Experience Jacksonville like a Local: Eat, Drink and Enjoy an Easier Vacation

Jacksonville offers travelers an ‘easier’ vacation. Jax, as the locals call it, is the largest city in the continental US by landmass but is made up of many smaller neighborhoods that boast southern charm and a welcoming small-town feel. Experiencing Jacksonville like a local means diving right in, not only into the beaches, waterways and amazing outdoors, but also into the deliciously unique food and beverage scene. Hitting all the local’s favorite spots while visiting Jacksonville is the best way to experience the city.

Home to many “Makers”, Jacksonville welcomes young and passionate artists of their own trades who embrace all things local and homemade. From fresh brewed coffee to locally distilled alcohol and a popular craft beer scene, Jacksonville has no shortage of small businesses to support, local flavors to taste and experiences to fit right in like a local.

Sip on Something Local

Jacksonville’s Makers are known to whip up the best local brews, of both the caffeinated and alcoholic-kind.

The Jax Ale Trail unites 22 craft breweries around the city into a fun self-guided tour, complete with a passport to stamp and exchange for prizes upon completion. Local brewers are making a name for Jacksonville in the craft beer scene. Visitors can take a taste of Jacksonville home with them by purchasing a growler or even some local canned beers.

Coffee in Jacksonville means more than the Maxwell House coffee processing plant Downtown. The city is home to a number of local coffee shops roasting and serving fresh grounds.

Southern Grounds is a local chain founded in Neptune Beach that has expended across the city with locations in Avondale and San Marco, too.

Bold Bean is another Jacksonville staple that had its beginnings across the city’s many farmers markets. Today, the coffee shop has three locations across Jacksonville Beach, San Marco and Riverside as well as over 140 wholesale partnerships across the country.

Social Grounds Coffee Company is a veteran owned and operated coffee roaster and shop located in Springfield. A portion of each purchase goes towards a City of Jacksonville Service Provider initiative to employ and empower veterans.

#OnlyinJax Experiences

Jacksonville offers unique ways to experience some of Northeast Florida’s locally crafted goods and farm fresh products.

Congaree and Penn is a restaurant, farm, venue and storefront all in one. The farm produces restaurant quality grits, brown and white rice, jelly, pecan oil and honey that can be shipped all over the nation and supplies several local restaurants. The restaurant and venue space offers visitors field to fork dining experiences, sunset wagon tours, fruit picking, goat greets as well as private events and weddings.

Manifest Distilling offers tours of the facility where they locally produce a variety of spirits in Downtown Jacksonville. Guest can learn about the mashing, fermentation, distillation, aging and packaging processes, and the tour concludes in the tasting room with a sampling of the spirits.

Farm Fresh Local Eats

Several restaurants around town are locally sourced with farm-to-table menus so visitors can truly experience a taste of Jacksonville. Famous Mayport shrimp, among many of the dishes served at the Jax establishments below, are a must try!

Orsay sources its Five-Star menu locally and regularly rotates its offerings of fresh Paris bistro classics and other elevated French cuisine.

Prati Italia is a locally owned restaurant in Jacksonville’s St. Johns Town Center that serves a sustainably sourced menu with the best available ingredients. The restaurant also offers an array of locally brewed and craft distilled beverages.

Jax Bread Co is a local traditional artisan bread bakery that offers breads, pastries, sandwiches and more made with simple ingredients with no added preservatives and/or additives. The bakery supplies bread and baked goods across the community.

Safe Harbor Seafood is a family owned and operated market and restaurant where visitors can taste fresh local seafood including Mayport shrimp.

In Jacksonville, visitors can fit right in, support local business, embrace the city’s Makers scene and enjoying the many #onlyinjax experiences. Start planning your easier vacation at www.VisitJacksonville.com.

About Visit Jacksonville

Visit Jacksonville is a Destinations International accredited Destination Marketing Organization contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to champion the growth of business and leisure tourism in Jacksonville. For a closer look at all there is to see and do in Jacksonville, go to http://www.VisitJacksonville.com or contact 800-733-2668.

###