3 of the Best Day Trips You Can Take Near Jacksonville, FL

Are you looking for a nice place to take the family for a good meal? Jacksonville, FL is a great place to be when you are searching for good family restaurants. In fact, we've listed a few of our favorites, so you can have a nice time with your loved ones. 3 Family Restaurants Worth the Drive Near Jacksonville, FL 1. The Table (formerly Aunt Jan's Kitchen) For a traditional American breakfast or lunch, visit this restaurant. Try their breakfast specials, which include pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs, and grits. For lunch, they offer a variety of sandwiches, Southern dishes, salads, and soups. We recommend the Executive Club sandwich, the turkey club, the Camel Rider sandwich, or the Poor Boy sub, all for under $6. Other good choices include smoked sausage with red beans and rice or country-fried steak. Vegetarians will also find a lot of choices, such as mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, okra with tomatoes and rice, and baby green limas. The kids will enjoy a grilled cheese or hamburger for under $3. Be sure to check their Facebook page for updates and specials. They are open Monday through Friday and are located at 5065 Normandy Blvd. more 2. Metro Diner When you're craving comfort food, stop by the Metro Diner for tasty and affordable meals. For breakfast, the kids will love the cinnamon roll pancakes, the kids' chicken and waffle, the kids' platter, or the carrot cake waffle. The adults can enjoy the biscuits and sausage gravy, the avocado bacon scramble bowl, or the Western omelet. Lunch specials include boneless wings, cheese fries, chicken pot pie, Charleston shrimp and grits, mashed potatoes and gravy, fish and chips, or the Philly cheese steak, to name a few. For dessert, have a slice of the homemade chocolate cake. Metro Diner is open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and they are located at 3302 Hendricks Ave. 3. The Bearded Pig Sit down and relax for a delicious dinner here at this venue. We suggest starting with a cobb salad or a frito pie while your pulled pork sandwich, adult nuggets, or sausage sandwich is carefully being prepared by the chefs. The veggie platter is a great selection for vegetarians, and it includes your choice of four sides, such as potato salad, baked beans, and collard greens. For the little ones, order a hot dog, nuggets, or the kids' sandwich. Stop here at 1808 Kings Ave. any day of the week with the exception of Mondays. Picture yourself and your family driving to dinner in a brand new 2023 Mazda CX-5 2.5 Turbo AWD. Visit us at Tom Bush Mazda, located at 9876 Atlantic Blvd., and take a test drive today.

From tourist attractions to hidden gems, there's a lot to love about living in Jacksonville, FL. That said, we all need a break from our routine every once in a while, and there are lots of fun cities and charming towns near Jax that you can escape to. If you feel like you need a break, load your family into your 2024 Mazda CX-90, and check out one of these great weekend getaways. 3 Great Weekend Getaways in Driving Distance of Jacksonville, FL 1. Amelia Island If you are a history buff visiting Amelia Island, you need to check out American Beach at the end of Lewis Street. It was founded by A. L. Lewis in 1935 in response to the segregation laws in the state. Today, this pristine beach can be enjoyed by anyone, and it serves as Florida's Black Heritage Trail's first stop. We also love Amelia Island State Park at Florida A1A. This state park is open from 8 AM until sundown daily, and parking is free. However, there is a fee to enjoy the park. You will need to put $2 per person into the honor box before entering. One of the greatest things about this park is that it is great for birdwatching. Depending on the season, you may see such bird species as: Bald eagles Least terns Wilson's plover Osprey Pelicans Royal terns Piping plovers Black skimmers Willets more 2. St. Marys We also love visiting St. Marys. One of our favorite places to visit is Crooked River State Park at 6222 Charlie Smith Sr Hwy. In this convenient state park, you can enjoy the best of the maritime forest and Intracoastal Waterway. We recommend staying in one of the comfy, cozy cottages near the tidal river. However, you can also camp surrounded by beautiful old oaks and massive palmettos. This 500-acre park features over five dozen campsites, 11 cottages, four picnic shelters, and two group shelters. It is a great place to picnic, and it is also a great place for a wedding or vow renewal. Some things you can do here include biking, birding, boating, and fishing. 3. Daytona Beach, FL We also recommend checking out Daytona International Speedway at 1801 W International Speedway Blvd. With a Fanzone ticket, you can: Sign the finish line Look in the garage Enjoy the pre-race concert There are many great places to get away from Jax for the weekend, and you can explore them whenever you want with reliable transportation. Just make sure you stay on top of your manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule to keep your car running smoothly. If it's been a while since your last tire rotation, contact us now at Tom Bush Mazda to schedule a service appointment.

If you're an avid reader, finding the best bookstores near Jacksonville, FL can ensure a steady supply of books to read and increase your appreciation of the various literary works available in-store. Luckily, you have many good locations to choose from, whether you love poetry, romance, mystery, fantasy, science-fiction, or other genres of literature. 3 Great Bookstores You Can Drive to Near Jacksonville, FL 1. Chamblin's Uptown Centrally located in downtown Jacksonville at 215 North Laura St., Chamblin's Uptown is a two-story independent bookstore with roughly 800,000 books available in-store. This retail location doubles as a cafe serving breakfast and lunch all day. Local coffee from Sweetwater Coffee and delicious baked goods from Old Cup Bakery are some popular menu items served. Not only is Chamblin's Uptown a bookseller-slash-cafe but a great book-buying and trading outlet, too. If you're not looking to buy a book or grab a morning cup of coffee, you can sell your used books for a profit or trade in your old collection for a new one. This store opens daily, unlike its sister Roosevelt location, which closes on Sundays. more 2. Femme Fire Books If you're a big fan of female authors, then Femme Fire Books, located at 2766 Park St. STE 1, has a carefully curated collection of books you need to read. From gripping works of fiction to works inspired by real-life stories and events, this bookstore is quite possibly one of Jacksonville's greatest celebrations of female books and literature. There's something for everyone; whether you're looking for a sci-fi novel, a food-themed travel book, or want funny books to read to your kids. A once purely online store, this brick-and-mortar store is now open from Wednesday through Sunday. Drive to this location in your comfortable Mazda CX-9 to see the great collection of female-authored books on their shelves. 3. San Marco Books Located at 1971 San Marco Blvd, San Marco Books is a family-run bookstore that opens Monday through Saturday. It offers a large selection of Jacksonville and Florida history books, children's books, teens' books, and more. To encourage a reading culture in the local community, this location runs book clubs and sells literary gifts for people of all ages. The bookstore also partners with local schools to provide learners with convenient access to summer reading resources. Knowing convenient locations for finding your favorite books can help increase your love for reading. But you don't want your car to break down when you're driving down to a bookstore close to you. Schedule a service at Tom Bush Mazda of Jacksonville to keep the vehicle in good working condition and ensure a problem-free visit to your desired book-selling, buying, or trading destination.