101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Jacksonville | Kids Out and About Jacksonville

101 Family Day Trips and Staycation Ideas Around Jacksonville

Remember, it's always best to follow each link to get details about your visit directly from your destination, since some places operate seasonally or by reservation, as well as to check each venue's COVID requirements (masks, limits, social distancing).

Free activities and splurges that are worth it. The coolest stuff for a staycation in town and road trips for less than a tank of gas from Jacksonville. Kids Out And About has tons of ideas for family travel, with places to explore, learn, and have fun!

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Explore Gardens

  Jacksonville Arboretum and Botanical Garden
  Memorial Park
   Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
  Southern Grace Lavender Farm

 

 

Get Wild on a Hike

  Amelia Island Nature Center
  Amelia Island State Park
  Big Talbot Island State Park
  Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
  Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Little Talbot Island State Park
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park

 

Time Travel Today

A. L. Lewis Museum
St. Mary's Railroad
Kingsley Plantation
Norman Studios

 

Make Life a Beach

American Beach
Atlantic Beach
Fernandina Beach
Fort Clinch State Park
Jacksonville Beach
Neptune Beach
Black Rock Beach
Ponte Vedra Beach
Mickler's Landing
Huguenot Memorial Park

 

Splash into Some Water Fun

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
Shipwreck Island Water Park
South Beach Park and Sunshine Playground
St. Mary's Aquatic Center
Wiley Road Playground
GTM Research Reserve
St. Johns County Ocean Pier Park
  Daytona Lagoon
Summer Waves Water Park

 

Spend the Day at a Museum

  The Hands On Children Museum
The Museum of Science and History
The Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville
The Lightner Museum
The Cummer Museum
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum Jacksonville
Clara White Mission/Eartha M.M. White Museum

 

Explore These Cities

  Lake City, Florida
Gainesville, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Tampa, Florida

 

All Aboard Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (and Boats!)

  Jacksonville Skyway
A-Cent Aviation
Crazy Fish Boat Rides
Amelia River Cruises and Charters

 

Grow Some Fun at the Farm

Congaree and Penn
Amazing Grace Family Farm
Brown's Farm
Crossroads Farm & Apiary

 

Play Ball!

  Jacksonville Armada
Jacksonville Dixie Blues
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Jacksonville Sharks
Jacksonville Axemen

 

Treat Yo' Self

Dreamette
Smallcakes Cupcakery & Creamery
Florida Creamery
Whit's Frozen Custard
Mayday Ice Cream Riverside
Kilwins
Marble Slab Creamery
Bruster's Real Ice Cream
Sweet Pete's Candy
Peterbrooke Chocolatier
Claude's Chocolate

 

Connect with Nature

Tree Hill Nature Center
Guana River Environmental Center
Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve
Ed Austin Regional Center
Fort Caroline National Memorial
Theodore Roosevelt Area
University of North Florida Eco Adventure

 

Amuse Yourself at These Amusement Parks

Wild Adventures Theme Park
Universal Studios
Fun Spot America
WonderWorks
Disney World
Legoland
Busch Gardens

 

Talk to the Animals

  Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife
  Incacheetoo Plantation and Petting Zoo
Jacksonville Zoo
St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park

 

Explore the Globe Close to Home

  Mandarin Museum
LaVilla Museum
The Brumos Collection

 

Let's Go Chasing Waterfalls

  Devil's Millhopper Nature Trail
Big Shoals State Park
Steinhatchee Falls
  Falling Waters State Park

 

Get Active Indoors

  Batt Family Fun Center
Chuck E. Cheese's Jacksonville
Flight Adventure Park
O2BKids
Pump It Up Jacksonville
Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park
Autobahn Indoor Speedway & Events
The Escape Game Jacksonville

 

Challenge Yourself

  Creative Me Art Studio
Doing Dishes Pottery Studio
KidzArt
The Art Loft
The Arts Corner
The Brush

 

Shop Your Heart Out

  St. Johns Town Center
Rivercity Marketplace
The Avenues
Markets for Makers

Limiting our list to 101 ideas meant some great destinations may have been left off the list - if there is something you’d like to see added, share it with us on Facebook!


Most of these destinations are within an hour from downtown Jacksonville. For those that are a bit farther away:

             = Less than 1 hour away

          = 1 to 2 hours away

       = 2 to 3 hours away

   =  Over 3 hours away