Jacksonville Tourist Information and Tourism

(Jacksonville, Florida - FL, USA)

Situated in Duval County, in northeastern Florida, Jacksonville stands in the great double loops of St. John's River, next to the Atlantic Ocean. Jacksonville is often known to its locals as 'JAX', after the city's nearby airport. This enormous metropolis has become America's second-largest city, in terms of size, and is a particularly amiable location.

Jacksonville offers tourists miles of beaches used all year round, the scenic Southbank Riverwalk, many natural features, a Skyway Monorail, museums and numerous art galleries, concentrated in the downtown Jacksonville district. Discovered in 1513 by the Spanish, Jacksonville has a rich heritage and the city's many tourist attractions are often full of historic information, celebrating Jacksonville's rich past.





Hotels in Jacksonville are in good supply, ranging from historic buildings to state-of-the-art, sleek modern hotel towers in the city center. Further hotels can be found next to the beaches and offer ocean views, and also close to Jacksonville International Airport (JAX), which stands just 12 miles / 19 km from the city. More information about Jacksonville Hotels.

Tourism has long been an integral part of life in Jacksonville, mainly due to the city's impressive beaches and coastline. The main tourist information outlet in Jacksonville is the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors' Bureau, on Water Street, which offers a range of tourism details, including what to do, where to stay and general information about tourist attractions in the downtown district, along the beachfront, in Jacksonville Port and also around the city's Riverside Avondale Historic District.

Jacksonville has a host of popular tourist attractions, including Adventure Landing and Shipwreck Island Water Park - with many attractions, including Speedway, golf, fast rides, water slides and rollercoasters; ALLTEL Stadium - previously the Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, home to the Jacksonville Jaguars American football team; Jacksonville Zoological Gardens - with more than 1,000 rare and exotic animals, regarded locally as a 'Walking Safari'; and the Jax Expo Center - formerly Jacksonville Fairgrounds, hosting many notable events, festivals and concerts in downtown Jacksonville.

Other notable tourist attractions in Jacksonville include Fort Caroline National Memorial - standing on the banks of St. John's River, close to central Jacksonville; Walter Jones Historical Park - a spacious riverfront site containing walking trails, picnic areas and the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society; Veterans Memorial Wall - a breathtaking black granite monument commemorating Jacksonville's war heroes; Fort Matanzas National Monument - a Spanish built masonry watchtower dating back more than 250 years; Jacksonville's Fort Clinch State Park - with hiking and cycle trails, campsites and a range of other recreational activities; and the Thomas Jefferson Park - an important community facility in northwest Jacksonville, with a large selection of amenities and sports facilities. More information about Jacksonville Tourist Attractions and Jacksonville Landmarks.

Some of main museums and art galleries in Jacksonville include the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens - highly regarded for its extensive collection of Meissen porcelain and art works from Europe and America; the Jacksonville Museum of Science and History - full of scientific wonders, hands-on displays, dinosaur exhibits and a planetarium with astronomy information; the Museum of Weapons and Early American History - with a collection of local artifacts and historic information about the St. Augustine area; the St. Augustine Lighthouse and Museum - close to Jacksonville, celebrating the historic St. Augustine Light Station; and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art - dedicated to increasing the public's awareness of contemporary art works. More information about Jacksonville Museums and Jacksonville Art Galleries.

Tourist attractions standing close to Jacksonville include Devils Millhopper Geological State Park - an acclaimed bowl-shaped cavity next to Gainesville, regarded as a National Natural Landmark; Florida Museum of Natural History - just a short drive from central Jacksonville, with many large collections, exhibitions and information about fossils, rainforests and local wildlife; Gainesville Raceway - home to some of the most exciting drag racing events in Florida; Gold Head Branch State Park - standing between Jacksonville and Gainesville, featuring a vast greenbelt area with nature trails, swimming, camping and more; Kanapaha Botanical Gardens - close to Jacksonville, with stunning landscaped areas, major horticultural collections and an impressive display of bamboo specimens; and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park - a particularly scenic Florida homestead once home to famous Pulitzer prize-winning author, after which the park is named. More information about Jacksonville Attractions Nearby.

More Jacksonville Information / Fast Facts and Orientation

• Country: United States of America (USA)
• Location: Duval County, Florida (FL)
• Status: city, county seat
• Area: approximately 758 square miles / 2,033 square kilometers
• Population: approximately 775,000
• Language: American English
• Currency: US Dollar (USD)
• Time zone: GMT - 5 hours Eastern Standard Time (daylight saving time is observed)
• Country dialing code: +1
• Telephone area code: 904
• Religion: various religions
• Average daily January temperature: 18°C / 64°F
• Average daily July temperature: 33°C / 91°F