Things to Do in Jacksonville, Florida

A Northside zoo along the Trout River with more than 2,000 animals across 122 acres, including the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. A frequent first stop for families relocating with young kids.

A nonprofit big-cat sanctuary on Jacksonville's Northside offering guided tours and night feedings with rescued tigers, lions, and leopards. Consistently rated one of Jacksonville's top family attractions.

A weekly Saturday market under the Fuller Warren Bridge in Historic Riverside, with food trucks, live music, and local art. Open year-round and a great way for new residents to meet the Riverside community.

A 447-acre oceanfront city park at the Beaches with 1.5 miles of beach, bike trails, a fishing pond, and camping. A favorite for weekend outings close to the Mayport area.

A free, 120-acre nonprofit garden and trail system in Arlington, built on the site of a former 19th-century railroad and later a mineral mine. A quiet, low-cost outing for anyone who loves nature walks.

Northeast Florida's science and history museum, currently rebuilding a new flagship facility on Jacksonville's Northbank after its longtime Southbank building closed in 2025. Worth watching for reopening news since it's long been a family favorite downtown.

The Northbank and Southbank Riverwalks connect Downtown Jacksonville along the St. Johns River, with a water taxi option for getting between the two without a car. A good low-cost way for new residents to get oriented downtown.

Jacksonville's NFL team, playing home games at EverBank Stadium downtown, close to several of the renovation-project properties that turn up in that part of the market. A big part of the city's fall and winter social calendar.