The holidays present a time to hang out with family and friends without responsibilities such as work or school. When visiting Jacksonville with family, it is essential to choose family-friendly destinations where you can have collective fun and indulge in exciting activities together. The city has the largest area under state parks, making it a favorite tourist area. The city borders water bodies such as the ocean, while other regions border the St. John River; therefore, the parks in the area are beautiful, with green forest cover around the year.

When on vacation in Jacksonville, make sure to stop by some of the parks for a family moment where you can have fun in the surroundings before heading back to your hotel. The following are popular parks to consider:

Adventure Landing

Adventure Landing is one location where you will find facilities that support family activities where everyone is safe and up for a good time. Located on Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville Beach, the park offers different experiences to make your time worthwhile when in the city.

The place has a waterpark where you will engage in water sports with your loved ones owing to the on-site facilities at your disposal. The water slides in the park have various attractive designs that make them look unique, especially if you want to capture the moments in pictures. The slides vary in size and complexity, making them ideal for people of different age groups. There are sections where children play alone, while others are ideal for older kids and adults. These slides and the swimming pools around the area mean that you can play water sports with the kids on hot days.

The park also provides go-karts and other exciting facilities to play with since everyone gets to ride around the park and enjoy the moments. The go-karts are simple to drive and safe for the kids to play with because they have limited speed limits to reduce the chance of kids getting involved in risky crashes. You can hire them for your family members and compete against other families for the ultimate fun.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve

Located in the North-Eastern Duval County on Fort Caroline Road, the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is a tourist attraction area with several features. The place is in the wetlands with several waterways; thus, the many parks offer nature and historical attractions to witness when in the city. Various activities are necessary for preserving parts depending on weather, company, and budget.

The Fort George Island Cultural State Park is one of the parks you will find in the preserve, covering a vast area. The park’s closeness to the ocean makes it a perfect spot for visiting when you need to swim in the ocean or take a boat ride to the open waters. The park also holds historical buildings that represent the past structural engineering evident in the structural designs along the beach. Additionally, you get a chance to take a walk in the forest trails at the park where you can camp or bird watch.

The Kingsley Plantation is another exciting part of the preserve where you can have a different type of experience while in the city. Bordering the St. John Riverbank, the plantation forms a park where you can enjoy some family activities, including sports fishing on the river if you reserve a boat. You can also engage in couple kayaking with your spouse, where you take a kayak and row it along the river from one point to another.

Little Talbot Island State Park

The park is sixteen miles on the North East side of the city on State Road, where you can go for a vacation trip to enjoy the thrill that the park offers to visitors. The area supports fun events such as boating on the river, where you can enjoy the fishing piers. The boat trip begins with collecting equipment for the ride and fishing expedition, including live bait and lines and safety equipment. You can take an evening walk through the park since easy hiking trails are suitable for biking, backpacking, and birdwatching.

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

The Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park sits on a vast land of up to four hundred and fifty acres of space covered with nature and other attractions. The park offers nature trails with different difficulty levels for hikers of varying expertise. You can visit to take a walk or backpack through the park’s natural features. The natural forest cover offers an excellent birdwatching experience when carrying binoculars and relaxing while listening to the background noise.

The park’s location close to the water bodies makes it ideal for canoeing and kayaking as long as safety measures are in place. The other outdoor water events include sport fishing since you are at liberty to take your hooks out to the waters while canoeing. The high tides on Hanna Beach are great for a surfing expert looking for strong waves to enjoy. Make sure to only engage in surfing if you are a good swimmer with sufficient surfing experience to avoid drowning.

Big Talbot Island State Park

Located on State Road, North of Jacksonville city center, Big Talbot Island State Park is another place you should visit if you are into witnessing nature. The park is a natural preserve where you can go if you are a nature enthusiast with the desire to understand and experience the appeal of Mother Nature. The place is open for bird watching in your free time in the evenings.

Remarks

Jacksonville is a place where parks offer the best experience of nature since many are in places with water. Therefore, the parks are rich in land and aquatic life, giving you a chance to witness the most significant diversity of what nature offers. Make a point to visit and share the wholesome experience with your kids, spouse, and colleagues during the holiday breaks.