Homestead Jacksonville - Southside - St. Johns Towne Center

Picking sea oats can be a costly mistake!

by noidiotsplease

Sea oats play a vital role in protecting the sand dunes that line our shores. These sand dunes serve as a protective buffer for oceanfront buildings in the event of a hurricane. Due to the curvature of our country's Atlantic coast, Jacksonville has a relatively low chance of getting hit by a hurricane as it is situated farther west than any other coastal Atlantic city. Nevertheless, as 2004 demonstrated, we, like all of Florida, can certainly feel some of a hurricane's side effects. Sand dunes and the pretty sea oats that help anchor them bear the brunt of coastal winds and high seas during a hurricane. That's why you can get fined heavily if you're caught picking sea oats.

Where Hummus and Hookah Collide!

by Meshell301 about The Casbah Cafe

Fun, friendly and delicious, The Casbah Cafe is a gem of a spot parked in the middle of the Avondale shopping district. Slather the city's best hummus on a warm, fresh pita...scarf down some spinach pie or a lamb kebab...and slake your thirst with Turkish coffee or French lemonade. And don't leave before sharing and smoking a hookah with the rest of your party...there are lots of flavors to choose from.

On Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays there's bellydancing to keep you entertained, and the rest of the week, sit outside for a little street-side people watching while you munch. I'm a hummus connoisseur and the creamy concoction served here is as good as it gets!

Stylish, eclectic NYC bistro in JAX

by noidiotsplease about Bistro AIX

Imagine eating at a trendy Manhattan eatery with an eclectic menu, stylish and contemporary interior design, an open kitchen and a lovely courtyard. That's what you will experience if you choose to dine at Bistro AIX in Jacksonville's trendy San Marco neighborhood, located just a few blocks south of the Downtown Southbank. Perhaps that's why the restaurant has been profiled in a major travel magazine and consistently ranks in various local publications' top 25 restaurants lists.

World's Largest Self-Contained Fountain

by noidiotsplease

Located on the Southbank Riverwalk next to the Museum of Science & History, Friendship Fountain is the world's largest self-contained fountain. At night, the fountain's magnificent, dancing jets are illuminated in an everchanging brilliance of rainbow colors that frame the city's Northbank skyscrapers, making it a favorite kissing spot for romantic couples enjoying a night in Downtown.

~ Jacksonville's Beaches: An Orientation ~

by noidiotsplease

The Jacksonville Metropolitan Area includes about 75 miles of Atlantic coastline along six different islands from the northern tip of Amelia Island to the southern tip of Anastasia Island. Throughout this sun-kissed stretch are a variety of communities and parks that provide visitors and locals alike with diverse beach experiences to suit many personal tastes.

San Pablo Island & the Jacksonville Beaches

The most popular beaches are located directly across the Intracoastal Waterway from Jacksonville itself, on a long, linear island that has been unofficially dubbed “San Pablo Island” by some locals. This is where Jacksonville’s four principal beach towns – Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach -- rub elbows with one another.

The island’s northern tip is anchored by Mayport, a small fishing village with a mighty Naval Station perched at the mouth of the St. Johns River. Hanna Park, which is operated by the City of Jacksonville, is a popular destination for camping and “mountain” biking located just south of Mayport. Idyllic Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach (my favorite beaches) share a Town Center of popular restaurants and shops in addition to its beautiful sandy endowment. Jacksonville Beach, lined with high-rise condos, is a busy hub of activity known for its assortment of restaurants, annual festivals, and attractions like the Adventure Landing amusement center, Shipwreck Island water park, and the Jacksonville Beach Pier. Finely manicured Ponte Vedra Beach, boasting top-rated resorts and golf courses, is a playground for the rich and famous. Mickler’s Landing, at the southern end of exclusive Ponte Vedra Boulevard, is a popular beach access point backed by gargantuan mansions. The southern half of San Pablo Island is narrower and less populated. It includes Guana River State Park, which is backed by a strand of towering sand dunes, and the quiet communities of South Ponte Vedra Beach and Vilano Beach. Here, some residents can watch the sun rise over the Atlantic and set over the Intracoastal without leaving their homes. In total, San Pablo Island stretches for approximately 35 miles from the mouth of the St. Johns River to Matanzas Inlet.

Florida’s northernmost beach islands

Across the St. Johns River to the north of San Pablo Island are four smaller islands that are each home to preserved parks and natural beaches. The southernmost three are actually within the city limits of Jacksonville. Fort George Island is near the northern landing of the St. Johns River Ferry, which crosses the mouth of the river to and from Mayport. It is home to Huguenot Park, a city-run beach park that fronts both the Atlantic and the river, offering views of the towering Navy ships in port at NS Mayport. Fort George is also home to the historic Kingsley Plantation, located within the bounds of the Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve. Island hopping north, Little Talbot Island is a state park area featuring vast, desert-like expanses of sandy beach backed by coastal scrub, while the state park area of Big Talbot Island, the area’s most unusual beach, features eroded bluffs that backdrop a maze of uprooted trees and black rocks. North of Big Talbot is the northernmost island in all of Florida, Amelia Island. Bookended by Fort Clinch and Amelia Island State Parks and blessed with a beautiful tree canopy, Amelia also offers exclusive resorts like the Ritz Carlton and Amelia Island Plantation balanced with the unpretentious small town beach charm of historic Fernandina Beach.

Anastasia Island & the beaches of St. Augustine

Back south, to the other end of San Pablo Island, Vilano Beach sits across Matanzas Inlet from Anastasia Island, and across Matanzas Bay from the historic city of St. Augustine. Anastasia Island actually encompasses part of the city of St. Augustine, including its Alligator Farm and Lighthouse attractions. The northeastern shore of Anastasia Island is a popular recreation area known as Anastasia State Park. Immediately south of the park limits, laid-back St. Augustine Beach offers a collection of small hotels and casual restaurants. The southern half of Anastasia Island is home to a quiet strand of low-slung condos and beach cottages known as Crescent Beach. Here, the western side of Anastasia gives way to salt marshes and tiny sand bar islands. Standing out amongst the Intracoastal marshes is the small blockhouse of Fort Matanzas, accessible only by boat. Shortly after passing the fort, Anastasia comes to a close at Summer Haven, a smattering of beach cottages at a popular boating spot just north of the Flagler County line.

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