Almost three years ago we traded our flip-flops for snow boots and made the 35-hour trek from Florida to Montana. We’ve always been an adventurous family that loves traveling together, trying new things, touring new places, and tasting new foods. But this was our first time actually starting a new life in a new place. Our move has certainly had its challenges. Winters in Montana ain’t no joke! But we’ve had the privilege of serving alongside an incredible church family and making incredible memories under the Big Sky and in all the beautiful places on this side of the country.
Before we share a little about those new places and experiences, we thought it only fitting for the first post on this page to be about some of our favorite places in our hometown. This past fall, we took our first family trip back to Jacksonville, FL since moving to Montana. It took quite a bit of planning with our kids to narrow down which of our favorite spots would make the cut for our short visit. Here’s an even shorter list of some of our favorite haunts. It’s probably obvious from this list that we REALLY miss all the good food in our hometown! This is certainly not an objective list of the best places to visit in Jacksonville, but these are some locations where we’ve made some great family memories that will always be dear to us wherever God takes us.
5: Jacksonville Beach
No trip to Florida would be complete without a visit to the beach. While our hometown doesn’t host beaches as beautiful as the Gulf Coast, the quirky places and people that line our hometown beach bring a special charm; and there are some great spots to eat and recreate in and around the beach.
When we lived in Florida our Saturday routine would almost always include grocery shopping at Lucky’s (sadly closed now) and Traders Joe’s, coffee at Jacksonville’s best coffee roaster, Bold Bean, and a stop at Sunshine Park for the kids to get some energy out.
While at the beach, don’t miss out on some of the best burgers in Jax and a space dedicated to the morbid darkness of a literary legend: Poe’s Tavern.
4: Riverside
The Riverside area of Jacksonville is both a charming district with historic buildings set along the St. John’s River and a conglomeration of great local shops and restaurants.
Lola’s Burrito Joint may have a menu full of burritos and burgers, but the empanada is where it’s at. Our kids would argue that it’s made even better with a side of chips and white cheese sauce.
Brandon has been gradually working on completing his collection of early 90s Superman and Batman comics. The Coliseum of Comics is a great place to find old prints, new series, and has age-appropriate comics for the kids.
Though not necessarily a “local” spot in the true sense of the word, Hawker’s was a welcome addition to the Riverside area that has an array of delicious food reminiscent of Asian street fare. Kimberly probably misses this place more than anything else on the list.
While in Riverside, a stroll along Riverwalk is a must. This is great before or after a stop at the Riverside Arts Market that takes place every Saturday under the Fuller Warren Bridge.
3: St. Augustine
Historic St. Augustine, which claims to be the oldest city in the U.S., is only about 45 minutes from Jax. In addition to the historic sites and the beautiful Spanish architecture, there are some neat little shops and places to eat.
Much of historic St. George Street has a touristy feel, but there are some great places on the side streets and alleys, including Cousteau’s Waffles and Milkshake Bar. Be sure to try the Calypso shake to get that classic Florida taste of key lime.
2: Chamblin Bookmine
When we asked our kids to describe Chamblin Bookmine, there were many adjectives that came to their minds: old, unorganized, overwhelming. But Brandon only has one: heavenly. Combine the dinginess of an old building with the distinct odor of aging used books , throw in a cafe with surprisingly good coffee and eats, and top it off with barely organized array of bookshelves packed into two floors, and you have a book nerd’s paradise.
1: The Donut Shoppe
Did we determine that a doughnut place is our favorite spot in Jacksonville? Yes, yes we did. We’ve had a lots of doughnuts in a lot of different places, but none compare to the yeasty and sugary goodness of doughnuts at this long-time Jacksonville institution. And if you get there early enough, be sure to get an “ugly” (apple fritter).
Lamp-Post Cycles 