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Make the Drive: 3 Picnic Spots Near Jacksonville, FL

Make the Drive

The city of Jacksonville, FL is full of tourist attractions, historical buildings, excellent museums, and a world-class gastronomic scene. Besides its main landmarks, though, Jacksonville is also home to plenty of beautiful green areas and popular parks where locals and visitors can enjoy a picnic with friends and family. Here are three of the best picnic spots you can find within driving distance of downtown Jacksonville.

Make the Drive: 3 Picnic Spots Near Jacksonville, FL

1. Riverside Park

Established in the 1890s and covering an area of just over 11 acres, Riverside Park is the second oldest park in the city and a well-known gathering spot among residents of the Five Points and Brooklyn neighborhoods. This beautiful green area is located at 753 Park Street and can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car from downtown Jacksonville via Riverside Avenue.

Open to the public every day between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm, Riverside Park is a place where you can spend an entire day with your friends, have fun, and enjoy nature without leaving the city. Some of the amenities you can find in this popular recreation area include playgrounds, walking and biking trails, picnic tables, a fountain, a basketball court, and a duck pond.

2. Memorial Park

Located at 1620 Riverside Avenue and right along the banks of the St. Johns River, Memorial Park is another fantastic local landmark that can be reached in less than 10 minutes by car from the Jacksonville city center. Open to the public every day between 6:00 am and 10:00 pm, this public park opened its doors to the public in 1924 and quickly became the most popular attraction in the city's historic Riverside neighborhood.

Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017, Memorial Park is a wonderful place to have a picnic with your friends or simply spend the day enjoying the outdoors. This beautiful park features a sprawling lawn where you can always find people sunbathing, reading, tossing Frisbees, and playing ball games.

3. Boone Park

Open year-round from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm, Boone Park is another excellent spot for a picnic within driving distance of downtown Jacksonville. Located in the Avondale neighborhood at 3700 Park Street, this beautiful green area can be reached in just 10 minutes by car via Roosevelt Boulevard. Some of the amenities you can find here include picnic tables, public restrooms, multiple playgrounds, tennis courts, and nature trails.

With the latest safety and driver assist technologies in the industry, as well as a spacious and comfortable cabin, the 2023 BMW iX xDrive 50 is a fantastic SUV to take your family on fun trips and memorable adventures all over Florida. Drop in by Tom Bush BMW Jacksonville and get to know the features of this and other wonderful models in our inventory.

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3 Favorite Weekend Activities You Can Drive to Near Jacksonville, FL

There is plenty of fun and relaxation to be had in Jacksonville, FL every day of the year. There are so many choices that it can be hard to decide how you want to spend your weekend. If you feel overwhelmed by all your options, we recommend hopping in your 2024 BMW X5, picking up your friends, and checking out one of the best weekend activities in the area. 3 Favorite Weekend Activities You Can Drive to Near Jacksonville, FL 1. Touring Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens We highly recommend spending a day at Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens at 370 Zoo Pkwy if you are looking for something fun to do over the weekend. By visiting this zoo, you support dozens of animal and plant conservation programs globally. You also support one of seven zoos in the country with a dedicated animal wellness team to ensure that the animals are well cared for. Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens features 14 exhibits, and you can see mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish. We love the Emerald Forest Aviary and River Valley Aviary. If you prefer mammals over birds, you may be more interested in visiting the Africa Loop exhibit. It features such animals as the African elephant, African lion, and greater kudu. The Wild Florida exhibit is also popular, featuring such species as the: Alligator snapping turtle American alligator Bald eagle Burmese python more 2. Visiting Tree Hill Nature Center We also love spending the day at Tree Hill Nature Center at 7152 Lone Star Road. This nature preserve ensures the preservation of over 51 acres of land, and it features roughly 3.3 miles of trails. There is plenty to explore here, including hummingbird and butterfly gardens. This nature preserve is also home to a wide variety of fish, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, including: Barred owls Green tree frogs Pygmy goats Black rat snakes Bluegill sunfish 3. Exploring MOSH When you need a break from the heat, you should strongly consider going to MOSH (Museum of Science & History) at 1025 Museum Circle. Some of the most popular exhibits include HEALTH IN MOTION, ATLANTIC TAILS, and JEA POWERPLAY. You also don't want to miss checking out the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium. Unless you are a member, you will need to pay $5.95 per program, but it is well worth the price. There is no shortage of things you can do in Jacksonville over the weekend, and you can go at your leisure with reliable transportation. To maintain the reliability of your vehicle, you need to stick to the maintenance schedule laid out by BMW. Contact us today at Tom Bush BMW Jacksonville to schedule a service appointment if it is time for an oil change or tire rotation.

Four Scenic Drives

Four Scenic Drives You Can Take Near Jacksonville, FL

Wind in your hair, the countryside rolling by, and your tunes playing on the radio. Nothing beats a scenic drive, no matter which time of the year it is. Read on as we discuss four spectacular routes you can take in and around Jacksonville, FL. Four Wonderful Scenic Drives in the Jacksonville, FL Area Cruise Down the A1A Ocean Islands Trail Looking for a beach-side drive that takes you along some of Florida's incredible eastern seaboard? Look no further than the famous A1A, an up-to-31-mile stretch that conducts you across some of the best beachfront spots like South Jacksonville Beach and Fernandina Beach. Along the way, this route treats you to marshes, woodlands, and all the wildlife within. There are plenty of pit stops along the way, too; you'll find no end to waterfront dining. And if you want a bit of history to top things off, consider taking the Saint Johns River Ferry--one of the oldest in Florida, and in continual operation since as far back as 1874. more State Road 116: Your Path to Fort Caroline and Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park Fort Caroline is only one of Jacksonville's incredible national parks and is only one stop over on this brief 8-mile passage. It's home to a replica fort in honor of the French Huguenots refugees who fled there. Along the way, you will get a glimpse of the Ribault Monument and a very Instagrammable drive beneath the shade of canopy trees. You'll then end up in Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, one of Jacksonville's must-view city locations with plenty to explore for the whole family. It may be relatively short, but there is a ton to see here. Even if you do nothing other than roam around in your BMW XM, it's an excellent way to spend a Sunday or two. New Berlin Road up to Cedar Point Road Ever wanted to knock out a national, state, and city park all in the same day? This route will satisfy that itch. It's only 7 miles long, and takes you through more of the woods, marshes, and wetlands that Florida is so well known for. Birding enthusiasts, pay attention: Pumpkin Hill Preserve is part of this journey and gives you access to a pristine 4,000 acres replete with local species for your observation. Tree-Lined Neighborhoods along Riverside Avenue Florida is home to some of the oldest buildings in the United States, both from its French and Spanish colonizers and later settlers. Take this quaint neighborhood drive and enjoy some charming riverfront districts. Some of the architecture you'll spot has been there since the Great Fire that ravaged downtown Jacksonville in 1901. The city of Jacksonville even provides a self-guided tour so you can make a checklist of all the historic homes in the area. It's time to get yourself a BMW that lets you cruise these Sunday drives in style. Visit Tom Bush BMW Jacksonville in Jacksonville and take advantage of our latest offers.