3 Favorite Outdoor Activities in and Around Jacksonville, FL

The city, regional, and state parks in and around Jacksonville, FL, provide nature lovers with numerous exciting outdoor activities. The breathtaking Talbot Islands State Parks includes six beautiful parks. Here you can explore the diverse exosystem on miles of multi-purpose trails and observe an abundance of birds. The region is also a top fresh and saltwater fishing destination where you can hook a wide range of fish species.

3 Favorite Outdoor Activities in and Around Jacksonville, FL

1. Fishing

With the one-mile George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park, rivers, lakes, and the Atlantic Ocean, it’s no wonder fishing is the top pastime in the region. Here you can cast your line inshore or from a boat on the ocean. Fishing from a kayak or canoe is also popular. There are many fishing charters with knowledgeable guides that know the waters well for an unforgettable fishing expedition.

There is a wide range of fish species that can be caught throughout the year. Anglers regularly hook bass, speckled trout, tarpon, whiting, jacks, sheepshead, redfish, and flounder, to name a few. Nassau Sound is known for being the prime fishing destination and boasts the state flounder record.

2. Hiking, Biking, and Horseback Riding

The breathtaking Florida landscape provides hikers and cyclists with a vast and diverse ecosystem to explore. Miles of hiking and biking trails wind through coastal maritime forests, saltwater marshes, and along white sandy beaches. At Big Talbot Island State Park, stroll to Boneyard Beach on the Shoreline Trail through massive skeletons of live oak, pine, and cedar trees. At Amelia Island State Park, there is a horse riding trail along the beach. At Little Talbot Island State Park, you can walk on five miles of pristine beaches.

Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park has 15 miles of hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails that cut through the pine forests. The trail connects to trail systems of other preserves in the 7 Creeks Recreation Area. This area stretches out over 5,600 acres of preserved natural beauty and provides over 30 miles of natural-surface multi-purpose trails. The Timucuan Trail, part of the 3,000-mile East Coast Greenway, is another must-do trail in the region. The trail runs along the Atlantic Coast from the Florida Keys up to Maine. In this section, the trail connects Abbey Hannah Park to Amelia Island State Park.

3. Birdwatching

The abundance of birdlife makes this region one of the prime spots for birdwatching. The Talbot Islands State Parks are the perfect destinations for spotting shorebirds and wading birds along miles of trails that cut through the diverse ecosystem. The wooden boardwalk at Spoonbill Pond in Big Talbot Island is a favorite place in the region to observe roseate spoonbills. The unspoiled wilderness of Little Talbot Island State Park attracts shorebirds such as terns, plovers, black skimmers, and willets. You will see pelicans and ospreys, and in winter, bald eagles fish in the island’s waters.

Go to the park in spring to watch migratory birds resting on their way between Argentina and Canada. Huguenot Memorial Park is considered the top birding destination in the region by the Duval Audubon Society to observe terns and shorebirds. The Great Florida Birding Trail also runs through the park and provides the opportunity to see sea ducks, gannets, and loons.

The city is a gateway to explore and experience the beautiful wilderness through numerous activities. Contact Tom Bush MINI today for top-quality maintenance and repair services and exceptional customer care.

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