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Sightseeing in Jacksonville - what to see. Complete travel guide

There are many large cities in Florida, and Jacksonville is one of them. In modern times, this is a rapidly developing urban center, and this fact has a beneficial impact on the prosperity of local people, and, naturally, on the size of Jacksonville’s population. Tourists also enjoy visiting this city because of the gorgeous old districts of Jacksonville that still have many historical buildings, an interesting location on the St. Johns River, beautiful waterfronts, and a large number of museums.
The territory of modern Jacksonville was one of the earliest settlements in the territory of the United States. The first settlement in the area, Ossachite, appeared approximately 6,000 years ago. At that time, the Timucua people lived there. Europeans appeared in this part of the American land only in the 60s of the 16th century. This is when French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault landed on the bank of the St. Johns River. After that, the river appeared on the map. Two years after this event, the first European settlement on the river – Fort Caroline – was established. This territory became a part of the United States only in the first part of the 19th century. This is when the city got its current name. Jacksonville got its name after the seventh President of the United States of America.
During the Civil War period, in 1864, the biggest battle in Florida, the Battle of Olustee, took place near Jacksonville. Even though the city remained safe and didn’t get any damage, the war had a negative effect on the economy of the region. In 1867, Jacksonville turned into a winter resort that attracted celebrities and rich people. When the Second World War started, it was decided to make a naval base in the city. When the war ended, the nearby settlements merged with Jacksonville, making it the biggest city in the United States at that time. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
Beaches in Jacksonville are perfectly suitable for both groups of tourists and families with children. Despite the achievements of the local building industry, the city’s authorities banned development near the waterfront. This is the reason why local beaches maintain their original look. The Jacksonville Beach area is the most popular. It is also the biggest one. This part of the city is always crowded but it is quite calm at the same time. Because of this, it is always comfortable to relax here and forget about the urban stress. Tourists can even fish in the river and don’t worry that the surrounding noise and people might drive the fish out.
Tourists and vacationers from all over the world visit this place in order to not only sunbathe but also enjoy various activities such as cycling and beach volleyball. Are you fond of horseback riding? There are special sites where people can ride a horse not far from the beach area. Even complete beginners can ride a horse here together with a professional who teaches the basics of horseback riding. Fans of exploring the underwater world can always rent all gear nearby. Water is quite transparent in this region, so it is easy to see the bottom even without goggles.
Travelers and vacationers in Jacksonville usually enjoy visiting Friendship Fountain in Jacksonville that has got worldwide recognition. The fountain is installed on the south bank of the St. Johns River. The official opening of this marvelous fountain happened in 1965. At that time, this was the tallest and biggest fountain in the world. The fountain was reconstructed and remade a number of times over the years, but it still remains the calling card and the most famous attraction of the resort city.
Besides beach recreation, tourists can visit local museums if they want to learn more about the culture and history of the region. There are many museums of different kinds in Jacksonville. For example, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens is a great venue that is worth visiting. In this museum, visitors can see unique and interesting artworks by talented artists not only from America but also famous European painters. Besides paintings, the museum exhibits a big collection of porcelain. Each item exhibited here is a masterpiece with its own story.
You are lucky if you visit Jacksonville during the Independence Day celebration. On July 4th, all local people celebrate this important holiday, and so this is a traditional time for festivities of all kinds. Various parades and festive processions with loud music have become an essential part of the holiday. In the evening, bright fireworks paint the sky in different colors.
Jacksonville has an international airport that is situated twenty-three kilometers from the central part of the city. The airport serves flights from the majority of large US cities such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Huston, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia. Besides air connection, there are daily trains to Jacksonville from New York and Miami.

City tours, excursions and tickets in Jacksonville and surroundings

Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks around Jacksonville
♥   City Park 'Tattersall' , 13 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   State Park 'Fort George Island Cultural' , 23.8 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   State Park 'Little Talbot Island' , 25.2 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   State Park 'Big Talbot Island' , 26.6 km from the center. On the map   Photo
♥   State Park 'Amelia Island' , 37.7 km from the center. On the map   Photo
Map of all art museums
Art galleries in Jacksonville and around
♥   Art museum 'Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville' Jacksonville, 0.4 km from the center. On the map   Photo

Sights around Jacksonville from our guide 'Extreme places on Earth'

Betz Mystery Sphere

From the series “Most Curious Artifacts of Extraterrestrial Origin”
The unique possibilities of the sphere were not limited to this. During further 'house research' the family has found out that the ball has the boomerang properties. If you hit the sphere on the flat surface, it can roll on it for more than 10 minutes with small pauses, but will return to the starting point at the end. The strange sphere is 'weather-sensitive': if you put it in the shade, it will necessarily roll on the sun. At present, the location of the artifact, as well as its hosts, is unknown. It can not be excluded that they have left the house after the series of mysterious phenomena. The American UFO researchers claim that the poltergeist was rampant on the Betz farm in the late 1970s. … Read further
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Rentals in Jacksonville

Expo 2020 in Dubai Was Visited by More Than 7 Million Visitors

If you haven’t visited this event yet, there is still time to book a hotel in Dubai because Expo 2020 Dubai runs until 31 March 2022. People who are unable to visit the emirate can make a virtual tour on the Expo 2020 website. By the way, the virtual visitation has already reached 31.6 million by the end of December. Read this

19.03.2024

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Sightseeing in regions nearby Jacksonville

All about Jacksonville, USA - sightseeings, attractions, touristic spots, architecture, history, culture and cuisine. Prepare your trip together with OrangeSmile.com - find out the 'must see' things in Jacksonville, which places to visit, which excursions to take, where the breathtaking views are waiting for you. Planning your trip with this travel guide will help your to get the most out of Jacksonville in few days.
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