Downtown Jacksonville is a very beautiful place; the architecture of the buildings is spectacular and there's a bridge that runs right through the heart of downtown over the water. The bridge is made of blue steel and is quite a sight, especially at night when the downtown area is all lit up.
Jacksonville Landings
One of the must visit places in downtown
Jacksonville is
Jacksonville Landing: The premier dining, shopping and entertainment center in the heart of downtown, right along the river.
The Landing, as it's called by the locals, offers a wide variety of things to do and see, along with many excellent places to dine and party the night away to live entertainment in the courtyard area. If you're a shopaholic, there are many inviting shops to browse, whether you're looking for name brands or something from local retailers to capture the true flavor of the area. Jewelry, clothing, an art gallery, a bank, liquor store and novelty shop, a bookstore, sports memorabilia, nail salon and gym; this place has it all. When you're ready to take a break from shopping or are done for the day, The Landings has many great place to grab a bite to eat, either a quick snack or full service dining. An-Apple-A-Day has salads, homemade soups and smoothies. If you're looking for a finer dinning experience, try
Benny's Steak and Seafood, or if you're a sushi fan, check out Koja Sushi. Looking for some fun? Well they have a Hooter's and a
Maverick's Rock N' Honky Tonk for some nighttime action. Vito's Italian Café offers Italian cuisine and
The Twisted Martini is another nightclub around the area; many places have happy hours specials.
They have many events at the Landing, such as car shows and seasonal events, such as Halloween parties, or shows and concerts that involve many of the local radio stations and local bands.
Things to Do Downtown
After a night of partying or even a day a shopping, one of the best ways to get home safely or to your next destination is the
S.S. Marine Taxi that runs across the St. John's River. They also provide romantic sunset cruises, group rates and chartering services. They have special event runs too, such as when the
Jacksonville Jaguars play, they schedule runs and stops according to the game. On the Fourth of July, you can watch the fireworks overhead from the boat. The water taxi makes several stops along the river, including one to the Jacksonville Landings.
One of the eye-catching buildings in the downtown area is the old
Florida Theater. When it originally opened to the public on April 8, 1927, it was Jacksonville's largest movie theatre. The lavish interior décor and architecture make the Florida Theatre one of Jacksonville's last remaining examples of the roaring 1920's. In 1983, after major restoration, the Florida Theatre re-opened. Like many theatres of its day, the Florida Theatre was designed for both stage shows and movies.
The
Jacksonville Maritime Museum is also located downtown. The Maritime Museum houses books, artifacts, documents and other significant historical objects pertaining to the Maritime History of Jacksonville. They have displays, educational programs, lectures and publications all designed to preserve and interpret the maritime history of Jacksonville. They have certain models on display, like the destroyers USS Gridley and USS Porter, as well as the Frederick DeBary, which was a steamboat. They also have a gift shop so that you can take home a model of your own. They are open 7 days a week and are a non-profit museum, relying only on donations.
Downtown Jacksonville is a great place to come and do business, party, shop, get a great meal, enjoy a band or relax with friends as you take a ride up or down the St. John's River. Come see for yourself and enjoy.
