Jacksonville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Florida – and it not only has a lot of people, but also an extremely high number of exciting sights to offer.
History buffs, for example, will find a diverse museum landscape in Jacksonville that offers a wealth of interesting information about the history of the city in Duval County. Impressive high-rises characterize the architecture of Jacksonville, and there are also many idyllic parks. The eastern border of Jacksonville is the Atlantic Ocean, so the proximity to the water can also be felt throughout the city.
To explore Jacksonville, a rental car is a great advantage. One can rent a car from Fox at the Jacksonville airport.
Discover Jacksonville Downtown
Downtown is the oldest part of Jacksonville, and it is also the most popular tourist destination. Downtown not only marks the historic city limits, but is also the cultural and political center of the county.
The famous Bank of America Tower, the tallest building in Jacksonville with a height of 188 meters, can be seen from afar. Construction of the building, which has 42 floors, was completed in 1990. The design, which is characterized by reinforced concrete and glass, goes back to the German-American architect Helmut Jahn.
Downtown Jacksonville is also the home of the Jacksonville Suns, a baseball team that plays in the Double-A Southern League. The Suns play in the country’s Double-A Southern League, and their stadium seats about 600 spectators.
Jacksonville residents often refer to the Jacksonville Memorial Arena, which seats a full 15,000, as simply “The Vet.” This is a multi-purpose arena that Elton John inaugurated with a major concert in 2003.
Laura Street in Jacksonville
When visiting Jacksonville, a detour to Laura Street is a must. There you will find a complex of three high-rise buildings that were built after the great fire in the city in 1901.
Flanking the Old Florida National Bank are the impressive skyscrapers of the Florida Life Building and the Bisbee Building. From Laura Street, however, the front of the Florida Life Building can still be seen.
The Bisbee Building was completed in 1909. At that time it represented the first skyscraper in the southern states, which was made of reinforced concrete. According to the architect’s original plans, the width of the building was to be only about eight meters, but the need for office space turned out to be so great that in the end the size of the structure turned out to be much more impressive.
The oldest building of the famous complex is the Old Florida National Bank, which was designed by the architect Edward H. Glidden. The structure is built in the neoclassical style and has already undergone several renovations. After it was sold in the 1990s, however, it too – like the other two buildings – fell into disrepair.
The green heart of Jacksonville
The city of Jacksonville has numerous green spaces and aesthetically designed residential neighborhoods. These are mainly found in the south of Downtown, such as the popular San Marco neighborhood.
Older people and families with children especially appreciate the neighborhood because of its many parks. Shopping can be done to your heart’s content on nearby San Marco Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.
