Places 2 go for me and my familiy (Jacksonville, Palm Coast: home, neighborhoods)

[damo8587]

Hi everybody,

I am new in town with my parents and I'd love to come around a little bit. We are not that much interested in art und museums, but everything that has to do with nature, or just some nice neighbour hoods, streets. I heard a lot about several springs, about amelia island, big talbot island.... Which places are worth to see? I know there is a lot, but I want to know about your personal preferences. Which places do you like? We are willing to drive up to 3 hours.

thanks!

[mawipafl]

Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, historic St. Augustine, Jacksonville Arboretum (off Monument Road), Fort Caroline Memorial National Park and Timucuan Preserve, Okefenokee Swamp in southern Georgia, St. Marys Georgia and Cumberland Island, drive A1A and the coastal route from Fernandina to Amelia to to Big Talbot and Little Talbot to Neptune/Atlantic/Jacksonville beaches to Ponte Vedra to St. Augustine. Those are just a few of our favorites around here.

[fsu813]

As far as nice neighborhoods go.....Avondale & Riverside are very nice historic neighborhoods with lots of parks, botiques, cafes, on the river, etc. Lots to do there. San Marco is very similar (just on the other side of the river) but it's a little more luxurious and little less historic. Springfield is the most historic neighborhood in the city, dating back to 1860-something. It's a little over half refinished and doesn't have the commecrial draws yet.

All are great from driving or walking through.

In fact, the Riverside & Avondale home tour has last weekend. Springfield's home tour is in early May (www.sparcouncil.org for more info i think)......i'm not sure if San Marco has a home tour.

[bobsim]

I'd love to come around a little bit.

Neat phrase, never heard it before. Where are you from? I wanted to add a couple of suggestions to the list. I don't know what part of town you live in but Arlington has a new park open- Reddie Point observation pier. The pier offers fishing and a great view of the Saint Johns River and Mill Cove. Lots of marine birds and sighting of porpoises and manatees can be had from the pier. The downside is it's about a mile walk to the pier, the walk is easy, through nearly pristine area with several ponds.
Also along the pristine theme, just south of St. Augustine in the Bunnell area are Favor Dykes and Princess Place. Both worth checking out.
Favor Dykes State Park, a Florida State Park near Palm Coast, Saint Augustine

Princess Place Preserve

Reddie Point Preserve