In just a few weeks, students on the First Coast will wrap up another school year and many parents are searching for ways to keep their kids busy and active during the summer months. One of the many reasons Northeast Florida is one of the best places to call home is that there are plenty of activities to choose from for your entire family. Whether it’s water activities, summer camps, nature parks, interesting galleries and museums, or shopping, there are always a variety of options to choose from that appeal to kids of all ages. In this blog we have put together a list of some top things to do with kids in Jacksonville this summer.
Get Adventurous in the Water
The First Coast is known for its beautiful beaches and wide variety of outdoor water activities to choose from. Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach are great options for a day in the sun, with plenty of parking and lunch options nearby. If your family is looking to stay active during the day, consider visiting Hanna Park, a 450-acre, 150-mile long park on the Atlantic Ocean that offers both hiking and biking trails, plenty of picnic areas, and access to a freshwater lake for boating, canoeing, and kayaking. North Guana Outpost in Ponte Vedra Beach also offers rentals and tours for kayaking, surfing, and stand-up paddleboards and is a great opportunity for your kids to learn a new activity or spend the day as a family exploring the Intracoastal Waterway.
Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens
The Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is a 126-acre arboretum and public garden featuring a variety of unique natural attractions, including the Lake Loop, which encircles a two-acre lake surrounded by a variety of trees such as black cherry, laurel oak, live oak, and more. Spend the day exploring the many trails viewing century old live oaks, a variety of wildlife, and beautiful Jacksonville scenery.
$1 Movies at Regal Cinemas and Tinseltown
When the days get really hot and you are looking for a break from the heat, $1 summer movies are back! Throughout the entire summer, Regal Movie Express will play two movies on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for $1 each, and Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse offers movies for kids every Wednesday from June 15-August 3 for $1.50 each with deals on snacks and popcorn.
Catty Shack Ranch Night Feedings
If you are looking for a thrilling experience for your older children, consider purchasing tickets for the Catty Shack night feedings, held every Friday and Saturday night from 6:00-7:30 pm. Enjoy a self-guided walking tour where you can see tigers, lions, leopards, cougars, and foxes until feeding time at 7:00 pm, where the big cats will devour up to 600 lbs of beef and chicken!
Get Active at the Rock Gym
Jacksonville offers a variety of indoor rock gyms and is another great option if you are looking for a way to keep your kids active and out of the Florida heat. Cornerstone Rock Gym is one of the newer gyms located right outside of Jacksonville and offers fun summer camps including climbing lessons, top roping, bouldering, laser tag, archery tag, and ninja warrior training.
Adventure Landing Summer Passes
Adventure Landing is offering all-day summer passes for plenty of action-packed, kid-friendly activities. The different plans include water park passes, mini-golf, laser tag, go-kart, and arcade games with add-ons available and are a great option for thrifty parents who don’t want to spend too much money on never-ending arcade games.
However you choose to spend your summer, many of these fun activities are sure to keep your family busy and active, and most importantly, create special memories to cherish forever! Feel free to contact our team for additional ideas or specific questions on the Jacksonville area. We are always ready and willing to show you the best of what Jacksonville has to offer.
