There are many reasons to love living in Jacksonville, FL, including its proximity to a wide variety of things to do. You can spend the day touring a museum or plantation and end your day with a concert that will rock your world. If you are unsure of how you want to spend your day, we recommend loading your family into your Mazda CX-90 and checking out one of these exciting weekend activities.
3 Weekend Activities You Can Drive to Near Jacksonville, FL
1. Visit Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
If your kids are tired of being cooped up in the house on a beautiful summer day, we strongly recommend taking them to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens at 370 Zoo Parkway. There are over 100 acres of award-winning gardens and exhibits to explore, including Giraffe Overlook, Amphibian Conservation Center, and Emerald Forest Aviary. There is also a permanent collection of artwork and traveling sculptural exhibits that you won’t want to miss.
2. Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
If you are impressed by the gardens at Jacksonville Zoo, you will be blown away by the gardens at Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens at 829 Riverside Avenue. Generally, children between 6 and 17 years old require a $15 ticket, and adults generally need to pay $20 for admission. However, you and your family can enjoy free admission from 10 to 4 on the first Saturday of each month, making a visit an ideal weekend activity.
The Italian Garden is the crown jewel at Cummer Gardens. It was designed in 1931 by Ellen Biddle Shipman, featuring two reflecting pools and a gloriette that is reminiscent of some of Tuscany’s most famous water gardens. The J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver Community Sculpture Garden is also worth checking out while you’re here. It hosts a temporary exhibit annually and is home to four permanent installations.
3. Tour the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
We also recommend dedicating some of your weekend to touring the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary at 1860 Starratt Road. Night Feeding tours are Fridays and Saturdays from 6 to 8, your last chance to book a ticket online is 5 o’clock, and your last chance to be admitted is 7 o’clock.
The self-guided walking tour can be enjoyed at your own pace, but most people walk the 1-mile handicap accessible path in roughly 40 to 45 minutes. Just make sure to stick around for the big cats being fed at 7.
There are lots of fun ways you can spend your weekend in the Jacksonville area, but you need a reliable way to get there. If your vehicle no longer meets your family’s needs, visit us at Mazda City of Orange Park to test drive a more suitable vehicle.
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