Jacksonville\'s Coastal Charm
Let this seaport city-chock-full of shopping, museums, and chic restaurants-wash away your weekend woes.
Jacksonville offers more than just the Super Bowl this time of year. Blessed with beautiful beaches and a seamless river that flows through downtown, this city harbors a host of activities for travelers who welcome surprises. A contemporary mix of cosmopolitan experiences and low-key activities appeases travelers with differing tastes. Youll find the shabby and the chic standing side by side. Both options add to Jacksonvilles coastal charm and the promise of one memorable weekend.
Friday Enchantment
Check in to The Inn at Oak Street, one of the areas most stylish and accommodating bed-and-breakfasts. The restored 1902 home sits in the historic Riverside section of town. Comfortably plush and filled with bold prints and vibrant color schemes, the inn embodies owners Tina Musico and Robert Eagles eye for design detail.
Ask for Hemingways Hideaway ($140 to $155), which opens to a balcony. Its an impressive room done in mahogany furnishings, Audubon green walls, and exposed brick; (904) 379-5525 or www.innatoakstreet.com.
Before you nap, though, head into the Avondale community on St. Johns Avenue for lunch at Biscottis. Beautiful gourmet pizzas, specialty sandwiches, and dreamy desserts are this restaurants calling card. On sunny days, sit outside while lunching on the Pizza Rustica ($7.95), which comes topped with a combination of prosciutto, garlic, and goat cheese.
At Biscottis youre within walking distance of Avondales upscale boutique shops. Stop by Woodward Antiques and Accessories for beautiful brooches ($40 to $100) and antique transferware. Farther down lies Èxito, where youll discover a variety of home furnishings, including trendy lamps and decorative pillows. The vibrant showcase in the stores display window will entice you inside in no time.
Ladies who crave fan apparel should take a peek inside Petal. Its a colorful clothing store filled with adorable tees, feminine blouses, and girlie dresses.
For another set of shops thats altogether different, stop by the eclectic Five Points. Shoppers swoon over womens vintage stores such as Violet. Even if you dont have much to spend, Violet carries $20 purchases that make you look like a million bucks. Delicate gloves, sassy shoes, and playful party dresses fill this stores vintage closet.
When its time to dine, make the drive to Mandarin, a community 12 miles away and home to Clarks Fish Camp. Clarks encompasses all that is kooky about fish camps-shrimp netting on the walls and a creek in the back-but the food is as good as it is varied. Patrons may order fried ostrich along with conch fritters and fresh alligator meat. Those who prefer their dinner more mild than wild should try the baked flounder stuffed with crabmeat ($12.95).
Sublime Saturday
Get up early for breakfast at The Fox Restaurant in Avondale on St. Johns Avenue. Be there by 7 a.m. as the place fills up by 8. Try the Ortega Omelet ($5.95), which comes with spicy chorizo sausage, tomatoes, onions, black beans, cheese, and salsa.
Then head outdoors to experience the small wonders of Jacksonvilles coastline. Start your trip at Kayak Amelia. The marsh trip, a great option for families, takes you through the areas wetlands on a three-hour route. The cost is $55 per person; 1-888-305-2925. Note: Because youre likely to get a little wet, bring a change of pants for the ride back.
When its time for lunch, try Als Pizza near Avondale, where you can get a large slice of New York-style pizza with pepperoni for $1.80.
Afterward, stop by the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. As the largest fine arts museum in northeast Florida, this venue does an excellent job of bringing worldwide classical paintings and artifacts to its patrons.
Squeeze in at least one more afternoon activity with a jaunt to the Jacksonville Zoo. They plan to open five new exhibits in the next five years. The first, "Range of the Jaguar," is a 41Aacre display that details the life of the jaguar in its natural habitats. Dont miss the elevated boardwalks, where guests look down on African wildlife.
Now its time to answer those grumbling stomachs by heading over to San Marco to visit two of our favorite food stops. Duck in to Peterbrooke Chocolatier first, and pick up some of the best chocolate-covered popcorn on the planet.
Save your popcorn for the trip home, and end the day at Bistro AIX (pronounced "X"). Named for the French town Aix-en-Provence, the bistro sits on stylish San Marco Boulevard, a strip that also houses many designer shops. An indulgence worth the time, Bistro AIX features Mediterraneaninspired cuisine. Even the decor, brooding and sophisticated like something out of a Gothic French cathedral, adds passion to your palate.
Dont miss their decadent Blood Orange Martini rimmed with sugar. Start with the Bruschetta Trio ($9), which comes with three types of bread-one topped with white bean puree; another with tomatoes, garlic, and basil; and a third with peppers, onions, and goat cheese. For your entree, try the grilled tuna over whipped potatoes with baby spinach, lemongarlic butter, and chive oil ($23).
Soothing Sunday
At The Inn at Oak Street, innkeeper Janice Husk serves divine waffles with fruit topping and whipped cream. Smoked maple bacon and fluffy eggs accompany the meal and set the tone for a merry morning.
On the way out of town, head over to Kids Kampus at Metropolitan Park downtown. Wee ones can ride bikes in a safe area, and you can perch in front of the St. Johns River for some reflection time. Jacksonville does a great job of balancing old Florida charm with its chic, contemporary side. The water just keeps it all afloat. FARRAH AUSTIN
Copyright Southern Progress Corporation Feb 2005
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