Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary
Dedicated to providing a home for exotic big cats from a range of backgrounds, this sanctuary is the place to go to learn about their way of life and conservation.
Some of the cats came from private owners who tried to keep them as pets, others came from failed zoos or federal confiscations, but one thing is for sure: all of them have a safe home at the sanctuary.
With tigers, lions, bobcats, leopards and cougars at the ranch, you can get a much closer view and more personalized tour experience than you'll find at a big zoo, plus special experiences like night-feeding tours. At just seven miles (11.2 kilometers) from the airport, the Catty Shack Ranch is on the opposite side of the I-95 from JAX Airport.
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
With more than 5,000 works of art from 2000BC to the modern day, historic furnishings and traditionally designed flower gardens, the Cummer Museum offers an inspiring collection of the highest quality.
Located 15 miles (24.1 kilometers) from Jacksonville International Airport, the free museum has a strong selection of European and American work including Meissen porcelain, Joseph Jeffers Dodge, Eugene Savage, Japanese prints and rare books. It is all exhibited alongside historic furniture inside and three decorative flower gardens dating as far back as 1903 and a sculpture garden outside.
Atlantic Beach
Located about 26 miles (41.8 kilometers) from JAX Airport, Atlantic Beach is part of a community of Jacksonville Beaches and is a popular place for locals as well as tourists. There are miles of sandy beaches and a large gathering of bars and restaurants around Atlantic Boulevard to provide sustenance for your day in the Floridian sun.
It’s kept meticulously clean and tidy, so the beach is ideal for family days out or couples’ walks on the coastline. It can get a little busy at weekends and during holiday seasons, but a short stroll up or down the beach will soon find you a quiet patch.
Riverside Arts Market
The Riverside Arts Market is only 15 miles (24.1 kilometers) away from JAX in the city of Jacksonville itself. As the name suggests, it sits immediately next to St Johns River under the shadow of the Fuller Warren Bridge, which is the perfect setting for the open-air market held there every Saturday.
It has a bohemian feel with local traders selling a huge range of food, crafts, collectibles and artwork. There is usually live music to be heard amongst the foodie-favorite restaurants dotted around the neighborhood of Five Points. With its shady riverfront location and endless options for food and drink, this is free-thinking Florida at its finest.
EverBank Field
Home to the National Football League’s (NFL's) Jacksonville Jaguars and the annual Florida-Georgia college football game, EverBank Field is about 16 miles (25.7 kilometers) from JAX Airport.
It hosts music festivals and national sports events thanks to its heavy investment into creating one of the best stadiums in the country. The largest HD LED displays in the world, wading pools for spectators, unique food and drink offerings, friendly staff and amazing views all combine to give visitors an unforgettable day out.
Little Talbot Island State Park
Covering the entire 2,500-acre (1,011-hectare) Big Talbot Island, the park includes forests, dunes and salt marshes populated by wildlife like otters, bobcats and migrating birds. It’s a wonderful place to walk, fish, swim, camp, canoe and surf; there's even a fully equipped campground hiring bicycles and canoes if you can’t take your own.
At only 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Jacksonville Airport, it presents one of best places to enjoy a spot of tranquility in northern Florida.
Museum of Science and History
Often referred to by its initials, MOSH, the Museum of Science and History is the most popular museum in Jacksonville. A regularly rotated primary exhibit is supported by three floors of permanent displays from the collection, including some interactive and hands-on exhibits. The building also houses a planetarium for all space geeks out there.
Located around 17 miles (27.3 kilometers) from JAX Airport, this is a comparatively small museum, but what it lacks in size is more than compensated by quality.
Timucuan Ecological and Historical Preserve
As an extensive 46,000-acre (18,615-hectare) stretch of wetlands, waterways and forestry, this is the perfect way to replace city surroundings with stunning natural beauty.
The Timucuan Preserve includes plenty of walking trails and striking viewpoints of the area, as well as historic buildings and memorials, such as the Kingsley Plantation from the 1700s and a recreation of Fort Caroline from the 1500s.
It’s about 24 miles (38.6 kilometers) from Jacksonville Airport and is maintained by caring and helpful rangers throughout the year – they’ll give you recommendations of what to see in the park if you ask them.