Your Ultimate 904 Summer Bucket List
Hello Duval, Summer is just around the corner and we have the ultimate 904 Summer bucket list for you! With so many fun activities to choose from, it’s easy to get overwhelmed, so we curated the must do’s for you and your friends this summer!
So 904 friends, get ready to have the best summer of your life with this bucket list – your ultimate guide to touring and exploring our area!
Learn to Surf
What better way to cool down in the summer heat than taking a surfing lesson with Jacksonville Surf and Paddle! These guys are the best at breaking down the need to knows in surfing and finding the perfect waves for you to catch!
The Atlantic Ocean is the ultimate spot to catch some waves in Florida with beginner to advanced waves all on one beach! We love taking a midweek break from the normal workout schedule to get wet and surf with Jacksonville Surf and Paddle!
Plus, if surfing isn’t your jam, they have stand up paddle board classes and rentals to explore the coast on slower pace!
Watch a Jumbo Shrimp Game
Summer isn’t truly Summer without America’s Favorite Pastime! You absolutely have to watch a Jumbo Shrimp Game for it to be considered a Jacksonville Summer. From fun promotions and events like Thirsty Thursdays and Friday Night Fireworks to delicious ballpark hotdogs and cotton candy, nothing says Summer quite like an evening at 121 Financial Ballpark!
Be sure to head downtown and catch a Jumbo Shrimp game! Sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and cheer on the home team for an unique Jacksonville Summer experience.
Complete the Jacksonville Ale Trail
Did you know Jacksonville has our very own Ale Trail? Well, we sure do! This ale trail was set up to celebrate the many breweries in the 904 and give locals and visitors a fun activity to do with friends!
Grab your friends and free ale trail passport and get drinking those beers! We love all of the free swag we get for getting stamped at the locations like the koozie for four locations and the t-shirt for eight. We suggest going all out and get all 22 stamps to earn the Jacksonville Ale Trail super secret prize!
Walk the Jacksonville Riverwalk
One of our absolute favorite views of our beautiful city is from the Jacksonville Southbank Riverwalk. We love strolling down in the cool night time area and looking at the city all lit up!
The Riverwalk is always full of people enjoying the outdoors and admiring the city making it easy to get lost in the magic of Jacksonville and the awe of skyline.
From the here, you can get to so many other great Jacksonville finds and even some of our 904 bucket list stops! Check this spot off your bucket list on the way to your next spot for a two-for-one!
Discover a Hidden Gem Restaurant
The 904 has seen some insane growth in the food scene with some of the best restaurants around! We love hopping all over the area trying bites from new and old places with great eats!
There are so many to try so we suggest taking a look at this great article about some of our favorite spots, then go off and explore with your best friends!
Pro tip: Order apps with friends so you all can share and try more places in one night without getting too full or breaking the bank!
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
The Jacksonville Zoo is a must stop spot on your 904 tour! This zoo is a major part of the Jacksonville area, hosting people on the daily to learn about conservation and the great animals and plant life that call the Jacksonville Zoo their home!
A portion of every ticket foes to conservation efforts so you can feel like you’re giving back to the area!
We suggest hitting up the zoo in the mornings when the first open so you can beat the heat – plus, the animals like to beat this Florida heat too by roaming in the mornings!
Skydive Amelia Island
Now that you’ve seen the city from the riverwalk, how about from above? Get the most incredible aerial view of the 904 with Skydive Amelia Island! The team at Skydive Amelia Island is super professional and knowledgeable making your first jump a little less scary and whole lot more fun!
We love their blog all about looking good for the best skydiving selfie – sans the blown out cheeks – so you can post it to all the socials! Make sure to sign up and read up all about skydiving!
Visit All of The Fish Camps
Get into that North Florida way of life with the freshest of fresh catch fish of the day from Fish Camp! With four locations throughout the area, we suggest spending a night at each to find your favorite dish from all!
We love visiting Fish Camp when we’re craving some great seafood in a relaxed atmosphere. The food is second to none the restaurants make us feel at home in chill and friendly environments so we can happily indulge in some fish spread and drinks
Zip Line at Alligator Farm
It’s not a Florida summer until you see some great Florida gators – and not just the football team! Alligator Farm is home to alligators, crocodiles and more right here in the 904! But our favorite way of checking out this wildlife is from above on their Crocodile Crossing zip line and aerial obstacle course.
Strapped into your harness in the trees above, you can see how these giant creatures spend their days basking in the hot Florida sun and cooling off with a dip in the water! Being above the gators brings the adrenaline level of this obstacle course to new levels and we love it!
Kraken Cycleboats
Round up your group of friends for the ultimate day drinking experience in the 904! Kraken Cycleboats are all the rage in Florida’s great cities, offering good times and the most scenic views of the city! The views of Jacksonville from right on the St. Johns River are second to none with the impressive skyline as a perfect backdrop to your claws selfie!
We suggest booking an outing on the weekend so you can spend your day drinking on the cycleboats with friends then walking along the riverwalk afterwards for a day full of fun!
Pro tip: Bring snacks! The heat and drinking will get you hungry, be sure to bring some yummy snacks to get you through your peddle!
See a Drive-In Movie
The drive-in at Sun-Ray Cinema is the perfect spot for a cute date night or a night out with the gang! This retro style drive-in reminds us of those hot summer days spent in the car with our family’s but now we can do that with our besties and an ice cold beer to cool us down!
We love going to Sun-Ray Cinema during the week for a break in our usual weeknight pattern, and with so many great movies coming out this summer, we may need multiple trips!
Catch a Sunset
Florida is known for its magical sunsets, and with the longer days coming up, you deserve a magical sunset for yourself! With so many great beaches, bars, and view points, you can spend every night watching a new sunset!
We suggest getting on your bike and heading out to one of these great sunset destinations!
Pro tip: Make the sunset even more magical by packing a picnic full of goodies for you and your friends to enjoy through the golden hour!
Try Pelican’s SnoBalls
There is probably no better way to beat the Florida heat than scooping up a famous Pelican’s SnoBalls! These insta-worthy SnoBalls are a 904 favorite with their over the top flavors and combinations in massive servings!
The New Orleans style shaved ice spot is right off the beach making it a great spot to cool down and find a little shade during your beach day! We love stopping by after lunch for that cool dessert treat!
Explore Jacksonville by Jet Ski
The 904 is all about the water, everything great happens out there so get in on the action by exploring by jet ski! Jax Jet Ski Rentals caters to all the Jacksonville explorers with their fleet of skis ready to tear it and maybe even catch some air time!
The Atlantic Ocean has choppier waters for the adrenaline seekers while the rivers are calmer giving you the nice easy going option to relax and maybe stop for a burger at a riverside hangout!
We love renting with friends and fitting two per wave runner to laugh along with and spot some marine life while we’re at it!
Have A Picnic with Kroger Delivery
Whether you need groceries for picnic in the park, the perfect beach day, or to fill your fridge for the week- Kroger Delivery has your back! Boost by Kroger Plus is a new level of membership for Kroger Delivery that has MORE benefits & savings!
It makes getting your groceries SO EASY, with FREE Next Day Delivery, 2X Fuel Points at participating locations, and over $100 in savings on Kroger Specialty Brands.* You definitely have to try Kroger for yourself!
*$35 order minimum. Restrictions Apply. Subject to availability. Delivery time not guaranteed.
Plan a Staycation
With so much to do in the 904, you deserve some time off and an adventure filled staycation! Staycations are perfect for taking time to yourself – especially when your city has so much to do and so many cool hotels to check out!
Grab your bestie and book yourself at an iconic 904 hotel and take time to drink through the city, eat at every burger joint, explore the waters, and finish it off with a beautiful sunset!
904 Summer Bucket List Challenge
Let’s celebrate the 904 this summer and maybe even make it into a challenge – can someone complete the 904 Bucket List by 9-04?! Keep us updated on your 904 bucket list progress by tagging us on Facebook and Instagram and using #StuffToDoInJacksonville!
Cruated by Becca McCandless and Rachie Simoni with UNATION