Beach real estate is a coveted dream for many people. Florida is an obvious location to find some prime beach housing, but there are many places to settle on the beach in the state. Jacksonville is a sprawling city full of real estate. Jacksonville beach real estate is one of the best places to settle when looking for that dream beach home.
Jacksonville Beach is 20 miles east of downtown Jacksonville and known as northeast Florida’s best kept secret. The community loves the surf, music, art, and nature. People are attracted to the town for the hard-packed white sandy beaches, family-friendly ambience, eclectic shopping, and great dining.
The location of Jacksonville Beach is another huge attractor that is causing the population to grow. Getting to the big city of Jacksonville is simple with major transportation arteries. The beach is a few minutes away from major sporting park events. Broadway shoes and live music concerts are also nearby.
The biggest part of Jacksonville’s appeal is the water. The heart of the city is located on St. Johns River which is where there is a lot of recreational waterway traffic and activity. In the east is a stretch of Intracoastal Waterway which is an aquatic and ecological beauty. These pieces of water may seem confining, which is why the Atlantic Ocean is accessible by beach communities.
The beaches have thriving nightlife venues. Cocktails, microbrews, live rock ‘n’ roll, and karaoke are easy to find on the beach. The waters and beach areas make Jacksonville a great fishing community as well. There are even huge fishing tournaments with rewards offered in Jacksonville.
Living on the beach is not the only thing Jacksonville offers. Jacksonville’s urban park system is the largest in the country with over 100,000 acres. Residents can go running, biking, or camping when some time is needed away from that amazing piece of beach real estate. The Jacksonville Zoo is also another piece of Jacksonville that is ecological outstanding with great wildlife.
Golf enthusiasts should check out Jacksonville. There are more than 70 public and private golf courses sprawled throughout the city. Golf tournaments are held frequently. The Ponte Vedra Beach is the site of the PGA Tour Headquarters and hosts the May tournament.
There are many sports teams in Jacksonville, both professional and semi-professional. Some notable sports teams include the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the Arena Football League’s Jacksonville Sharks, and the ABA’s Jacksonville Giants.
There are two major sports events in Jacksonville every year. The collegiate Florida-Georgia football game is hosted in October and is known as the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party. The Gator Bowl is also played on New Year’s Day every year.
Jacksonville is also home to a vibrant music scene. Many major musicians got their start in Jacksonville, including Ray Charles, The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Molly Hatchet. Contemporary and rock acts such as Yellowcard, Shinedown, Limp Bizkit, and Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are also from Jacksonville.
Downtown Jacksonville is home to art and culture. The Firs Wednesday Art Walk celebrates local artists, musicians, museums, bars, and restaurants. This takes place the first Wednesday of every month. There is also the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Jacksonville landing with shops, eateries, and live entertainment.
Shopping is a big part of Jacksonville. The city is home to the St. Johns Tower Center, a massive outdoor retail mecca. It is an open-air mall with big name anchor stories. Browsing the shopping center makes for the perfect afternoon out to soak in Florida sun.
San Marco Square is composed of eateries, bookshops, shops, lounges, and theaters. Works of art appear frequently in the square. In the center, there is a tree-lined park with a bandstand, fountains, and benches.