Traveling With Torie

Highlights From Jacksonville- A Weekend Getaway

My best friend and her husband, both of my closest friends, recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida! They live a bit outside of JAX in the beautiful St John’s County. We all did a bit of exploring together as they haven’t lived there too long and COVID-19 has prevented getting out. Here just a few of my highlights of Jacksonville!

St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach

I recommend getting up early and taking a drive to St. Aug beach and enjoying the peaceful morning while the waves crash on the beach. Getting there early means avoiding crowds and getting the best spot on the beach. I loved spending the morning at the beach! For lunch, we headed into the city of St. Augustine and explored the area. We found great places to stop for food, snacks, and some shade! The most interesting place we found was a local honey store. I am not a fan of eating honey, but I found some great tasting honey and useful products that they make locally. Stubbees is local and also partners with local people and the nearby university to create their products and marketing strategies. I highly recommend stopping by Stubbees during your trip to Jacksonville. Oh, and did I mention St. Augustine is the oldest city in the United States!!!

Kayaking the St. John’s River

I am about 90% sure that this was my first time kayaking. I am so glad we got to experience some Florida beauty while kayaking the St. John’s River. The trees and environment that surround the river in St. John’s is absolutely and especially gorgeous at sunset. We rented kayaks and spent around two hours exploring the coves in the river, paddling away from Manatees, and keeping an eye out for gators.

Dining at TAVERNA in San Marco

We were trying to find a good place for dinner one night and Taverna, an Italian restaurant, had great reviews and seemed like a good option. The strip that it is located in is a nice little place to do some shopping before grabbing a bite to eat. The wine selection was amazing and everything else from appetizers to desserts was delicious. I would recommend it if you are looking for a great Italian place during your visit to Jacksonville.

Peonies in Avondale

This was the highlight of my life in general. I never knew Jacksonville would ever have peonies, especially since the normal season is about over by now (July). I was walking and exploring Avondale/Riverside and ran into a local flower shop, Cattleya European Floral. The sign outside said, “fresh-cut peonies, stop in and smell”. Of course, I had to stop in. Peonies are my absolute favorite flower, and my best friend’s as well. I bought five stems that would bloom beautifully over the next couple of days in town. This experience was day-making for me! Check out how GORGEOUS they were-