Free things to do in Jacksonville

Outdoors

Riverfront Park

The Beaches

Oceanfront Park

Park with a playground, beach access, picnic shelters & a bronze statue of a boy riding a dolphin.

Black Hammock Island

Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve

Historic coastal nature preserve with wetland, salt marsh & hardwood forest habitats.

Southside

University Of North Florida Nature Trails

Southbank

Southbank Riverwalk

1.25-mi. paved promenade along the St. Johns River with art, benches & city & sunset views.

LaVilla

Ritz Theatre & Museum, Jacksonville

Rebuilt 1921-era facility offering concerts & exhibits documenting local African-American culture.

Holiday Harbors

Castaway Island Preserve

Raised trails run through this undeveloped wetland preserve with scenic overlooks along the way.

The Beaches

Cradle Creek Preserve

Public park along the Intracoastal Waterway with nature trails, elevated boardwalks & a boat pier.

Northside

Big Talbot Island State Park

Picnics, hiking, boating & nature study on an island with diverse habitats, from bluffs to beaches.

Outdoors

Fort Clinch State Park

Beachfront park at a circa-1864 fort with guided tours, wildlife viewing, camping & nature trails.

Southside

Julington Durbin Creek Nature Preserve

Nature trail network for exploring extensive floodplain wetlands, diverse wildlife & lush woods.

Fort Caroline Shores

Spanish Pond Trailhead

Outdoors

Clarke House Park

Wooded park with a circa-1900 house, a lake, gardens, trails, a playground & pavilions to rent.

Northside

Little Talbot Island State Park

Barrier-island nature area with sandy beaches & activities such as kayaking, surfing & picnicking.

North Beach

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park

Park offering surfing & swimming in the ocean plus fishing & boating in a lake, as well as hiking.

Northside

Huguenot Memorial Park

This seaside park offers 70 primitive campground sites, a playground, picnic areas & fishing.

The Beaches

South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground

Recreation site with a playground, walking trail, sport courts, playing field & picnic areas.

Crystal Springs

Crystal Springs Park

Downtown

MOCA (Museum Of Contemporary Art), Jacksonville

Art museum features changing exhibition galleries along with permanent works & a children's area.

The Beaches

Seawalk Pavilion

The Beaches

Beaches Museum

Permanent & temporary displays on the region's past, plus a historic chapel & an old steam train.

Murray Hill

Murray Hill Theatre

No-alcohol, all-ages nightspot with Christian music acts & a quirky cafe serving American eats.

Arts & Culture

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall

Modern venue in a renovated church featuring national music acts & events, plus a full bar.

Lakeshore

Stinson Park