| | Overview (Source: Frommers) |
36 miles S of the Georgia border, 134 miles NE of Orlando, 340 miles N of Miami Once infamous for its smelly paper mills, the sprawling metropolis of Jacksonville -- residents call it "Jax," from its airport abbreviation -- is now one of the South's insurance and banking capitals. Development was rampant throughout Duval County during the 1990s, with hotels, restaurants, attractions, and clubs springing up, especially in suburban areas near the interstate highways. Aside from that, there are 20 miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches upon which to sun and swim, championship golf courses, and an abundance of beautiful and historic national and state parks to roam. Spanning the broad, curving St. Johns River, downtown Jacksonville is a vibrant center of activity during weekdays and on weekend afternoons and evenings, when many locals head to the restaurants and bars of Jacksonville Landing and Southbank Riverwalk. These two dining-and-entertainment complexes face each other across the river and have helped to revitalize the downtown area. Back to Top Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
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| History (Source: WCities) | Top | Nowhere else in Florida or in the nation will you be closer to the nation's roots than in this region of Florida which likes to call itself Florida First Coast. That "First" is a reference to the region's undisputed antiquity, not to mention its spot in history as the first place in the nation to welcome European explorers and as the first foreign settlement in the nation. Historically, Florida was born here, and it was here that the first tiny trickle of tourism flowed into what was to become a flood of visitors to the nation's number one vacation destination. When Jacksonville welcomed its first tourist, Miami was still a swamp. And long before that, when Jacksonville was just a forest of scrub pine and some lonely sand, neighboring St. Augustine was already a thriving colony. Here on Florida's First Coast, you meet a part of the state that is like no other sector of this sunny peninsula. Its sand is packed hard enough to drive on; its lifestyle is as gentle as its Southern drawls. Here mists drift over wide rivers, and pine woods and giant live oaks drip an odd, epiphytic plant called Spanish moss that makes an eerie sight on a foggy morn. This land was in the middle of a battle long before the Pilgrims ever dreamed of sailing off into the sunset. In those early days, the religiously persecuted were the French Huguenots, whose Protestant religion was frowned upon by Catholic Europe. In 1562, they set sail from France, arriving here months later and settling
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| How To Get There (Source: WCities) | Top | Getting There Air Jacksonville International Airport ( JAX ) +1 904 741 2000 http://www.jaa.aero/ JAX is located only a short distance from downtown and services the following airlines: Air Tran ( +1 800 776 3000/ http://www.airtran.com/ ) American Airlines ( +1 800 433 7300/ http://www.aa.com/ ) Comair-Delta ( +1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com ) Continental ( +1 800 525 0280/ http://www.continental.com ) Delta ( +1 800 221 1212/ http://www.delta.com ) Executive Airlines ( +1 800 423 7300/ http://www.executive-airlines.com/ ) Independence Airlines ( +1 800 359 3594/ http://www.flyi.com/ ) Northwest ( +1 800 225 2525/ http://www.nwa.com ) Southwest Airlines ( +1 800 435 9792/ http://www.southwest.com/ ) United ( +1 800 241 6522/ http://www.ual.com ) US Airways ( +1 800 428 4322/ http://www.usairways.com ) Airport Parking: Park Space ( +1 800 763 6895/ http://www.pnfnetwork.com ) From the Airport Taxi: Gator City Taxi ( +1 904 741 0008 or +1 904 355 8294 ) Car Rental: ANC Car Rental ( +1 904 741 4580 ) Avis ( +1 800 831 2847/ http://www.avis.com ) Budget ( +1 800 527 0700/ http://www.budget.com ) Dollar ( +1 800 4000/ http://www.dollar.com ) Enterprise ( +1 800 261 7331/ http://www.enterprise.com/ ) Hertz ( +1 800 654 3131/ http://www.hertz.com Thrifty ( +1 800 847 4389 / http://www.thrifty.com/ ) Train Jacksonville Station,
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| What To Do (Source: WCities) | Top | The heart and soul of this Southern metropolis is the St. Johns River, twisting and turning through the city and finally emptying into the Atlantic Ocean on the city's eastern border. All that water seeps into every aspect of Jacksonville's entertainment scene, from the fast-paced downtown grid that straddles the river to miles of sandy beaches where the parties go on well into the night. Museums The Museum of Science and History offers a learning experience with interactive exhibits on deep-sea adventures, native wildlife, and a look at the stars above in the Alexander Brest Planetarium . Contemporary art lovers can immerse themselves in Jacksonville's up-and-coming art scene at the renowned Cummer Art Museum and Gardens and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art . Performing Arts Jacksonville is a thriving center of the performing and visual arts. Facing the sparkling St. Johns River is the Times Union Performing Arts Center , newly rebuilt and proudly featuring top performances by the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra , Broadway in Jacksonville and a wide range of other musical concerts and art exhibitions. Theater The historic Florida Theatre hosts concerts, dance, theater and film festivals. Theatre Jacksonville is home to the longest continuously running community theater in the United States. Another revitalized piece of Jacksonville's past is the Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum , home to the area's hottest jazz concer
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