Top 20 Places to Take Kids in and around Jacksonville
Every summer, thousands of local parents, grandparents, and caregivers weigh in on their favorite local places to take kids. This is 2024's winner list! (Click here for the full list of nominees.)
Of course, there are literally hundreds of wonderful places to take your kids in our area, not just this year's winners! Get great ideas here! What is listed below are far from the only opportunities for family fun and learning; there are hundreds more! Browse our calendar, sign up for our fabulous weekly e-newsletter, and don't forget to check out our Everything That's Free page.
2024's Top 20 ranking + category winners! Scroll down for more about each venue, with links!
| 1. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 2. Museum of Science & History 3. Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens 4. Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary 5. St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park 6. Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres 7. Adventure Landing 8. St. Augustine Aquarium 9. Alhambra Theatre & Dining 10. My Local Library 11. Amelia Island Nature Center 12. Riverside Arts Market 13. Tree Hill Nature Center 14. Pump It Up 15. Jacksonville Children's Chorus 16. The Florida Theatre 17. Chuck E Cheese 18. St. Augustine Amphitheatre 19. 4-H Tidelands Nature Center 20. Flight Adventure Park |
Arts Education: Jacksonville Children's Chorus Sports Education: YMCA STEM Education: Code Ninjas |
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1. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Escape to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens for the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. Discover the earth’s wildlife through interactive and educational experiences. A true family adventure, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is changing daily and is dedicated to consistently improving. With recent updates to Land of the Tiger and African Forest, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is quickly becoming a world-class establishment.
2. Museum of Science & History
The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) inspires the joy of lifelong learning by bringing to life the sciences and regional history. Within the walls of MOSH are three levels of exhibits that make science, history and innovation accessible for all. From interactive, award-winning favorites like Currents of Time and Atlantic Tails to the Florida Naturalist’s Center, which houses animals native to northeast Florida, there is something for all ages to discover. Indulge your imagination with a live science show, animal encounters, or explore distant galaxies in one of our planetarium programs. When visiting Northeast Florida’s only science and history museum, there is no limit to what you can discover!
3. Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
With a mission to cultivate a unique environment for recreation, education and inspiration, Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens, a 120-acre urban woodland full of trails and gardens, is open every day of the year for you to explore and enjoy.
4. Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
The mission of Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary is to provide a safe, loving, and forever home to endangered big cats, and to educate the public about their plight in the wild and in captivity. They offer both Daytime Tours and Night Feeding Tours of their facility where visitors can see the animals in a happy and stress-free environment. Their current residents include tigers, lions, pumas, leopards, lynx, servals, foxes, and coatimundis (the last two species being “honorary cats”). Check out the website for exact dates and times they are open. Bring your camera and take all the pictures you want!
5. St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park
The St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park is one of Florida’s oldest and most treasured attractions. Since 1893, it has provided visitors with exciting and educational opportunities to interact with a wide range of crocodilians, reptiles, mammals and birds! Located on Anastasia Island in St. Augustine, The Alligator Farm features natural exhibits, wildlife shows and educational demonstrations.
6. Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres
Thanks for your vote! Conner's A-Maize-Ing Acres is a family owned & operated farm with lots of "farmtastic" fun for all ages during the Fall & Spring Seasons. Load up the family and come on out to the country and make some special memories that will last a lifetime! We can't wait to see you!
7. Adventure Landing
Adventure Landing offers affordable family fun. We are a family entertainment center that features: miniature golf, go-karts, laser tag and a mega arcade! If you are looking to hold a birthday party, a company or corporate event, a church event, school event or a holiday party, look no further! Adventure Landing will make sure that everyone at your event has a blast.
8. St. Augustine Aquarium
The St. Augustine Aquarium is committed to conservation through education. We hope every guest leaves the aquarium inspired to make more thoughtful decisions to protect our marine ecosystems.
9. Alhambra Theatre & Dining
Opened in 1967, The Alhambra Theatre is the nation's longest continually running professional dinner theatre! With a complete renovation in 2009, it's the Alhambra like you've never seen, heard or tasted before! The Alhambra also offers summer camps and celebration packages for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, group events, and more.
10. My Local Library
Of course, the libraries in the Jacksonville area are not really ONE place, but MANY places... but it's important to emphasize how valuable libraries are for family learning and fun. The libraries in our area are wonderful about posting their events to the KidsOutAndAbout calendar so you always can get ideas for free things to do with your kids that celebrate education and imagination. KidsOutAndAbout.com takes this opportunity to salute the wonderful children's librarians who serve our community with such dedication. They're proud that locals voted them to the list of the best places to take kids this year!
12. Riverside Arts Market
The Riverside Arts Market is a weekly market hosted on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine. RAM is a place where our community comes together! During the week, the space is a parking lot, but on Saturdays, it houses hundreds of artists, farmers, artisans, nonprofits and other community organizations and small businesses!
13. Tree Hill Nature Center
Tree Hill Nature Center promotes environmental stewardship to the community through quality, hands-on educational programs and low-cost access to natural areas.
15. Jacksonville Children's Chorus
The Jacksonville Children's Chorus (JCC) is dedicated to providing a high-quality choral music education for children of diverse backgrounds. JCC offers children a place to express themselves, develop special skills, and become strong and confident musicians. It has developed into one of the nations top providers of music education, enriching the lives of singers and audiences around the globe. If you know a child who loves to sing, the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus has a place for them!
Winners in Special Categories
In the second part of our survey, we asked readers to select their favorites in three categories. Here were their choices.Top Arts Educator: Jacksonville Children's Chorus
The Jacksonville Children's Chorus (JCC) is dedicated to providing a high-quality choral music education for children of diverse backgrounds. JCC offers children a place to express themselves, develop special skills, and become strong and confident musicians. It has developed into one of the nations top providers of music education, enriching the lives of singers and audiences around the globe. If you know a child who loves to sing, the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus has a place for them!
Top Sports Educator: YMCA
The Y is dedicated to building programs for youth development, for healthy living and for social responsibility that promote strong families, character values, youth leadership, community development and international understanding. The Y makes accessible the support and opportunities that empower people and communities to learn, grow and thrive by providing supportive and inclusive environments that nurture the potential of every youth and teen, improve the nation's health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors.
Top STEM Educator: Code Ninjas
At, Code Ninjas®, Kids learn to code through our engaging game-based curriculum and classes that boosts self-confidence and teaches teamwork, logic, and problem solving. They gain problem solving, critical thinking, and STEM skills in a fun, safe, and inspiring environment, while having a blast. That's the Code Ninjas way!
