Amtrak [5] provides service to other Florida destinations such as Orlando and Miami , but also conne

Jacksonville [1] is situated on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida. It has the misleading distinction of being the most populous city in the state as measured by the number of residents within the city limits which comprises all of Duval county, but it is in fact the largest city in area in the continental United States. The metropolitan area extends beyond Duval County into Nassau, St. Johns, Baker and Clay counties and has a population of more than 1.25 million people, easily exceeded by Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa and Orlando.
Jacksonville International Airport ( IATA : JAX ) [2] . Jacksonville International Airport is the First Coast's commercial airport, with scheduled service offered by AirTran Airways, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, jetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines, and US Airways. The airport is located approximately 15 miles north of downtown.
You can fly into Jacksonville International Airport direct from 24 cities: Atlanta , Baltimore , Birmingham , Boston , Charlotte , Chicago , Cincinnati , Dallas / Fort Worth , Detroit , Fort Lauderdale , Houston , Las Vegas , Memphis , Miami , Minneapolis , Nashville , New York City , Newark , Norfolk , Philadelphia , San Juan , Tampa , and Washington travel planning websites .
The airport has one terminal building, with ticketing on the upper "Departures" level and baggage claim and ground transportation on the lower "Arrivals" level. There are two areas for ground transportation, travel planning websites at the center front for taxis and area hotel shuttles, and at the north end (outside of Baggage Carousel 1) for Pre-Arranged Ground Transportation, including limousines, intercity buses/shuttles, and local JTA city buses. Airline travel planning websites gates radiate from three concourses, travel planning websites A, B, and C which all funnel through one central security screening area. Generally arriving one hour before travel planning websites a flight's scheduled departure is plenty of time, but during major holidays, such as Thanksgiving, allow one and a half to two hours.
Public transit from JAX to Downtown travel planning websites Jacksonville is provided by JTA Route CT-3 [3] , every hour, picking up at Pre-Arranged Ground Transportation (north end of the terminal outside Baggage Carousel 1, lower level). $1.
Jacksonville has three general aviation airports, Cecil Field, Herlong, and Craig airports, all of which are administered by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority [4] . These airports do not have any scheduled commercial flights and can only be reached by charter plane.
Amtrak [5] provides service to other Florida destinations such as Orlando and Miami , but also connects to other points as far north as New York via the Silver Star and Silver travel planning websites Meteor lines. The station is located approximately 5 miles northwest travel planning websites of downtown Jacksonville at 3570 Clifford Lane.
Greyhound , 10 North Pearl St., [6] . Greyhound offers service west to Tallahasee and New Orleans, south to Orlando and Miami, and north to Charleston and New York, as well as to regional destinations such as St. Augustine and Lake City. The Jacksonville travel planning websites Greyhound Station is located in the heart of downtown Jacksonville, next to the AT T Tower. The JTA Skyway Central Station is located across Bay St. (at the rear, south side of the Greyhound station building).
Megabus , [7] . Once daily service from Atlanta and Orlando . The bus stop is located at the Jacksonville Skyway Convention Center Station (1100 West Forsyth St). The stop will be at the last loading bay which is closest to Johnson St.
Unless you want to spend a lot of time waiting for buses, a car is a must to fully experience Jacksonville; due to Jacksonville's size and low density, most destinations are not within walking distance of each other. Mass transit is limited to the city bus system, and an elevated rail system in the downtown district travel planning websites that links both banks of the river with a crossing travel planning websites on the Acosta Bridge. The bus system is minimally adequate; no bus runs past midnight, and many bus routes stop running at around 8 or 9PM. All buses are linked via GPS to a central control travel planning websites system and stops are well-marked throughout travel planning websites the entire city.
Jacksonville Transportation Authority , Phone: (904) 630-3100, [8] . The bus system is fairly extensive in scope, but you must plan ahead as the frequency of stops is between 30 minutes to an hour. Buses are air-conditioned and reasonably comfortable, but JTA buses struggle with on-time performance.
It is also possible to bike around the historic neighborhoods of Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill, and San Marco. Starting in Riverside, you can walk or bike down the Riverwalk to the Main St. Bridge, located in downtown. Ride or walk over the bridge to access San Marco and its many shops and restaurants. Biking is a great way to enjoy the urban core's varied and beautiful architecture which is so easy to miss by car.
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens , 829 Riverside Avenue, Phone: (904) 356-6857, [17] . Tu 10AM-9PM; W,F,Th,Sa 10AM-4PM; Su 12PM-5PM. A recently expanded art gallery and formal garden set alongside travel planning websites the Jacksonville waterfront. Features primarily European and American paintings as well as a large collection of early Meissen porcelain.
Museum Of Contemporary Art Jacksonville , 333 North Laura Street (Downtown Jacksonville), Phone: (904) 366-6991, [18] . Tu, Fr, Sat, Sun 10AM-4PM; Wed, Th 10AM-9PM; Closed Monday. This Museum recently travel planning websites relocated to its Hemming Park location in the historic Western Union Telegraph Building and presents a large number travel planning websites of innovative contemporary art exhibits created by regional, national travel planning websites and international travel planning websites artists.
The University of North Florida Gallery , 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road, Phone: 904-620-2534, [19] . M,W,Th 9AM-5PM; travel planning websites Tu 9AM-7PM, F 9AM-3PM. travel planning websites Features several exhibitions each year including regional and national travel planning websites artists and UNF faculty and student art.
The Riverside Arts Market , Riverside Avenue at Interstate-95, Phone: 904-554-6865, [24] . Open every Saturday 10AM-4PM, April to December. A weekly travel planning websites arts crafts market on the Riverwalk under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge.
The Jacksonville Landing , located downtown on the northbank of the St. Johns River, is Jacksonville's festival gathering place. This retail and entertainment center has as its attractions waterfront dining, nightclubs and unique shops all in an urban, maritime setting. This is a prime location for holiday celebrations and viewing travel planning websites downtown fireworks. During the Christmas season, travel planning websites the Landing is also the site of the largest Christmas tree in northeast Florida. [25]
Hemming Plaza is a block sized park in the center of Jacksonville's downtown. Named for Confederate veteran Charles C. Hemming, who in 1898 donated to the City the Confederate monument which is the focal point of the park. The park is surrounded by Jacksonville's City Hall, the United States Courthouse, the Museum travel planning websites Of Contemporary Art, the new public Main Library for Jacksonville, the former Snyder Memorial Church and various restaurants. Step inside City Hall, which is a restored department store built in 1912 and designed in the prairie style by noted local architect Henry John Klutho, and take a look at the large, sunlit atrium which dominates the interior travel planning websites of the structure. The new downtown Main Library opened in 2005 and is the largest Main Library in the state of Florida. The postmodern structure was designed by noted architect Robert A.M. Stern and features a Grand Reading Room and a quiet Courtyard for outdoor travel planning websites reading. [26]
Riverside , located about a mile southwest of downtown on the banks of the St. Johns River, this neighborhood was built primarily between 1910 and 1930 and features a variety of historic homes, travel planning websites churches and apartment buildings. It has as its commercial center eclectic Five Points which features both unique retail and dining all in a bohemian atmosphere. Also notable in the neighborhood is Memorial Park which is situated near Five Points adjacent to the River. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, Jr. and has as its centerpiece a statue of Winged Victory as a memorial to the dead of World War I. To visit this area from downtown, take Jefferson Street travel planning websites which becomes Riverside Avenue. [27]
Avondale , located along the St. Johns River just southwest of and adjacent to Riverside, was built during the 1920s Florida land boom as "Riverside's Residential Ideal". The stately historic houses here were constructed travel planning websites in a variety of architectural styles, including Tudor, Georgian Revival, Prairie, Shingle, Mediterranean Revival and Bungalow. The commercial heart of the neighborhood is known as the Shoppes of Avondale which are located along St. Johns Avenue between Talbot and Dancy Streets. Here, there are many upscale dining and shopping opportunities. [28]
Fort Caroline National Memorial , Mt. Pleasant Rd., (904) 641-7155, [29] . Daily 9AM-4:45PM. The original travel planning websites French fort, destroyed by Spanish travel planning websites troops from St. Augustine, now lies somewhere beneath the St. John's River. A modern recreation currently stands on the riverbank with a museum dedicated to the first settlements by the French in the area.
Castle Otttis , on FL-A1A 3 miles north of St. Augustine, [30] . "an original landscape-sculpture, Done in Remembrance of Jesus Christ". This privately owned castle modled after "an Irish castle of 1,000 years ago" is open by appointment to school and church groups. It is clearly visable from SR A1A and is illuminated with blue lights from within at night.
Museum of Science and History , 1025 Museum Circle, (904) 396-6674 ( Fax: (904) 396-5799 ), [32] . M-F 10AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-6PM, Su 1PM-6PM. Also known as the "MOSH" by locals, the museum has many interesting science exhibits, and some interesting information about local history.
San Marco Theatre , 1996 San Marco Blvd., 904-396-4845, [33] . The oldest running first-run single-screen theatre in Jacksonville. Serving up your favorite beers, wine and food while you watch the movie. Fantastic midnight film series.
Riverside Arts Market , 715 Riverside Ave ( Riverside Ave. under the F