Extend Your Stay in Jacksonville

Why head straight home when the fun is just getting started? Jacksonville’s got sunshine, shoreline, and serious personality waiting beyond the conference doors. Come early or stick around after Tourism Academy to experience the city’s artsy side, flavor-packed dining scene, and wide-open outdoor escapes. Your next great session might just be on the sand.

Stroll Through Museums

Whether you’re a history buff or an art enthusiast, Jacksonville has a fascinating museum for you. Get lost in the city’s arts and culture at these museums:

• Beaches Museum | Discover the stories of Jacksonville’s beach communities through engaging exhibits and a history park that celebrates their past, present, and future.
• Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens | Explore Northeast Florida’s largest fine arts museum, featuring an impressive permanent collection, rotating exhibits, and beautiful riverfront gardens.
• Clara White Mission/Eartha M.M. White Museum | Learn how Dr. Eartha Mary Magdalene and her mother, Clara English White, shaped their community through compassion and lasting social impact.
• Durkeeville Historical Society | Visit this 1980s-founded institution dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of Jacksonville’s historic African American community.
• Fort Caroline National Memorial | Step into a replica sixteenth-century fort that tells the story of early French settlers, cultural encounters, and survival along the St. Johns River.
• Kingsley Plantation | Walk the historic grounds of Jacksonville’s oldest home, within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.
• Jacksonville Naval Museum - USS Orleck | Board the USS Orleck to explore a preserved Gearing-class destroyer filled with naval artifacts and stories of courage at sea.
• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville | Experience one of the Southeast’s largest collections of modern and contemporary art, with works spanning painting, sculpture, photography, and installations.

Unwind in Outdoor Spaces

In May, Jacksonville’s beaches, gardens, parks, and trails are bursting with activity. With more shoreline than any other city in the nation and average spring temperatures in the 60s to 80s, it’s easy to find a spot to relax or get active near Tourism Academy. Rent a bike to ride scenic paths, spread a blanket for a picnic, or simply enjoy the fresh air. Here are some popular outdoor destinations in Jacksonville:

• 22 Miles of Beaches | Just minutes from Downtown, Jacksonville’s white sand beaches invite visitors to swim, surf, kayak, paddleboard, dive, boat, fish, and explore.
• Big & Little Talbot Island State Park | Discover beaches, campgrounds, wetlands, and marshes perfect for birdwatching, fishing, hiking, and kayaking.
• Jacksonville Zoo and Botanical Gardens | Open year-round, the zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals and 1,000 plants, exhibits, artworks, and trails.
• Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary | Tour a tiger-focused sanctuary rescuing big cats from inhumane captivity.
• Hanna Park | Oceanfront city park with biking and hiking trails, lake and ocean kayaking, great surfing and white-sandy beaches.
• Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens | Wander through 120-acres of urban woodland full of trails for you to explore and enjoy.
• Southbank Riverwalk | Stroll or run along this 1.25-mile boardwalk while watching riverboats, shorebirds, and the downtown skyline.
• Treaty Oak | Visit Jacksonville’s oldest resident, a massive oak tree in Jessie Ball DuPont Park.

Shop ‘Til You Drop

Looking for local goods and souvenirs? Jacksonville is home to a variety of boutiques and shopping districts including vintage shopping in Five Points and trendy boutiques in San Marco and Avondale. Peruse through some of the top stores, malls and markets in Jax:

• Riverside Arts Market | Held every Saturday, this vibrant market brings together farmers, artists, makers, bakers, and food trucks.
• St. Johns Town Center | Discover more than 175 shops and restaurants in Southside’s open-air shopping destination, from national brands to local favorites.
• Avenues Mall | Browse over 1.1 million square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment across multiple levels.
• Avonlea Antique Mall | Hunt for treasures in this 40,000-square-foot showroom, where more than 200 dealers display antique furniture, glassware, linens, artwork, and unique home accessories.
• Beaches Town Center | Just steps from the ocean, this lively district pairs coastal charm with boutique shopping and relaxed dining.

Make Your Way to Top-Rated Restaurants

If there's one thing you should do while you're in Jacksonville, its experience the city's culinary scene. Try a dish featuring Mayport shrimp, a local delicacy served at restaurants across Jax. Then, complement your foodie experience by exploring the Jax Ale Trail to discover dozens of craft breweries that capture Jacksonville’s flavor. For more places to eat, check out our recommendations for restaurants near the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel.

For more recommendations on exciting activities, visit VisitJacksonville.com.