Since its consolidation with Duval County in 1968, Jacksonville has been the largest city in the Unites States by land area. Located about 25 miles south of the Georgia border on the Atlantic coast of Florida, Jacksonville is built on both sides of the St. Johns River. Originally founded as the town of Cowford in 1791, named for the narrow portion of the St. Johns River that cattle drivers would use to cross the river, the city was renamed in 1822 in honor of Andrew Jackson, then Governer of the Florida Territories and later President of the United States. Jacksonville is now home to a wide selection of vacation rental homes and condos.
Accommodations
Jacksonville offers a relaxing, fun and sun oriented getaway with a variety of condos, vacation homes, hotels, and resorts. Choose an accommodation near any of Jacksonville's local attractions that offers comfort while making the most of the beautiful beaches and attractions at affordably priced rates.
View our Northeast Florida Vacation Rentals or Northeast Florida Resorts
Activities
Adventure Landing is
Jacksonville's premier family entertainment center that includes a seasonal waterpark and year round minigolf, go carts, laser tag and more. Fort Clinch State Park is a pre-Civil War coastal fort listed on the National Register of Historical Places, offering sixty-two campsites. 1,363 acres of beach, dunes, maritime forest and tidal marsh, with hiking and off road bicycling trails available. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is 89 acres with over 1,400 animals and over 1,000 species of plants, educational programs and free parking.
Events
Established in 1964 to celebrate the opening of the shrimping season, the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival has evolved from shrimp boat races to a fine arts & crafts, food, antiques, entertainment, and family fun festival. Always the first weekend in May, the Shrimp Festival is held in the historic downtown business district of Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. Jacksonville is the site of the New Years Day Gatorbowl each year, hosting the #2 ACC team vs the #2 Big East team, or Notre Dame. The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is held every April and is the second-largest jazz festival in the nation, The Jacksonville Film Festival is held in May, featuring a variety of independent films, documentaries, and shorts screening at seven historic venues in the city.
Water Sports
The Atlantic Coast beaches of Jacksonville and Amelia Island are perfect for swimming, surfing, or catching up on your tan. You can also find powerboat and sailboat rentals, as well as jetski rentals. The warm Gulf of Mexico waters are inviting for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Golfing
Rated as one of Golf Digest's Top ten destinations with over 25 golf courses to choose from and consistently perfect weather, Jacksonville Beach, St. Augustine and Amelia Island are a golfer's paradise, especially considering the value and hidden gems to be discovered. Home of the PGA Tour headquarters, St. Augustine is the home of the World Golf Hall of Fame and the World Golf Village.
History
European explorers first arrived in 1562, when French explorer Jean Ribault charted the St. Johns River. The French established the first European settlement at Fort Caroline two years later, however on September 20, 1565, a Spanish force attacked Fort Caroline from the nearby Spanish settlement of St. Augustine, and killed all the French soldiers (except Catholics). The Spanish renamed it Fort San Mateo. Two years later, the French recaptured the settlement from the Spanish and slaughtered all of the Spanish defenders. After the initial destruction of Fort Caroline, St. Augustine became the most important settlement in Florida.
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