February 13-24, 2013: Jacksonville, Florida

Did you know that Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida by population and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States? Driving around, it surprised me how sprawled out and massive the city is. An interesting mix of beaches and skyscrapers, here is a list of places to explore in or near the city, in no particular order.

1. Jax Beach - Soft white sand fronted by sea oats and sand dunes. I can’t imagine it on a summer weekend, but it’s nice and uncrowded during the week.

1. Little Talbot Island State Park - With five miles of beach, this park is a great place for observing migratory and resident shorebirds. Only a few dollars to park for the day.

2. St. Augustine Premium Outlets - Yes, this is a bit of a drive, but I have never been to such a large outlet store. It’s quite the experience. Definitely recommended for anyone who enjoys being overwhelmed when shopping.

3. Grassroots Natural Market - This place is small, but a health food alternative. They have natural, healthy and organic food, including fresh produce and meats. Also, their smoothies and fresh juices are delicious.

4. Sports - Jax hosts the NFL, AFL, the PGA Tour, the Gator Bowl, Double-A baseball, and rugby. If you like sports, and depending on when you’re there, you might as well check something out, right?

5. Churches - Jacksonville has a diverse religious population. From Protestants to Catholics to Mormons, there are a lot of pretty churches littered as eye candy around the city.

6. San Marco Theatre and San Marco Square - If you like art galleries, boutiques, independent bookstores, upscale gift shops, and dining, you will think this area of town is super cute. The theatre was built in Art Deco design by a nationally recognized architect - Roy Benjamin (who also built the beautiful Florida Theatre).

7. Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens - This place boasts 13 separate ecosystems and entirely a community project. More elevation variation than the rest of the city, the five trail loops impressed me.

8. Jacksonville Riverwalk - I’m from the Northwest so few river fronts blow me away, but I still want to check them all out. It offers a good view of downtown and gives you an idea of what makes this city different.