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Text & Photos by Millie Taylor

 Jacksonville Beach & Hotels

Pack your suit case – grab your car keys – collapsible cooler (a must) and book your flight for a tropical adventure. Jacksonville Beach is the weekend get-a-way where you can arrive by a quick cab ride from Jacksonville International Airport. If you are driving prepare to leave the car in park all weekend.

Get your beach on during the day with 4 miles of wide open sandy beaches (hint: Walgreens is close by to stock that collapsible cooler and beach needs). Feel like fishing? 3 rod limit on the nearly a quarter mile long pier. Fish all day for $4 or just walk out for $1 and take in some awesome views. Want to enjoy a nice lunch on the beach? Use your cell and call in your order to-go from Joe’s Crab Shack (904) 249-6160 or dine in with a Mason Jar Margarita for some A/C without leaving the beach. We did take-out. Crab cake sandwich and Joe’s surf ’n turf burger (topped w/popcorn shrimp) as we took pictures and enjoyed our beach day with a great meal.

Evening time comes with a wonderful 3 blocks wide and 6 blocks long treat of some of the best restaurants and bars on this one mile strip. Beach Blvd. (Hwy 90) and 1st street is the start of a variety of restaurants and deli’s to explore, ending around 6th Ave and spreading over to 3rd street. 3rd street is also know as A1A, which happens to one of my favorite highways. If you are near the Sea Walk Pavilion after dinner, spread out a towel and enjoy summer Moonlight Movies Film Series (Friday nights at 9pm). Dancing, dining, live music and late night walks on the beach are all within a one mile location.

If you stay at one of these hotels – Quality Inn, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Marriot and the historical Casa Marina you’ll be right on the beach. These are my three favorite Jacksonville Beach hotels for three different reasons, but all are excellent for a weekend getaway.

Casa Marina Hotel:  Since 1925, it is the only hotel still standing since the Jacksonville hurricanes and changing times. The hotel prides itself on keeping that Golden Era of the 20’s alive in its outdoor and indoor appearance with a touch of past blended in with modern class. Perfect for that romantic getaway or for that belated anniversary. Romance is here in this small 23 rooms and parlor suites. They pride themselves with making sure all their guests leave feeling the timeless glamor and relaxed feeling of historic Jacksonville Beach.

Best Western: Want that kick off your flip flops to enjoy a wonderful weekend in Duval County with a mild Key West Duval St. feeling? Try Best Western on Jacksonville Beach for its central location to walking every where. Great price for the bang for the buck weekend.

Hampton Inn: Need to feel that pampered, let your hair down,  “I deserve this weekend?” Check out the Hampton Inn on the beach with its gorgeous waterfall pool and hot tub grotto. Tides Beach Bar and Terrace offers daily drink specials and live entertainment. Just a few steps to the beach, but miles away from reality is what this Hampton Inn offers.

While checking out the area and talking to some of the locals, I got the real reason why folks choose to stay here in this 1 mile area of Jacksonville Beach. Convenience and more convenience. All you really need is a bathing suit, cover up, beach bag, a cooler and a floatation device to enjoy this wonderfully rejuvenated beach.

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