From a natives perspective, the beaches attributed to Jacksonville are 3 separate incorporated cities. Jacksonville beach at the south end of the barrier island, Neptune Beach in the middle and Atlantic Beach at the north end (the Sea Turtle is in Atlantic Beach).
At the end of I-10(the Atlantic Ocean) locally known as Atlantic Blvd, is the Sea Turtle and a small block of restaraunts and pubs. Atlantic Blvd, is the dividing line between Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach. So for a block north and south of Atlantic and Ocean there are a small community of shops and such, including Pete's Bar which was used in a John Grisham novel. Then in Jacksonville Beach (3 miles south) they have a more lively district of shops, bars and small restaraunts.
Just off the beaches is Ft Caroline, historic preserve which has the reconstruction of the French Ft Caroline. North of Jacksonville in Fernandina Beach there is Ft Clinch. South in St Augustine the oldest continually lived in city in America there is the Castillo de San Marcos, plus the thriving "Old City". Just a bit farther south is Matanzas (The place of Death), part of the spanish settlements and fortifications of the new world.
If it is still going on, there is the Artwalk on the riverwalk in DownTown Jacksonville. There are numerous art galleries. The Jags may have started spring training, and if they have started play yet there is the minor league Jacksonville Suns.
Most of the old family run seafood restaraunts(that my father and later I grew up with) are now gone. The names have been bought but the food isn't the same.
Christophers Seafood is very good. St Johns Seafood is also good, they have 5 or 6 locations.
Of course we have a Woodcraft. I'm sure Billy, Mike, Frank, Dennis, Bob, Bill, Ed, and any of the other locals can tell you more places. You may want to post your questions in the NE Florida chapter forum.
