One of my FAVORITE beaches in Jax! Always clean, comfortable and beautiful! A great place to find…read morepeace and relax in the sunshine state!

Neptune Beach has so much to offer. Obviously you can hang out on the beach, but it's what's close…read moreto the beach that brings me back. So many restaurants and shops to choose from it is hard to pick a favorite. You must check out the Lemon Bar, which is an outdoor venue with a beach view. The Lemon Bar offers live music, drinks and food. Next is Pete's, the oldest bar in the area. It's divey vibe is a must for locals. If you like to play pool, this is your spot. Next is Island Girl, offering many types/flavors of cigars and draft beer. Sliders Oyster Bar is another local favorite offering food and drinks. Across the street and on the beach is the Seahorse Inn. This is the best spot to stay at the beach on a budget and is in the center of all the fun. The only downside is parking. There are two pay lots and street parking, which use to be free but now you pay at the machine. Be careful not to park in lots with towing signs (if you see not visiting the specified businesses).

Atlantic Beach has so much to offer locals as well as tourists. From beautiful beaches to shops and…read morerestaurants. And bonus, you can walk to most everything in 10 minutes or less. Recently, I had brunch, and then we hit up several shops on First Street. So many options, a book store, several unique boutiques and a reasonably priced souvenir shop. And many restaurants choices, seafood, Italian, Asian, plus a few taverns. You can usually catch live music at a few spots on the weekend. If you are not hungry and do not want to shop, you can try the cigar bar, or stop in for a drink at the oldest bar at the beach, Pete's, established in 1933. Lemon Bar is beside the beach and offers light fair and drinks. There is one high end hotel, One Ocean. Even if you're not staying there, I suggest stopping by their lounge for a drink. It is gorgeous and they offer unique cocktails, plus a nice patio. Or for a little less, stay at the Seahorse Inn, which has access to the Lemon Bar near the pool. I'm a huge fan of Atlantic Beach. But the one downside is parking. There used to be free street parking but now you must pay the parking machine for nearly every spot. There is one parking lot in the heart of it all, but be prepared to pay between $10-$20, depending on the time of year. There is one other city owned lot between First and Second Street.

DO NOT LET YOUR DOG SWIM IN THE DOG PARK!!!! It is dangerous and the city will not rectify or…read morecompensate for your vet bills! My dog was injured while swimming in the dog water park. He sliced his foot open, causing an emergency vet visit and a follow up visit to remove a pad from his foot. The city manager, Kevin Hogencamp and the mayor, Curtis Ford, will not return a phone call or an email to confirm that the pond has been cleared of dangerous debris. Nor will they pay for the vet bills, despite having multiple witnesses, documentation, and photos. They will not even have a conversation about it even though they promised to open an investigation and follow up. The place is dangerous and they do not care about your dog! Stay away!!!!

Came down to Jacksonville Beach with my KY family and had one of those days that somehow turns into…read morea full on memory whether you planned it or not. First off, the free parking deserves its own standing ovation. Pull in, park, no stress, no drama, no circling like you are hunting for buried treasure. That alone already put everyone in a good mood. But the real star of the day was the ocean. The Atlantic Ocean was doing its thing like it always does, loud, endless, and a little dramatic in the best way. The waves would roll in all calm and pretty, and then suddenly act like they had something to prove when they hit the shore. My family spent half the time just watching the water like it was a live show we all agreed to attend. The kids were running in and out of the surf like the ocean was a game level they were trying to beat. Meanwhile the adults were pretending to be chill but really just trying not to get knocked over by surprise waves or lose a sandal to the sea forever. There was something about standing there with salt air, wind blowing, and that huge stretch of ocean in front of us that made everything feel simple in the best way. No schedules, no rush, just waves, laughs, and somebody always saying "don't go too far!" We ate, we laughed, we got sandy in places we will not discuss in public, and we loved every minute of it. Five stars. Great KY family day, perfect Atlantic Ocean views, and free parking that should honestly be illegal for how convenient it was.

When staying in Jacksonville to help support opening a new site here for work, I found myself…read morewanting to check out a local beach. There was a brunch haus for a Sunday brunch, then beach venture to see what Jax Beach has to offer. Since it was November, it was very relaxed and less than people since it was cooler. Loved the calmness of hearing the waves roll in, and enjoyed dipping my feet in for a bit. Parking was very reasonably priced, and easy to pay via mobile phone. Loved the ease to park, pay, and enjoy the beach vibes.

I've been going to Oceanfront Park for many years. The first time I went to the park I met friends…read morefor lunch as they have several picnic pavilions. My last several visits I practiced beginners Tai Chi at sunset. The park is on the beach and offers a free private parking lot. This is a great place to practice Tai Chi as the ocean noizes help you relax. The grass in the center of the park is soft so I'm sure it's also good for yoga. There were a couple of public restrooms open from daylight to dusk. You will also find lots of dogs being walked in the area. If you're looking for a beachfront park look no further.

This park has everything you need, and/or looking for, and then some!…read more First and foremost, there is a large parking lot. Considering how busy the beach can get at times I'm not going to say there will always be a space open, but your chances of finding a parking space are much better than other beachfront parks...and it's free. The park not only has a large parking lot, but it has restrooms and beach showers. There are boardwalks going out to the beach as well for ease and protection of the dunes. If you are in the park a little after dusk and/or before the first light, please know the parking lot has lighting for safety. Aside from the above, there are sheltered picnic areas, a large grassy area for just chillin' or playin' around, a sand volleyball court, and educational information signs about the area/Jacksonville Beach. Plus, there are concrete figures for you to enjoy, take pictures of or selfies, kids to play on, or whatever. In the center of the park, there is a bronze statue which is considered the focal point of the park. It is meant to symbolize the dedication to preserving public access to the beach for generations to come. If you are local or a tourist and haven't been to this beach...put it on your list to check out. Even if you just want to enjoy an early evening walk on the beach instead of a day at the beach...this beach is perfect for a little something different. There is handicapped parking, handicapped access to the beach, and to the grassy area. (Please note: Across the street from the grassy area is UNF's Seaside Sculpture Park--another good place to check out if you have time.)

I love Kathryn Abbey. We go here often, sometimes we camp; sometimes just a day trip. There is…read moreplenty of parking for day trips. We like to park around the lifeguard station. If you go south it is better for surfing. Lots of trails for bikes. You can also bring your dogs to the beach here.

went with the family for a beautiful beach day. This beach is very accessible and have several…read moreentry points that are clearly marked for accessibility and bathrooms. The beach was clean and not crowded. The sand is soft and not a lot of shells where you walk. Its a staple for beautiful days. There is a $5 entry fee

Justin was great. He set up 4 chairs and 2 umbrellas for my group and checked in with us a few…read moretimes to make sure we were ok. He showed us how to adjust our chairs and was willing to move our spot if we'd like. Overall great experience spending the day, 10am - 5pm, at the beach without having to lug heavy umbrellas an chairs from the parking lot to the water.

Easy to work with. Super friendly. And they were very convenient to use. Price was reasonable for…read morethe full day.

The cutest hidden gem coffee shop. It's always fun to get an iced latte, look around the surf…read morestore, and walk around the little beach town. Coffee is yummy and very decently priced. They also have some alcoholic drinks.

The cashier was snobby and rude. I could have and almost pulled a Pretty Woman then realized the…read moreestablishment didn't deserve my money for being rude. Moving on to the next business ..

Normally I go to the beach that's closer to my house, out of convenience, but because my sister…read moreasked to meet her, I opted to oblige. She gave me some directions regarding where to park. This area of Jax Beach is residential, so there isn't a parking lot full of spaces, but they did have on street parking. I found a spot that was in front of a house and behind my sister's car and opted to park there. Parking was easy and it's not super busy in this area, due to it being residential. After parking, Nugget and I had about a block walk, which isn't bad. Beware, if you have a toddler they'll want to help lug some of your stuff to the beach, but after about a minute exclaim "Mommy, can you carry this?". Luckily I traveled pretty light. There's a small walkway that leads to the beach, which is half wood and half sand. The beach is pristine, with a ton of places to sit. We came on a cooler and cloudier day, so our experience may not be the typical experience. When the tide is out, there are long stretches to walk, so you can get your exercise in, or take a leisurely walk. The beach was clean and equipped with garbage cans. I would most certainly come back to this location. Pros: -On street parking only a block away from the beach -Clean beach -Long stretches of beach to walk/exercise -Quiet Cons: -No bathrooms Tips: Make sure you park in a designated on street parking spot and don't block someone's driveway.

Sunshine Park is the best and safest playground in Jacksonville Beach. It's a modern, fully fenced…read moredestination designed for stress-free play. Just (sometimes) the big kids run wild and it can be dangerous for toddlers or babies. Why it's a favorite: Safe & Clean: Fully enclosed with artificial turf (no mulch or sand). The "Fort": A massive, multi-level wooden-style structure kids love. Inclusive: Separate "Tot Lot" for toddlers and ADA-accessible gear. Bonus: A seasonal splash pad, skate park, and pickleball courts. Verdict: It's the gold standard for a clean, secure, and fun family day. Bring lots of water during the summer!

This is such an awesome park!! Our kids absolutely loved it and we would go back in again when we…read moreare in the area!! So much to do and play on! And they have a little splash play area for those hot summer days!

It was a beautiful and easy walk. The majority of the walk is boardwalks,with some dirt and asphalt…read morepaths. There are plenty of benches, Adirondack chairs, and viewpoints. It was nice to walk then sit and enjoy the views. There is a kayak launch point, and plenty of trash cans. At the beginning of the trail is bathrooms and a parking lot with plenty of parking spaces. There was hardly anyone around. Take some time to enjoy this hidden gem.

Awesome park! Stopped here in the evening for a quick stroll and was impressed. I tried coming the…read moreprevious day at 8pm but it was closed - so they mean it when they say they are closed at 8pm! I will be returning to see some of the other parts of the park that I didn't get to see when I was there!