Safest Places to Visit Your Student This Semester

We Still Love to Visit Our Ospreys

So with the ever-changing world and new guidelines coming out, it can be very difficult to know where is safe to go and where are the best places to visit at UNF and Jacksonville. To make it easy, we have compiled a list of parks and activities to make your time with your Osprey memorable.

Dining

• With Jacksonville having miles and miles of beaches and so many rivers that run through it, finding a restaurant with outdoor seating is not hard to do. Of course with St. John Town Center within minutes of campus most of the chains have outdoor seating. The restaurants listed below are just a few of the many waterside places with outdoor seating.
• Brick Restaurant – Brick features eclectic selections with their signature dishes. This is just a bit further from campus, but worth the drive.
• Julington Creek Fish Camp – Sit waterside in this delicious high end without high prices fish restaurant. Reservations are requested but not required.
• Palm Valley Fish Camp – Located in Ponte Vedra, Palm Valley has excellent food, excellent service with limited seating both inside and outside. A reservation is not recommended, however, my family waited over an hour without one.
• Sliders Oyster Bar – This outdoor pub is located right at Neptune beach. The menu is filled with fresh fish and a separate menu just for oysters.
• Outdoor Activities
• Big Talbot Island ‘Boneyard Beach’ – This state park is a bit of a drive north from campus but is a beautiful staple of Jacksonville that lots of people take the time to visit at least once. It is nicknamed ‘boneyard beach’ due to the husks of dried-out driftwood that scatter the shore, giving it a beautiful yet eerie vibe.
• Catty Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary – The sanctuary is located at 1860 Starratt Road. The mission of the sanctuary is to provide a safe, loving, forever home for endangered big cats, and to educate the public about their plight in the wild and captivity. Our primary focus is the rescue of cats from serious situations
• Jacksonville Beach is within 15 minutes of the campus. You will find the most beautiful sand and ocean to just relax. There are plenty of places to eat down at the beach.  Jax Beach is a surfside area with hotels, restaurants and if you are there long enough, nightlife as well.
• The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens –  300 Zoo Pkwy. Since 1914 the Jacksonville Zoo has supported wildlife conservation on a stunning riverfront landscape. It houses a Tiger Exhibit, an Africa Overlook, an Australian Adventure, and even a Jaguar show.
• Kayak Tours – Self-guided or guided kayak tours of the ocean or one of Jacksonville’s surrounding creeks, rivers, or marshes. For a different view of Downtown Jax, try an urban kayaking excursion on the St. Johns River with high-rise buildings and bridges as your backdrop.
• Riverside Arts Market – 715 Riverside Arts Market. The market is located along the St Johns River and under the Fuller Warren Bridge. The Riverside Arts Market is every Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m., rain or shine. RAM features a variety of small businesses, everything from artists to farmers to makers and bakers.
• UNF’s Outdoor Adventure – Whether you want an outdoor challenge course or a zipline or even just to rent a canoe for the day, UNF has so much to choose from right on campus!

Enjoy the outdoors!

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