The walk itself was a good length, the issue was that we accidentally walked into a homeless camp…read more we didnt stay to find out if it was abandoned or active, but definitely changed our pace.

Love taking my kids here to explore and walk around on a nice day! Such a great place to enjoy…read morenature.

Beautiful location with a boardwalk along the waters edge. Located right next to the mandarin…read morecounty dock. Beautiful location for sunset pictures.

I stopped by Walter Jones Historical Park recently for a peaceful afternoon walk and was pleasantly…read moresurprised by its quiet charm and educational value. Nestled in the Mandarin area, the park offers a glimpse into a long-forgotten way of life through well-preserved historic buildings and informative signage. Even if the museum isn't open, there's still plenty to learn just by walking around. The paved and boardwalk-style paths make it especially accessible for strollers, wheelchairs, or elderly visitors. There are clean restrooms on-site and pavilions that can be reserved, which is great for small family get-togethers or casual outdoor events. It's also right next to a county dock and boat launch--technically not part of the park, but close enough to enjoy the breeze and water views. That said, there's not a ton to "do" here, especially if the museum is closed. There are no hiking trails or playgrounds, so it's better suited for a quiet stroll than a full day out. Because the park is on the smaller side, sound tends to carry--something to keep in mind if you're hoping for solitude during a busy weekend. One small frustration is that it's become a popular spot for photo shoots, and some photographers don't always respect that it's a shared public space. This is a great spot for a short, relaxing visit--especially if you're interested in local history or just want somewhere calm to stroll. Not really a "destination park," but definitely a hidden gem if you're in the area. I'd return, especially if the museum is open next time.

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!

It's First Friday! This was a great day/evening for it. The weather was nice, lightly breezy, with…read moremusic, vendors, food trucks, bubbles, and a beautiful fountain that changed color when the sun set. The event was from 5-9:30. The Blood Mobile was there accepting blood donors, there was a table for financial literacy, pediatric clinic, vet table, bubbles, face painting, and music! I ordered a vegetable pancit, early on, which was tasty and could stand more seasoning and vegetables. Later I ordered a green curry with vegetables and tofu over jasmine rice with a spice level of 6! It was SPICY! Yes!!! I had a great night! Thanks @JaxParks!

Visited Friendship Fountain and honestly it was one of those spots that just feels good to be at…read morewithout trying too hard. The fountain itself is huge and impressive when it's running, with water shooting up and moving in these patterns that make it weirdly calming to just sit and watch. It has that "you could stay here way longer than planned" kind of vibe, especially with the river right there and the open space all around it. My family and I just hung out nearby, walked along the water, and let the kids run around while we took in the view. It is one of those places where nobody is in a rush and everyone is just kind of enjoying the moment. The whole area feels peaceful but still active enough that there's always something to look at--boats passing, people walking, and the fountain doing its thing like the centerpiece of it all. Five stars. Perfect mix of relaxing, pretty views, and a great spot in Jacksonville to just slow down and enjoy the day.

Spent two and a half hours here walking half the circumference of the park. Beautiful scenery and a…read morenice bit of challenge in the difficult trails - watch for spiderwebs and/or wear a hat and bring some water. There are hiking trails , biking trails and easy walking paths inland and on the beach. Parking is spacious, didn't use the bathrooms but there is also a nice size park for the kids. Military and vets (& family of for that matter) entry is $2.50/person with ID. One of the few places honoring the discount.

One of our favorite parks to visit. Enjoy seeing wildlife and felt proud to see the Navy…read morehelicopters flying over doing their maneuvers. Proud to be in American. The neat thing was that we were taking a bike ride the OWL flew down right in front of us, then flew up into the tree directly above and sit there waiting & posing for me to take his picture for a good time because I had to get my phone out and open the camera. Glad he was patient and didn't turn his back on me. He was a big hoot!!

It's a large, secluded and fairly quiet park. It has a large children's playground, basketball and…read morebaseball courts, ponds for fishing, nature walks, exercise spots, plenty of seating, etc. it's a mostly well maintained park and I didn't see too much trash. The cat gang is absolutely adorable too. I'll be going back for sure.

Another kayak/canoe adventure as I had been wanting to kayak this portion if the Ortega River for…read morethe longest time. There isn't really a lot of room just enough to hand launch up to 2 kayaks. There is also another location off Blanding Blvd to be able to access this same creek. **Just be aware of the I-295 bridge clearance during periods of high tide if you decide to head further up-stream. and DON'T forget your bug spray. Heading North from Collins Rd. the upper section of the river is a really enjoyable paddle. Lots of wildlife and mossy covered trees. The water is very placid and doesn't get rough until you get to the lower potions, half way between Collins Rd. and the 103rd street bridge. Due to the depth in the river's upper portion 15-25ft, there can occasionally be a lot of boat traffic. I tried to stay closer to the sides of the river as to not deal with wind and wake. Also just south of Tillie K. Fowler Park on the river there is several small creeks only 3 ft wide or wide enough for one kayak. That maze in and out of the brush, but ran out of time to explore all of these. One of the major things I wanted to check out were the big piles in the river just west of Yukon. There's a few rumors that perhaps the Navy had a submarine back there during WW1 or WW2. But nothing confirmed. The river is surely deep enough except around the 103rd street bridge where the water is only 6-8ft with silt. Here is the link to Metro-Jacksonville if anyone is interested in reading the story: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-aug-jacksonvilles-ghost-town-yukon Happy Paddling!

One of two separate adjoined parks, both of which are small; kind of strange that they need…read moreseparate names. The other one has parking and a playground, this one is a little stretch notable for having a skyline view of the city. While limited in scope, at least when I was there it had one of the cleaner port-a-potties I've ever seen. The water here isn't the kind that you could go in, and the area is next to a bunch of private homes and their docks, but for anyone seeking an interesting view with a breeze it makes for a nice stop.

You get an awesome view of downtown from here and it's usually most crowded when there's fireworks…read moregoing on downtown, but aside from a 30ish foot circular slab and some grass. There's not much to this "park".

This is one of my favorite national/state parks…read more Lots of armadillos. It goes without saying but watch out for snakes

This is the north beach parking area. You have to park and walk across the street to go to the…read morebeach but they have lights to notify drivers there are pedestrians. There are signs to pay for parking and it's really easy to do.