Parks & Recreation - Parks

When Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, wrote the first Jacksonville travel book, Palmetto Leaves, in 1873, she waxed poetic about the area’s outdoor charms. She wrote extensively about the St. Johns River, “the great blue sheet of water [that] shimmers and glitters like so much liquid lapis lazuli.” She loved the number of wildflowers that grow here, the climate, and the opportunity to spend much of the winter outdoors.

These days some of the best places to enjoy the St. Johns River, the native flowers, and the weather are in Jacksonville’s parks. We are rich in them. Jacksonville has about 350 city parks, and if you include all our state and federal parks, the city claims that Jacksonville has the largest urban park system in the country. City officials like to boast that, as of 2005, Jacksonville had 96 acres of parks per 1,000 residents. Still, most Jacksonville residents will tell you that it’s not enough; they want even more parks in the years ahead.

What follows is a list of some of the favorite greenspaces in this park-crazy town, especially parks in areas where tourists are likely to (or should) ramble. For even more information on Jacksonville’s park system, visit www.coj.net and search “Parks.”

Parks & Recreation - Boating And Water Sports

At times, it seems that everyone in Jacksonville has some connection to the water. On weekends the roads are dotted with pickup trucks hauling sportfishing boats. You can also tell when there’s a good swell hitting the shores by the number of cars zipping along with surfboards strapped to their roofs. During the summer months, a steady procession of both tourists and locals, makes its way to the Beaches for an afternoon of swimming, hanging out, and being seen.

In fact, it’s hard to avoid even seeing water. Either the St. Johns River, one of its many creeks, or the Intracoastal Waterway crosses almost every major road.

If you’re planning to visit Jacksonville, you owe it to yourself to make full use of our abundant watery resources. Fishing enthusiasts can launch their boats at the well-used public boat ramps around town and head out for a day of fishing in the river or open waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Sailors love to hoist their sails on the wide stretches of the St. Johns River south of Downtown. Pleasure boaters can spend entire days navigating the scenic Intracoastal Waterway. Surfers, Jet Skiers, and kayakers have miles and miles of potential area in which to play.

If someone offers to take you out on a boat, say YES! There’s nothing like seeing this city from the water. If you bring your own, don’t fret about how you’ll get it into the water. The numerous public boat ramps conveniently located throughout Jacksonville make launching a breeze. If you don’t bring a boat, rental and charter companies await your call year-round.

For those who prefer to experience nature a little closer to the shoreline, Jacksonville offers some wonderful spots for kayaking, surfing, and swimming.

Jet Skis and other personal watercraft (PWCs) are popular in Jacksonville. You can ride them on the Intracoastal Waterway, the ocean, and the St. Johns River. If you bring your own PWC or rent one while you’re here, be sure to inquire about where you can and can’t operate them. For example, you can launch PWCs from the beach only at specific places. Once in the water, you must maintain a safe distance from swimmers and surfers.

Parks & Recreation - Fishing

After golf, fishing is the largest sports industry in Florida. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state hosts over 3,000,000 anglers per year, making Florida the No. 1 fishing destination in the United States. In Jacksonville, it’s easy to see why.

With quick access to the Atlantic Ocean, miles and miles of sandy beaches, a deep-channel river, and thousands of acres of tidal marshes, the Jacksonville area offers anglers a variety of fishing habitats. There’s something for everyone. You can sit at anchor in the mouth of the St. Johns River and pursue the elusive flounder, paddle a kayak around shallow salt marshes searching for tailing redfish, or head offshore for kingfish. There’s also excellent freshwater bass fishing on the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville.

For the best fishing in the Jacksonville area, you’ll need a boat. If you bring your own, there are ample public boat ramps scattered throughout the area for quick access to either the Intracoastal Waterway or the ocean. If you don’t have your own, you can rent a boat or hire one of the dozens of fishing charters available in the area.

Jacksonville also is home to a number of well-known fishing contests, most notably the AT&T Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, billed as the largest kingfishing tournament in the United States.

Before you begin fishing, though, make sure you’ve got the proper licenses.