I love it here! (Jacksonville, Orlando: condo, work, crime)

[smash731]

Hi all,

I've posted a few times asking about random things before. I moved in last weekend, and so far I LOVE it here! I'm on Jax Beach two blocks from the ocean, and my jaw dropped when I saw the pristine white sand, the tall buildings like Fort Lauderdale, and the pier. Everyone is soooo friendly (I, um, knocked over a display at Winn Dixie by accident and everyone stopped to help....and my car broke down and the mechanic is goign to come pick me up when it's fixed because he knows I don't have any friends yet). I love all the dogs on the beach (no pit bulls!), and everyone seems to love to exercise on the beach. I honestly thought I would hate it here (big city northerner who spent the last two yrs in Brevard hating life), but I'm super impressed so far. I work on the southside and the drive isn't too bad, half an hour if leave early enough.

The only bad thing: driving here seems to be a war zone. It's worse than DC. I also think it's worse than Orlando, which is the only other "bad driver" place I've experienced. I4 now seems tame But overall, Jax gets two thumbs up from me. I can't wait to check out San Marco and the Landing once my car is fixed.

One question...does anyone know if there is public recycling? The condo complex where I'm renting doesn't have recycling and I cannot bring myself to put plastic/paper/cans in the trash.

thx
Ashley

[Lawstudent]

Recycling is really hit or miss here. We noticed the same thing once you start to recycle it is hard to not do it. In suburbia it is more regular


Congrats on your new place the beach is very nice and makes the things that irritate seem less important

[backtofla]

"The only bad thing: driving here seems to be a war zone. It's worse than DC. I also think it's worse than Orlando"


that makes me cringe. there must be something to it b/c i keep hearing it. yikes. and i am trying to escape orlando and move up there

[riveree]

Originally Posted by smash731

One question...does anyone know if there is public recycling? The condo complex where I'm renting doesn't have recycling and I cannot bring myself to put plastic/paper/cans in the trash.

thx
Ashley

Here's the city of Jacksonville Beach's official website with their recycling info(remember, it's unincorporated, so Jax Beach has its' own mayor, police, fire, etc. seperate from the city of Jacksonville):

http://www.jaxbch.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={9304DB62-033D-4263-B4D2-7706AE74C1A2}

Watch out for those pesky displays, Ashley !

[titaniummd]

I have only driven to St John's Towne Center and around Orange Park and this is Nothing Like DC. DC and its surrounding suburbs is chaos. To me, this is a vast improvement. I also echo the positive sentiments of the citizens who live and work here.

[smash731]

titanium,

I haven't been to Orange Park or St. Johns Center yet, I guess those are nice places to drive? It's JTB that I think is scary. I think that I'm so used to being in traffic that cars flying by and cutting in and out scares me...when you're in bumper to bumper traffic, no one can hit you hard enough to do damage

But really, that's nitpicking, I think the good far outweighs the bad.

[he's so hott]

Originally Posted by smash731

titanium,

I haven't been to Orange Park or St. Johns Center yet, I guess those are nice places to drive? It's JTB that I think is scary. I think that I'm so used to being in traffic that cars flying by and cutting in and out scares me...when you're in bumper to bumper traffic, no one can hit you hard enough to do damage

But really, that's nitpicking, I think the good far outweighs the bad.

Try Blanding Blvd all the way thru OP (Orange Park). Very nice road to drive on.

[HIF]

Originally Posted by he's so hott

Try Blanding Blvd all the way thru OP (Orange Park). Very nice road to drive on.

My favorite drive on Blanding is from the Buckman, then taking Blanding south in the afternoon. I especially like it now that the weather is so nice.

But seriously- a beautiful drive for a weekend afternoon is south down 13 (San Jose) through Switzerland.

[riveree]

He'ssohott and HIF - you two are so bad !

Smash, Blanding is a good one to avoid unless you need to drive on it .

You're close to the Saint John's Town Center, so that's worth checking out.

For Orange Park, the Orange Park Mall might be a destination for shopping, but it's just a typical American mall. There's no other real "destination" that comes to mind other than just driving around and looking at the different neighborhoods (along the river is pretty).

HIF's idea about driving south on San Jose is a nice one. I also like the northern part of San Jose Blvd (the name changes into "Hendricks" once you're in San Marco). The backroads of San Jose, near the river, is a great drive - beautiful neighborhoods back there.

Of course check out San Marco. Check out "Five Points" in Riverside. Take a drive down A1A into Ponte Vedra and Vilano Beach- very nice drive. Spend a day in downtown St. Augustine. Take a drive up to Fernandina Beach (up A1A). Lots of great places to check out .

[adventure quester]

me and my boyfriend are currently only 17 and we are looking at jax to move from phoenix, az, mainly because arizona gets old and we want a new adventure for when we turn 18. my parents are kindaa disapproving, which makes me freak out a lot about going out on my own, but your message was just so encouraging! i was especially worries about like crime and stuff or if the city was like "a bad neighborhood". do you feel safe living there?