Active Pursuits in Jacksonville
Hitting the Beach in Jacksonville
You can fish, swim, snorkel, sail, sunbathe, or stroll on the sand dunes -- at least from March to November, as winter can get downright chilly here. All of these activities are just a 20- to 30-minute drive east of downtown at Jacksonville's four beach communities.
Atlantic Boulevard (Fla. 10) will take you to Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach. The boulevard divides the two towns, and where it meets the ocean, you'll come to Town Center, a quaint community with shops, restaurants, pubs, and a few inns.
Beach Boulevard (U.S. 90) dead-ends at Jacksonville Beach, where you'll find beach concessions, rental shops, and a fishing pier. This is also the most popular local surfing beach.
To the south, J. Turner Butler Boulevard (Fla. 202) leads from I-95 to the boundary between Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach. A right turn there will take you to Ponte Vedra Beach (pronounced here as Pon-ti Vee-dra). This ritzy, golf-oriented enclave is actually in St. Johns County (St. Augustine), but it's so much closer to Jacksonville that it's included in this section.
Cruising Jacksonville
St. John’s River Taxi & Tours (tel. 904/860-8294), runs a water taxi that stops at 11 spots around the river, including Friendship Park and the Riverside Arts Market. The taxi runs noon to 9pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, and Friday and Saturday from noon to 10pm. An all-day pass costs $15. They also do various tours, including a downtown sunset cruise starting at $22 per person, a downtown sightseeing cruise for $18 adults, $15 children, a Jax Beach sunset cruise from $22 to $28 per person, a Jax Beach eco cruise from $6 to $28, and a very popular, lively, downtown happy hour tour from $22 per person.
Fishing in Jacksonville
The least expensive way to fish for red snapper, grouper, sea bass, small sharks, amberjack, and more, 15 to 30 miles offshore in the Atlantic Ocean, is aboard the Majesty, a modern, 65-foot, air-conditioned deep-sea party boat that has a galley offering hot meals. The full- day trips depart at 7:30am daily from Monty's Marina, 4378 Ocean St. (A1A), a half-mile south of the Mayport Ferry landing (tel. 904/246-7575); they return at 4:30pm. The price is $120 per adult, $105 per child 6 to 14, including bait and tackle. Those who just want to sunbathe and watch the anglers pay $60. You don’t need a license, but reservations are required.
Golf in Jacksonville
The Jacksonville area has a great variety of golf courses, some of which are ranked among the top in the country. In Ponte Vedra Beach, the Sawgrass Marriott Resort sits on the most famous course, the Players Stadium Course at TPC at Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship in March. Ranked among the nation’s top courses, its island hole is one of the most photographed in the world. Nearby are the Ocean and Lagoon courses at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.Top courses open to the public include the Bent Creek Golf Course, 10440 Tournament Lane (tel. 904/779-0800), an 18-hole championship course constantly hailed by Golf Digest as a top five “All Time Golf Value.” It’s a great bargain, with greens fees between $36 and $45. Lowest rates are online. The semiprivate Cimarrone Golf Club, 2690 Cimarrone Blvd. (tel. 904/287-2000), is a fast and watery semi-private course with greens fees ranging from $29 to $69. But the best public course in the city, hands down, is the 18-hole Mill Cove course at the Blue Sky Golf Club, 1700 Monument Rd. (tel. 904/642-6140), which features a par-71, 6,671-yard course with a slope rating of 129, designed by Arnold Palmer. Rates are exceptionally affordable at $29 to $68.
For course information, go to www.golf.com or www.floridagolfing.com.
Horseback Riding in Jacksonville
For lessons or a scenic ride along the dunes or through Jennings State Forest, try Diamond D Ranch, located 3 miles West of Cecil Commerce Center and the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, off Normandy Boulevard (tel. 904/289-9331). Call for rates and reservations.
