Blog

The most delicious smoked meats are found right here in Jacksonville, FL. The Southeast is home to some of the best barbecue joints, serving up savory and sweet briskets, sausages, and ribs daily. Finding your next spot for lunch or dinner is easy when there are so many great places nearby to choose from. more 7 Best Barbecue Restaurants Near Jacksonville, FL 1. The Bearded Pig Southern-style barbecue and beer has found its home at The Bearded Pig. Their burnt ends, pulled pork, and smoked sausage are bound to make you drool. Make it a feast with their legendary baked beans and mac and cheese sides, washing it all down with their rotating menu of local brews in the beer garden. 2. Butt Hutt Smokehouse Jacksonville's Butt Hutt Smokehouse is a local favorite for its Florida-style barbecue and signature sauces and spices. Their marbled brisket is not to be missed, perfectly paired with their homemade sweet heat sauce. You'll never taste anything like the smoked beef briskets, spicy sausage, and pulled pork that this impressive food truck delivers every day. 3. Gator's BBQ Voted best BBQ in Jacksonville, this local eatery gets Southern-style barbecue right. Their Texas-style brisket is slow-smoked for a full 18 hours using a unique blend of seasonings that make this meat satisfy even the strongest of cravings. Eight different house sauces ensure every guest finds the perfect flavor to complement their choice of meat, and their laid back atmosphere encourages you to take your time savoring every last bite. 4. Monroe's Smokehouse BBQ More than just delicious meat, Monroe's Smokehouse exudes Southern hospitality with its traditional, family-oriented way of doing things. The Monroe Family serves authentic and hearty feasts that just can't compare to more modern practices. Their platters serve up an impressive array of meats with sides that'll make your mouth water. 5. Four Rivers Smokehouse Savory smoked chicken, tender ribs that fall off the bone, and perfectly marbled brisket are what puts Four Rivers Smokehouse on the map. Their classic Southern style of Texas and St. Louis barbecue will keep you coming back time and again. The house-made Chimichurri served with their tri-tips is a meal you won't know how you ever lived without. 6. Berndt Ends BBQ The saucy smoked meats and charming, rustic atmosphere are what make this joint a Jacksonville staple. They serve a variety of traditional barbecue favorites and really shine with their brisket sandwich, paired perfectly with a crisp beer or two. 7. Toby's Barbecue Serving up locally famous ribs and all of your traditional favorites, you'll find that anything you can sink your teeth into will be juicy and tender. The banana pudding is a customer favorite, so make sure to save room for dessert. Delicious barbecue is easy to find around Jacksonville. Call or stop by Tom Bush Volkswagen today and we'll direct you to the best places our little neck of the woods has to offer, and get you there safely in a new vehicle to accompany you along the way.

The untouched, natural beauty of Little Talbot Island State Park, the diverse habitat, and the abundant wildlife make this little island paradise a haven for nature lovers. As one of only a few undeveloped barrier islands that remain in the region, visitors are treated to picturesque beaches, lush forests, and breathtaking vistas. more 6 Fun Activities to Enjoy at Little Talbot Island State Park 1. Hiking Explore the pristine island wilderness on foot along the one-mile Nature Trail that begins at the salt marshes of Myrtle Creek and meanders past sand dunes and through the maritime forest. The trail has interpretive signs along the way on the indigenous plants and animals in the park. To make the trail fun for the kids, get Hide and Seek instructions from the ranger station and find treasures along the path. The 4-mile Dune Ridge Trail loops through a hammock, past a beach dune, a marsh, and ends with a leisurely stroll down the beach. 2. Bicycling Cyclists have a choice of on and off-road trails that run through the park. There is the 2.5-mile paved, multi-purpose Timucuan Trail and the off-road Dune Ridge Trail. On the Timucuan Trail, there is a pavilion, benches, a water fountain, and free air to inflate your bike's tires. The trail also has interpretive panels with information on the fauna and flora in the park. The Dune Trail runs through the forest and along the beach. 3. Paddling Long Island Outfitters and Kayak Amelia have everything you need to enjoy the water. They have canoe and kayak rentals and offer guided trips and informative tours around the island. If you have your own kayak or canoe, there is a launch at the campgrounds. 4. Birding There are an abundance of birds on the Atlantic Coast. The park is home to a wide variety of migrating birds, songbirds in the hammock forest, and wading birds down at the marsh. Be on the lookout for painted buntings, red knots, plovers, terns, and great horned owls. During the late spring and summer, you will see nesting shorebirds and their young. 5. Fishing For fishermen, the five miles of beach and the salt marsh offer excellent fishing opportunities. At the salt marsh, anglers hook black drum, redfish, flounder, and trout. The On The Line Bait shop at Kayak Amelia has everything you need. The owners are helpful and eagerly offer advice on fishing in the park. Make sure to get a free edition of the Fishing Connection magazine for inside fishing tips, the best bait to use, and where what is biting at the ranger station. The campground has a bait cleaning station and a dock into Myrtle Creek. 6. Camping Camp under the stars between ancient dunes and a hammock of live oaks, holly, and magnolias. The park has RV and tent sites with electricity, picnic tables, fire rings, and drinking water. The restrooms have hot showers, there is a laundry, and a dump station. You can bring your pets along if they are well-behaved and leashed. Pets are allowed on the trails but not on the beaches. Pack your picnic basket and enjoy the day in the park. Stroll through the forest, swim in the ocean, and have lunch at one of the beach-side pavilions. Contact Tom Bush Volkswagen today for the best quality new and pre-owned vehicles.