jax boating family (Jacksonville, Fruit Cove: crime rate, schools, camping)

[jdl711]

wondering how Jax is for a family i know crime rate high but would live out of limits or nearby city, were looking for water activities, wondering is there good places to go tubing, camping, not sure if St Johns is good or not and if issue with alligators???? of course we could alays go to beach/ocean but what about around the inlet or chicopit bay can u tube or boat there???? thanks

[fsu813]

1) only certain areas of the city have a higher than normal crime rate. if you don't live in those areas, then you don't have anyother unusual to worry about.

2) there are lots of outdoors areas for families. most of the st. johns near the city is alligator free, though it's not exactly super clean. Hanna Park, Ichetucknee River, St. Johns river, intracoastal waterway, Tree Hill nature center, Talbot island, Amelia island, Doctors lake, Ortega River, Huganaught park, Timacuan preserve, nature preserve at UNF, etc are all great venues to enjoy the outdoors. Fishing, camping, hiking, tubing, kayaking, swimming, boating can be done at these various locations.

Jacksonville also has one of the largest public park systems in the US too, with a ton of great public parks in the historic districts that surrond Downtown (with plans for more).

[BabyBoomers2]

We (wife/I) have a boat.....20' Cuddy that we put on the St. Johns River. True, that river doesn't have the cleanest water, but don't know of any river that is really clean! Actually, the water at a couple of Reserviors just south of Denver, Colorado that we use to go to, the water seemed dirtier than this river. The water is "brackish" meaning salt-combo-fresh in the Jacksonville area.
We call it "Root Beer water" and won't swim in it, but have seen tubes tied to bowriders being launched and some kids do Wakeboard on the river. But, mostly the river is used for fishing, sailing and cruising around. When we get use to cruising/fishing the river, we will then try out the intracoastal waterways.
Good Luck and Have Fun boating here!

[ljfam]

We are fairly new to Florida but we have a boat. We love tubing and swimming in Julington Creek. I was told that gators will not bother you if swimming tubing skiing etc... we have seen them but they have always been at the edges and in near the trees. We live in Fruit Cove and it is very convienient to the water. I would be leary of tubing in the St Johns only because it can get pretty choppy. There is also doctors inlet that I see people in the water. There is so much to do here and we have 3 boys to keep busy and they love the water! Good Luck!

[jdl711]

any area guides, like relocation guides available i cant find any on internet, need more info, best areas to live near city, water access, schools, parks etc....???

[BabyBoomers2]

We live 10 miles directly south from downtown, very close to the 95 and the 295. We have one boat ramp that is close to us (approx. 7 mi from where our boat is stored).......Goody's Creek Landing @ San Jose Blvd/Baymeadows. The other ramp is somewhat further away at Julington Creek/Mandarin Park with is next to San Jose Blvd and a few miles south of the 295.

[jtruog]

Hey LoveBoating....we just moved into town pretty near where you are and have a 20ft. bowrider. It seems that Goodby's Creek marina is the most convenient to us as well. How do you like it? Fees? Access? Service? Does it get busy enough to have a long wait on the weekends? Send me a PM if you ever want company on the water. We've been here for a month and been busy settling in, don't know anyone....and we have a 5 month old (which puts a damper on spontaneous boating!) so we haven't gotten the boat in the water yet. Looking forward to hearing where you like to boat to. Thanks!

[BabyBoomers2]

Sent you a PM.
Nice to see more boaters getting into the Jax Forum!

[fsquid]

I'm not a boater, but it was a cool sity driving over Julington Creek and seeing all the boats on the water.

[jdl711]

ok so no guides? to jax, but some boaters lol.........