Outdoor RECREATION

Jacksonville ranked fourth in Forbes magazine’s “America’s Best Cities for the Outdoors.” Any discussion of Jacksonville lifestyles starts with the outdoors. The seven-county area is truly an outdoor enthusiast's paradise.

Water, Water Everywhere

The ocean graces the entire eastern boundary of the seven-county area, with more than 60 miles of shoreline from the Georgia border to the southern end of Flagler County. The St. Johns River and its tributaries, as well as the Intracoastal Waterway, provide hundreds of additional miles of waterfront living and waterborne activities to enjoy. Add to that the beautiful year-round weather, and Jacksonville easily measures up to any outdoor recreation area in the nation.

Northeast Florida is an angler’s dream, and there are a number of spots to cast your line. If it’s deep-sea fishing you seek, charters are available at Fernandina, Mayport and St. Augustine, as well as from some marinas along the Intracoastal Waterway and the St. Johns River. And the area is home to the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, the largest of its kind in the country.

The longest river in Florida — the St. Johns River — stretches north right through the downtown urban center, making fishing a popular sport. You can put your boat in at one of the growing number of boat ramps located at area parks throughout the city. The annual Mug Race, the world’s longest river sailboat race, starts in Palatka and ends 42 miles later in Jacksonville.