Jacksonville

The museum holds a permanent collection with works dating back to 2000 B.C. and also American Impressionist paintings, 18th-century porcelain and Japanese woodblock prints. — Where

This 30ha zoo, with some 750 exotic reptiles, birds and mammals, is at the forefront of botanical and zoological conservation. — Michelin Guide

Exhibits exploring natural and physical sciences, regional natural history and North Florida's past entice all ages at this fun-oriented museum near the foot of Jacksonville's Main Street Bridge. — Michelin Guide

Browse the exhibitions—the permanent hoard includes work by Calder, Paschke, and Rauschenberg. — Travel + Leisure

An oak-wood pathway leads to a replica of the original fort—a great, sunny place to picnic (bring your own food and drink), stretch your legs, and explore a small museum. — Fodor's

This 1.2-mile boardwalk, on the south side of the St Johns River, opposite downtown and Jacksonville Landing, has excellent views of the city's expansive skyline. — Lonely Planet

This 450-acre oceanfront park and campground just north of Atlantic Beach is beloved by surfers, swimmers, campers, hikers, and especially bikers, who regularly hit the many off-road bike trails. — Fodor's

The ruins of 23 tabby (a concretelike mixture of sand and crushed shells) slave houses, a barn, and the modest Kingsley home are open to the public via self-guided tours and reachable by bridge. — Fodor's

Big Talbot and Little Talbot islands make up the Talbot Island State Park chain of undeveloped barrier islands along the Atlantic coast. — Where

From 1921 to 1971, the Ritz Theatre was the center of cultural life in LaVilla, an African-American neighborhood so vibrant that it was known as the Harlem of the South. — Frommer's

Find collectable Florida shells along five miles of beach. Amenities include campsites, walking trails, a playground, showers, a ranger station and ranger-led programs. — Where

Looking out into the Atlantic at Jacksonville Beach. — Afar Magazine

Watch period re-enactors at the fort or just relax on the beach. — Where

If you're looking for sun-soaked relaxation, head for Atlantic Beach, where you can sink your feet into its white, sugary sands or catch some waves in the warm surf. — Fodor's

This museum has exhibited documents such as manuscripts by Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Dickens, scores by Beethoven and Mozart, and the original draft of the Bill of Rights. — Where

Lions and tigers and … well, there are no bears, but you'll certainly find lions and tigers at the Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary, as well as leopards, cougars and bobcats. — U.S. News & World Report

Continue east along the northern bank to the Metropolitan Park , a sprawling outdoor space. — Lonely Planet