4 Great Kid-Friendly Activities for Families in Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville, FL, with its warm temperatures, countless beaches, breathtaking natural areas, and one of the largest urban park systems in the country, has unlimited kid-friendly activities for families to enjoy together. Take the kids to learn more about history at the various museums and historical sites, explore the outdoors, and encounter local and exotic animals at the zoo and animal wildlife sanctuaries.

4 Great Kid-Friendly Activities for Families in Jacksonville, FL

1. Discover Nature with Your Family

Jacksonville certainly has no shortage of outdoor recreational areas, with more than 400 national, state and city parks spreading out over 80,000 acres of hardwood forests, salt marshes, and coastal wetlands. The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve covers 46,000 acres of wetlands and waterways filled with wildlife to explore. Visit Fort George Island Cultural State Park and Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park to learn more about history.

Explore the outdoors at Big Talbot Island, Little Talbot Island, and Pumpkin Hill State Parks for a day of hiking, biking, boating, paddling, and fishing. You can also take the kids to one of the city parks on the St. Johns River or spend the day on the beach at Kathryn Abbey Hanna and Huguenot Parks.

2. Go on a Kayaking Adventure

Take the kids on a kayaking adventure and paddle down the unique waterways around the city. Many kayak rental companies in Jacksonville offer self-guided and guided kayak tours if you don’t have kayaks. Kayak Amelia provides kayak rentals in the Talbot Islands State Parks and offers tours of the wetlands and marshes.

See manatees and turtles with All Wet Sports and paddle the ocean and intercoastal waters with Beach Life Rentals. Adventure Kayak Florida in Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park rents kayaks to paddle on the park’s scenic freshwater lake. Black Creek Outfitters offers fantastic guided paddling tours on various picturesque waterways if you want to see wildlife.

3. Encounter Local and Exotic Animals

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens boasts a collection of over 2,000 exotic animals. Take the kids to The African Forest exhibit to see the apes and watch them hand-feed the giraffes at the Giraffe Overlook. The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) offers exciting interactive animal encounters at the Florida Naturalist’s Center filled with local wildlife.

You and your kids can go on a nature walk and a guided trail tour to see wildlife right in the heart of the city at The Tree Hill Nature Center and meet tigers, cougars, leopards, and lions at Catty Shack Ranch, a wildlife sanctuary for rescued endangered big cats. The kids will love the nighttime feeding tour when these nocturnal animals are awake.

4. Visit the Museums

Jacksonville has a wide range of museums with interactive displays that will keep your kids entertained for hours on end. The Hands-On Children’s Museum offers an engaging, interactive environment where families learn through creativity, problem-solving, and role-playing. The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) displays an astounding collection of more than 1,000 contemporary and modern paintings, sculptures, installations, photographs, and prints.

The Museum of Science and History (MOSH) boasts fascinating interactive ecological and cultural exhibits spanning thousands of years. Experience the life of a Jacksonville family at the turn of the century at the James Merril Museum and visit Kingsley Plantation within the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve to find out more about the history of plantation life.

Explore the outdoors and discover history on unforgettable family adventures and make memories with your kids that will last a lifetime. Visit Tom Bush Volkswagen today, and our qualified Volkswagen technician will ensure that your vehicle is in excellent condition for an exciting family outing.

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