Jaxplorations

One of my favorite things to do in Jacksonville is visit the Riverside Arts Market (RAM). Every Saturday between the hours of 10am and 3pm, you can find a flourishing community of people supporting local artisans. Parking is free at the Black Knight building next to the market, but I generally park in the strip of spaces between the Cummer and  The Garden Club of Jacksonville. The earlier you get there, the better parking situation you face.  RAM has something for everyone, hand crafts include soaps, candles, jewelry, pet treats and apparel, baby clothes, and more food options than you could ever try in one day. With a full farmers market on one side of the market, you can find the freshest produce around. Grab a coffee from Pura Bean - my personal favorite is the cold brew - and enjoy the day. You can bring your four-legged-friend with you, and with so many vendors catering to pets you can pick out a special treat for them that's sure to get their tail wa...

This Jaxploration is for the 'gram. Driftwood Beach at Big Talbot Island State Park is one of the coolest and most beautiful places to visit. If you're looking to head out to this place, be sure to prepare to explore and possibly get lost on a trail to find your way out to the beach. It is part of Big Talbot Island State Park, but you'll actually go past their main entrance to get to where the trail you need is located. If all else fails, you can ask a park ranger at Big Talbot for directions - I've had to do this a few times. When you do park, there is a $3 parking fee that works based on the honor system - there is a stand with envelopes and a deposit slot for you to deposit your money. There is also a map located by where you park, so you can make sure you're taking the right trail. The trail isn't too long of a hike, but you'll want to be prepared for a 10-15 minute walk. Once you come to the end of the trail, there will be a drop-off - it's ...

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is home to over 2,000 different animals in thirteen different animal exhibits and over 1,000 types of plants in seven garden exhibits. In 2015, the Jacksonville zoo made Trip Advisor's list of the top 25 zoos in the United States. The zoo truly is impressive. You can easily spend an entire day visiting the different exhibits and participating in any of the 16 different experiences the zoo has to offer such as Stingray Bay, Train rides, Animal encounters, and a scenic river cruise. The zoo is fun for people of all ages with their extensive range of activities. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens also offers 12 different educational programs to encourage protection of wildlife and wild places. These programs range from field trips, zoo camps, after dark adventures, scout programs, and teacher resources amongst others. In addition to educational programs, the zoo also holds different engaging events. The zoo holds several different types of event...

Welcome to our first Jaxploration. Hidden amongst the concrete jungle of Downtown Jacksonville is a cozy oasis full of books and a quaint coffee bar. Chamblin's Uptown is a spot I enjoy because you can go there to disappear and escape the noise for a while. Chamblin's has so many books that they are literally falling off the shelves. Their selection is very diverse with just about every category imaginable filling the two story store. What makes their selection totally unique is that the majority of books are second-hand, meaning that they have been used before. Chamblin's also has a trade-in policy where you can receive store credit for bringing in books of your own. Adjacent to the bookstore is the cafe where they offer a variety of food and drink selections. They offer breakfast and lunch options and even offer some vegan friendly options. Their drink specialty is coffee - from espresso drinks to iced coffee, but they also offer tea, juice ...