens are interspersed throughout the zoo, allowing visitors to become immersed in the animals' natural environment.