Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

If you love nature and wildlife, Jacksonville Arboretum Gardens is the place to go. Located on 120 acres of urban woodland, the Jacksonville Arboretum  Gardens is a must-see for anyone who loves nature and wildlife. It offers numerous hiking trails and beautifully-maintained gardens that will make your trip to Jacksonville unforgettable. The lush, green spaces are an amazing sight to see, and the gardens are the perfect place to get away from the city.

Visitors can walk along a 2.5-acre natural wetland and pet and feed stingrays. Visitors can also explore the Land of the Tiger and Range of the Jaguar exhibits, which were awarded for creating a natural habitat for these animals. The exhibits also have a natural setting for big cats, including a tiger, which can be spotted roaming free. This attraction is perfect for families of all ages, so make sure to bring your family.

The museum’s permanent exhibits feature a variety of science, history, and artifacts from the area. It has a collection of nearly 6,000 artifacts that depict the city’s rich history. Highlights include the Atlantic Tails exhibit, which features animal life found in the Atlantic Ocean, the JEA energy exhibit, which allows visitors to make their own electricity, and the Timucuan Indian art exhibit.

Among the many fascinating attractions at the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens are the Bok Tower Gardens and the historic St. Johns River Bridge. The movable bridge opens and closes on a signal. It is one of the few places in Jacksonville that still houses a carillon, and the tower is an important piece of Florida history. The grounds and gardens here were originally developed by the renowned American landscape planner Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr.

The Friendship Fountain is another popular attraction. The Friendship Fountain features three spray rings – the centermost shoots water 30 meters into the air. Its three ring configuration allows for 16750 gallons of water per minute. If you’re looking for a unique way to commemorate the fallen, the Friendship Fountain will certainly be the place for you. In addition to the Friendship Fountain, the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens is also home to the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, a 14.5-mile pathway crisscrosses the city.

The Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary offers guided tours of its facility on select days. You can also check out the sanctuary’s exotic big cats. You can also enjoy live music and a variety of kid-friendly rides. This event is one of Jacksonville’s most popular annual events, drawing a large crowd of locals and tourists. The festival is free to enter, so don’t miss it.

The Cummer Museum of Art is the largest fine arts museum in Northeast Florida. It was founded by Ninah Cummer, the wife of Arthur Cummer, who was the largest landowner in the area. Her wife, Ninah, collected art and collected them. The Cummer Museum of Art was built on the estate’s original grounds in 1961, replacing two family houses. The museum still features its original layout, and the collection has grown to more than 5,000 works of art.