Jacksonville Beach(Jacksonville Pier Beach, Jax Beach)

Located along the Duval County shoreline, Jacksonville Beach - also known as Jax Beach - is a large beach with light brown sand. This beach is situated in a resort-city (also named Jacksonville Beach) near the city of Jacksonville. A quarter-of-a-mile long fishing pier named the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier is also present near this beach. 

Jacksonville Beach has many amenities including lifeguards, restrooms, and showers. In addition, the beach also offers access to people with disabilities. Between October 1 and March 31, dogs on leash are allowed on Jacksonville Beach on any time of the day. However, from April 1 to September 30, on-leash dogs are allowed on the beach before 9 am and after 5 pm. 

Jacksonville Beach has many fun activities including sunbathing, beachcombing, fishing, wildlife watching, swimming, surfing, kitesurfing, picnicking, windsurfing, bodysurfing, paddleboarding, scuba diving, boating, jet-skiing, surf-skiing, kayaking, and canoeing. The water near this beach is popular among surfers as it offers fun surfing waves. However, if you are planning to go into the water near Jacksonville Beach, please be careful as the water here has unpredictable rip currents. In addition, we also recommend that you follow the local regulations while engaging in watersports in the water near Jacksonville Beach. You can obtain more useful information about these regulations on the resort-city of Jacksonville’s website. The water near Jacksonville Beach has reefs which are easily accessible by boat - scuba divers often enter the water near this beach to explore its vibrant biodiversity - you can view many kinds of fish in the water here including tarpon, grouper, and sharks. If you are planning to dive in the water near Jacksonville Beach, we recommend doing so during summers as the water here is generally calmer and warmer during this time. You can also view dolphins in the water near Jacksonville Beach. Between May 1st and October 31st, sea turtles also use Jacksonville Beach as a nesting site. The Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier present on the beach offers amazing Instagram-worthy views of the Atlantic Ocean. In addition, this pier is also an amazing fishing spot and you don’t require a license for fishing here. However, if you are planning to fish in the other parts of Jacksonville Beach, we recommend that you follow the local fishing regulations. Many fun events are organized on this beach throughout the year including the Annual Sea and Sky Airshow which sees fun aviation acts being performed in the sky above the beach by the Blue Angels Squadron of the United States Navy and other military and civilian aviation teams. In addition, the beach is also a great spot for watching the City of Jacksonville’s Fourth of July fireworks display.

Getting to Jacksonville Beach is easy - the beach is easily accessible via Florida State Road A1A, and paid parking lots are also present near this beach.

There are many attractions near Jacksonville Beach. Castaway Island Preserve is present along the Intracoastal Waterway and has a vibrant marshland habitat. The park also has a wooden boardwalk, an observation platform, and an interpretive nature trail for kids. The preserve also has an education center which offers interesting educational programs. In addition, this preserve also offers a fun kayaking experience.  The Beaches Museum has interesting exhibits about local history. This museum focuses on the rich and vibrant history of the oceanfront communities present around the city of Jacksonville (which are also collectively known as the Jacksonville Beaches). If you are looking for another attraction near Jacksonville Beach, Shipwreck Island Water Park at Adventure Landing is an amusement park which offers many fun rides. In addition, this theme park also has a gift store, a gaming arcade, and a miniature golf course. 

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Jacksonville Beach. Eleven South is an upscale restaurant which serves excellent New American cuisine. In addition, the restaurant has also been praised by many publications including Jacksonville Magazine and Wine Spectator. As another upscale option, Marker 32 offers a pleasant oceanfront dining experience. This restaurant serves a wide range of amazing seafood and gourmet dishes. Dockside Seafood Restaurant has a dining area that offers wonderful views of the nearby Intracoastal Waterway and the wetlands around it. This popular restaurant is known for its delicious seafood, which is prepared from fresh ingredients. If you are looking for another good and affordable restaurant near Jacksonville Beach, Beach Hut Cafe serves excellent dishes for breakfast and lunch including eggs, French toasts, cereals, bagels, sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, salads, and chili.

If you are looking for a hotel near Jacksonville Beach, there are many great options nearby. The 5-Star Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers many amenities including a golf course, tennis courts, four pools, a spa, multiple restaurants, and access to the nearby Ponte Vedra Lodge & Club. In addition, the restaurant also offers access to a fitness center for a resort fee. As another upscale option, the 4-Star One Ocean Resort and Spa offers many amenities including a pool, a spa, a restaurant, and a lounge that has a veranda with a firepit. The hotel also offers access to a fitness room for a fee. A more affordable hotel is the 3-Star Hampton Inn Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra Beach-Mayo Clinic Area offers many amenities including a pool with a sundeck and a fitness room. In addition, the hotel offers complimentary breakfast/breakfast bags and also offers free shuttle service to a nearby medical center named the Mayo Clinic. If you are looking for another good and affordable hotel near Jacksonville Beach, the 2-Star Holiday Inn Express Jacksonville Beach, an IHG Hotel offers many amenities including a pool, a hot tub, a fitness room, a coin-operated laundry, and complimentary breakfast.