One Day in Jacksonville's Seaside Town

📍 Memorial Park 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 The perfect post-lunch stroll spot nestled right by the river! This place boasts a massive grassy field where you can: ✅ Lie down for a lazy nap 🛌 ✅ Watch the St. Johns River glide by 🚢 ✅ Have an impromptu picnic 🧺 Pro tip: The "Florida Fallen" WWI memorial statue is a stunning tribute and makes for emotional photos. The park will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2024—it's been the city's peaceful oasis since 1924! 😌 🎨 Cummer Museum 829 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 This museum is breathtakingly beautiful! The outdoor garden is a popular wedding venue that's ridiculously photogenic—think European elegance meets Florida palms. The art collection spans centuries, but honestly? The gardens steal the show. Brides literally book this place years in advance for that perfect riverside "I do" moment. 💍📸 🎪 Riverside Arts Market 715 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32204 Saturday-only magic! This riverside market is a treasure trove of: 🖼️ Handcrafted artwork from local artisans 🍕 TONS of food trucks with everything from Korean BBQ to vegan ice cream 🎵 Live music that makes you want to dance with strangers Bonus: It's a 10-minute walk to Cummer Museum—perfect one-two punch for a cultured Saturday! The market runs year-round, rain or shine, and is 100% pet-friendly 🐕 ⚓ USS Orleck Naval Museum 610 E Bay St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 Step aboard a real warship that served 1945-1982! This Gearing-class destroyer earned the nickname: "Gray Ghost of the Vietnam Coast" during Vietnam War Founding member of the "Train Busters Club" in Korean War Since 2022, it's been docked in Jacksonville as a floating museum. Inside, you'll find: 🗺️ A marked self-guided tour route 🎭 Lifelike mannequins recreating sailors' daily life ⚙️ Engine rooms, bridge, and guns you can actually touch History nerds will geek out—this is living military history! 🎖️ 🐬 : Dolphin Magic! 🌊💙 While walking along the river, we spotted a dolphin mama with her two babies! 🐬👶👶 A quick Google search revealed Jacksonville has dolphin-watching boat tours. If you have time, definitely book a tour to see these cuties up close in the wild! 🖼️ MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville) 🎨 333 N Laura St, Jacksonville, FL 32204 MASSIVE collection of fascinating pieces! The exhibits are quirky, thought-provoking, and sometimes weird in the best way. 💰 Budget hack: FREE on Saturdays! Weekdays have student discounts (flash that ID!). Perfect for when your brain needs a culture boost after all that river zen. 😄 📸 Behind the Lens: Camera: Canon EOS-3 🎞️ Film: Kodak Gold 200 🌾 That warm, vintage Kodak glow perfectly captures Jacksonville's lazy, sunny soul. Every shot feels like a memory from the '90s—in the best way possible. ☀️✨ Bottom line: Jacksonville isn't just a city—it's a vibe. One day here feels like a week of vacation for your soul. Pack a camera, comfy shoes, and an empty stomach. The river, art, and dolphins will do the rest! #US #Florida #Jacksonville