Eyewitness Travel Family Guide Florida
Page 50
Address Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens: 829 Riverside Ave, 32204; 904 356 6857; www.cummer.org. Museum of Science and History (MOSH): 1025 Museum Circle, 32207; 904 396 7062; www.themosh.org. Jacksonville Landing: 2 W Independent Dr, 32202; 904 353 1188; www.jacksonvillelanding.com. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): Hemming Plaza, 333 N Laura St., 32202; 904 366 6911; www.mocajacksonville.unf.edu. EverBank Field: 300 A Philip Randolph Blvd, 32202; 904 633 6100; www.jaxevents.com/tickets. Adventure Landing: 1944 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville Beach, 32250; 904 246 4386; www.adventurelanding.com
Bus Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) buses and shuttles serve the city and its beaches (www.jtafla.com).
Car Rent a car from Jacksonville Airport.
Visitor information 208 N Laura St, Ste 102, 32202; 904 798 9111; www.visitjacksonville.com
Open Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens & Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): closed Mon. EverBank Field: call 904 630 3900 for event timings or check website. All other sights are open daily.
Prices Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens: $32–42; under 5s free. Museum of Science and History (MOSH): $40–46; under 3s free ($5 for all ages Fri). Jacksonville Landing: free. Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA): $26–32; under 2s free; free for families on Sun. EverBank Field: ticket prices vary. Adventure Landing and Shipwreck Island Waterpark: attractions are individually priced. Waterpark (seasonal): $17.99 for guests 42 in (106 cm) and taller, $22.99 under 42 in (106 cm) tall; under 3s free
Cutting the line Most beaches and attractions are rarely crowded, except on summer weekends.
Age range 4 plus
Allow 2–3 days
Festivals Springing the Blues in Jacksonville Beach (Apr). Jacksonville Jazz Festival (May)
Good family value? A good mix of inexpensive family-friendly attractions makes the city a great option to suit all budgets.
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Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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Practical Information
Address 370 Zoo Pkwy, Jacksonville, 32218; 904 757 4463; www.jacksonvillezoo.org
Bus Call Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA)Ride Request service (904 598 8724).
Car Rent a car from Jacksonville. Free parking
Open 9am–5pm Mon–Fri (till 6pm Sat & Sun)
Prices $50–60; under 3s free. The zoo charges additional fees for Stingray Bay ($2 per person), unlimited train rides ($4 per person), and unlimited carousel rides ($2 per person). Value Tickets include admission, Butterfly Hollow, Stingray Bay, and unlimited train and carousel rides ($109–16; under 3s free).
Cutting the line Buy tickets online and arrive early to avoid the crowds.
Guided tours The zoo offers many Behind the Scenes tours. Check website for details.
Age range 2 plus
Allow 4–6 hours
Wheelchair access Yes
Café Several in the zoo
Shops Many throughout the zoo
Restrooms At the Main Camp Safari Lodge at the entrance
Good family value? Exciting animals, carousel rides, and a train tour, along with affordable admission prices, make this zoo great for visitors of all ages.
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Talbot Islands State Parks
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Practical Information
Address Yellow Bluff Fort: New Berlin Rd, 32226; 904 251 2320. Fort George Island: 11676 Palmetto Ave, 32226; 904 251 3537. Little Talbot Island, Big Talbot Island, Amelia Island & George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier: State Rd A1A/Heckscher Dr, 32226; 904 251 2320. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve: 13802 Pumpkin Hill Rd, 32226; 904 696 5980. Check www.floridastateparks.org for all parks.
Car Rent a car from Jacksonville International Airport.
Open Yellow Bluff Fort, Little Talbot Island, Big Talbot Island, Amelia Island & Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve: 8am–sunset daily. Fort George Island: 8am–sunset daily. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier: 24 hours daily
Prices Yellow Bluff Fort, Fort George Island & Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve: free. Little Talbot Island & Amelia Island: $5 per vehicle & $2 per pedestrian and cyclist. Big Talbot Island: $3 per vehicle. George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier: $2 per person (admission to Amelia Island includes pier access)
Cutting the line Parks are rarely crowded, except on holiday weekends, but book campsites and tours well in advance.
Guided tours Kelly Seahorse Ranch (904 491 5166) offers guided horseback-riding on the beach at Amelia Island. Kayak Amelia (904 251 0016) runs kayak, Segway, and canoe tours.
Age range All ages for beaches; 5 plus for exhibits and tours
Activities Check websites for ranger programs.
Allow 1–4 hours at each park
Wheelchair access Limited; call 8502452157
Restrooms At all parks, except Yellow Bluff Fort and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve
Good family value? With a fantastic mix of outdoor activities, history, and culture, these state parks are a big draw for active families.
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Fernandina Beach
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Practical Information
Car Rent a car from Jacksonville International Airport.
Visitor information 102 Centre St, 32034; 904 277 0717; www.fbfl.us
Cutting the line Avoid visiting during holiday weekends.
Guided tours For horse-drawn carriage rides, contact Old Towne Carriage Company (904 277 1555) or Amelia Island Carriages (904 556 2662).
Age range 6 plus
Allow 2 hours
Festival Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival features pirate parades, exciting contests and music (May).
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Fort Clinch State Park
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Practical Information
Address 2601 Atlantic Ave, Fernandina Beach, 32034; 904 277 7274; www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch
Car Rent a car from Fernandina Beach.
Open Park: 8am–sunset daily. Fort: 9am–5pm daily
Price Park: $6 per vehicle; $2 per pedestrian or bicyclist. Fort: $2 per person
Cutting the line The park is rarely crowded.
Guided tours Guided nature walks at 10:30am on Saturdays, candlelight tours on Labor Day weekends, and daily Living History programs.
Age range 4 plus
Activities Swimming, nature hikes, biking, fishing and camping
Allow 2–4 hours
Wheelchair access Yes
Restrooms At the foot of boardwalks, in the campgrounds, and on the fishing pier
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Cumberland Island National Seashore
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Practical Information
Address Camden, Georgia; 912 882 4335; www.nps.gov/cuis
Ferry Ferries depart twice daily from St. Marys. Call ahead to book (912 882 4335).
Taxi Rent a water taxi, a charter, or a private cruise from Amelia River Cruises & Charters (1 N Front St, Fernandina Beach, 32034; 904 261 9972; www.ameliarivercruises.com) or Lang’s Charters (304 Osborne St, St. Marys, 31558; 912 674 8062; www.langcharters.com).
Open Park: daily. Visitor center: 8am–4:30pm daily
Price Park: $8–18; under 16s free
Cutting the line Visit on weekdays or in off-season. Arrive early to beat crowds.
Guided tours Free hour-long tours twice daily, at 10am and 12:45pm
Age range 6 plus; walking the long distances can be tiring for younger kids.
Activities The park runs a free kids’ program at 2pm in summer. Kids’ activity booklets are available at the Mainland Visitor Center.
Allow At least half a day
Wheelchair access Yes
Restrooms At the visitor center in St. Marys, the ranger station near Cumberland Island dock, Sea Camp Campgrounds, and Plum Orchard
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St. Augustine
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Practical Information
Address St. Augustine 32084. Villa Zorayda Museum: 83 King St; 904 829 9887; www.villazorayda.com. Oldest House: 14 St. Francis St; 904 824 2872; www.saintaugustinehistoricalsociety.org/. Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: 14 St. George St; 904 824 0192; www.oldestwoodenschoolhouse.com
Car Rent a car from Jacksonville Airport. Parking is limited in tourist areas.
Visitor information St. Augustine & St. Johns County Visitor Information Center, 10 Castillo Dr W, 32084; 904 825 q1000; www.floridashistoriccoast.com
Open Villa Zorayda Museum: 10am–5pm Mon–Sat & 11am–4pm Sun. Oldest House: 9am–5pm daily. Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: 9am–4pm daily
Prices Villa Zorayda Museum: self-guided audio tours $30–40; under 7s free. Oldest House: $18–28 (family ticket). Oldest Wooden Schoolhouse: $18; under 5s free
Guided tours Old Town Trolley Tours (167 San Marco Ave, 32084; 904 829 3800; www.trolleytours.com/st-augustine) offers tours of St. Augustine’s historic district. The Oldest House runs free guided tours every half hour 9:30am–4:30pm. Villa Zorayda Museum offers docent-led tours ($40–50; under 7s free) by reservation only. Call 904 829 9887 to book. Contact St. Augustine Transfer Company for carriage tours.
Age range 5 plus. The Villa Zorayda Museum and Oldest House will be of more interest to kids 8 plus.
Allow A day
Festivals Rhythm and Ribs Festival features live music, barbecue, and kids’ activities (Apr). Nights of Lights celebrates the holiday season with art shows and parades (Nov–Jan).
Good family value? A plethora of free, as well as paid, attractions makes the city a great place to spend a day.
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Lightner Museum/Ponce de León Hotel
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Practical Information
Address Ponce de León Hotel: in Flagler College, 74 King St, 32084; 904 829 6481; www.flagler.edu. Lightner Museum: 75 King St, 32084; 904 824 2874; www.lightnermuseum.org
Car Rent a car in St. Augustine.
Open Lightner Museum: 9am–5pm daily. Ponce de León Hotel: tours only
Price Ponce de León Hotel: free, except for guided tours. Lightner Museum: $30–40; under 12s free
Cutting the line Visit on a weekday morning.
Guided tours Tours of the Ponce de León Hotel from the college’s main lobby at 10am & 2pm daily.
Age range 8 plus
Allow An hour for the museum
Wheelchair access At the Lightner Museum
Restrooms At both sights
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Castillo de San Marcos
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Practical Information
Address 1 South Castillo Dr, 32084; 904 829 6506 (ext. 227); www.nps.gov/casa
Car Rent a car in St. Augustine.
Open 8:45am–5:15pm daily
Price $14–28; under 15s free
Cutting the line Early weekday mornings are quietest, but most re-enactments and cannon firings are on weekends.
Guided tours There are maps and brochures for self-guided tours.
Age range 6 plus
Activities Cannon firings, weapons demonstrations, short films, and ranger programs
Allow 1–2 hours
Wheelchair access Yes, except for the upper gun deck
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Environmental Education Center
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Practical Information
Address 505 Guana River Rd, S Ponte Vedra Beach, 32082; 904 823 4500; www.gtmnerr.org
Car Rent a car from St. Augustine.
Open Education Center: 9am–4pm daily. GTM trails and beach parking: 8am–sunset daily
Price Education Center: $6–16; under 9s free
Cutting the line Early mornings and weekdays are best.
Guided tours For family programs or guided trail walks, call 904 823 4500. Ripple Effect Ecotours (www.rippleeffectecotours.com) offers kayak and nature tours.
Age range All ages
Allow 1–1½ hours
Wheelchair access South parking lot accessible
Restrooms In the Environmental Education Center
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Anastasia Island
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Practical Information
Address Park: 300 Anastasia Park Rd, 32080; 904 461 2033; www.floridastateparks.org. Lighthouse: 81 Lighthouse Ave, 32080; 904 829 0745; www.staugustinelighthouse.com
Car Rent a car from St. Augustine.
Open Park: 8am–sunset daily. Lighthouse: 9am–6pm daily
Price Park: $8 per vehicle. Lighthouse: $36–46
Cutting the line Avoid midday and holiday weekends.
Guided tours RippleEffect EcoTours (904 347 1565; www.rippleeffectecotours.com) offers kayak/canoe tours. Call lighthouse for information on ghost tour.
Age range All ages. For the lighthouse, kids must be taller than 44 in (112 cm), and able to climb alone.
Allow Park: 1–2 hours. Lighthouse: at least 1 hour
Wheelchair access Yes
Restrooms Park: at beaches and campgrounds. Lighthouse: near the gift shop
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Marineland Dolphin Adventure
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Practical Information
Address 9600 Oceanshore Blvd, 32080; 904 471 1111; www.marineland.net
Car Rent a car from St. Augustine.
Open 9am–4:30pm daily
Price $35–45; dolphin programs range from $26 to $550
Age range 3 plus
Activities Several dolphin programs; call ahead for details.
Allow 1–2 hours
Wheelchair access Yes
Restrooms Near gift shop and main pool area
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Washington Oaks Gardens State Park
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Practical Information
Address 6400 N Palm Coast Blvd, Oceanshore, 32137; 386 446 6780; www.floridastateparks.org/washingtonoaks
Car Rent a car from St. Augustine.
Open 8am–sunset daily
Price $5 per vehicle
Cutting the line The park is rarely crowded.
Age range 4 plus
Allow 1–2 hours
Wheelchair access Yes. Beach wheelchair with advance notice.
Restrooms In the visitor center, picnic area, and on the beach
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Daytona Beach
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Practical Information
Address Daytona Lagoon: 601 Earl St, 32114; www.daytonalagoon.com. Daytona Beach Boardwalk: 12 N Ocean Ave, 32118; www.daytonabeachboardwalk.com. Halifax Historical Museum: 252 S Beach St, 32114; www.halifaxhistorical.org. Southeast Museum of Photography: 1200 W International Speedway, 32114; www.smponline.org. Daytona International Speedway: 1801 W International Speedway Blvd, 32114; www.daytonainternationalspeedway.com. Gamble Place: 1819 Taylor Rd, Port Orange, 32127; www.moas.org
Bus Votran (www.votran.org) buses connect sights in the city.
Car Rent a car at Daytona Beach International Airport.
Visitor information Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 126 E Orange Ave, 32115; 386 255 0415; www.daytonabeach.com
Open Daytona Lagoon & Daytona Beach Boardwalk: hours vary by attraction and season; check websites. Public beaches: open 24 hours daily to pedestrians and bicyclists & sunrise–sunset to vehicles with driving passes. Halifax Historical Museum: 10:30am–4:30pm Tue–Fri & 10am–4pm Sat. Southeast Museum of Photography: 11am–5pm Tue–Fri, 1–5pm Sat. Daytona International Speedway: event hours vary; tours from 10am–4pm daily. Gamble Place: 8am–5pm Wed–Sun
Prices Daytona Lagoon & Daytona Beach Boardwalk: check websites for details; water park: $100–20. Public beaches: $10 to drive or park on beach (www.codb.us). Halifax Historical Museum: $12–22. Southeast Museum of Photography: free. Da
ytona International Speedway: for event and race prices, call 1800748 7467. Gamble Place: $6–18; under 5s free
Cutting the line VIP tours of the Daytona International Speedway can be booked ahead at $52 per person; call 877 306 7223.
Guided tours Take the 90-min ($66–72; under 5s free) or 30-min ($56–62; under 5s free) All Access Speedway Tour. Gamble House runs group tours by reservation.
Age range 4 plus
Allow At least half a day
Good family value? Although lodgings can be relatively expensive in this city, the beach, and some sights, are free and many others are moderately priced.
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Museum of Arts and Sciences (MOAS)
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Practical Information
Address 352 South Nova Rd, Daytona Beach, 32114; 386 255 0285; www.moas.org
Car Rent a car from Daytona Beach Airport. Free parking
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat & 11am–5pm Sun
Price $40–50; under 6s free. General admission includes regular planetarium shows.
Shows The planetarium hosts laser rock concerts (tickets $5 for one show, $7 for two shows, or $9 for three shows) at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm on second Sat of each month. Limited seating. Tickets can be purchased at the main entrance or in advance. Call 386 255 0285 for information on specific shows.
Cutting the line Visit between 9am and 11am, when the museum is relatively uncrowded.