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We love exploring the many quaint small towns dotted all over Florida's varied landscape. If you're planning a trip to get away from it all, draw inspiration from our favorite places to visit within a short drive of Jacksonville, FL. 3 Charming Small Towns You Can Drive to From Jacksonville, FL Palatka Located just over an hour from Jacksonville, Palatka is known for its thriving artistic community. For example, you can tour more than 30 murals throughout the city, all depicting aspects of county history. Palatka is also one of the state's oldest towns, established as a trading post in 1821. The downtown historic district features landmarks like the state's oldest diner and one of the oldest Dairy Queen restaurants. As a designated trail town, Palatka serves as a hub to explore the region on bike or foot. You can access the St. Johns River Blueway and hit a few of the stops on the Great Florida Birding Trail. The city also holds several fun annual events, including the Blueberry Festival, Blue Crab Festival, and Azalea Festival. more Micanopy With fewer than 1,000 residents, Micanopy is truly one of the state's smallest towns. It's also a road trip destination because of its many antique stores, and it's located less than 2 hours from Jacksonville. In addition to browsing for treasures in the many vintage shops that line Micanopy's narrow dirt streets, you can visit Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park nearby to experience the natural beauty of this rural part of Florida. We like to visit Micanopy during its annual fall arts and crafts festival during the last weekend in October. Now in its 48th year, this event features live musicians, performers, and artisans from across the region. You can even take part in an old-time auction for a chance to win items donated by the festival's vendors. Winter Park You can visit this quaint small town by driving just over 2 hours from Jacksonville. Winter Park earns day trip or weekend getaway points for its adorable downtown area, which features boutiques, restaurants, and cultural attractions like the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of Natural Art. It's also a tight-knit community that frequently holds fun family events. The town also features more than 70 parks, so it's an ideal place to grab a cup of coffee and watch the world go by from under a shady tree. Winter Park was founded as a winter resort for the wealthy in 1887, and its historic homes, cafes, and buildings give it a European flair. We recommend taking a boat tour of the chain of scenic lakes, a wonderful way to experience the area's natural and man-made beauty. You'll enjoy your next road trip even more in the redesigned cabin of the Mazda CX-9. Test drive this elegant SUV today at Tom Bush Mazda.

From parks and museums to botanical gardens, there are many great opportunities for entertainment in Jacksonville, FL. When weighing your options, you may struggle to decide due to the number of activities you can choose from. Today, we're looking at our favorite weekend activities in the Jacksonville area that we think you should make the drive over to. Drive on Over: 3 Weekend Activities Near Jacksonville, FL 1. Visiting Catty Shack Ranch One of the best things to do on a Saturday night in Jax is visiting Catty Shack Ranch at 1860 Starratt Road. Every Friday and Saturday from 6 to 7:30 PM, night feedings are held. After a brief introductory video, you can take a self-guided walking tour through the ranch. You can see the animals that live here, including foxes, bobcats, cougars, and lions. At 7 o'clock, it is feeding time! The executive director of the wildlife sanctuary will share fun facts about the animals that live here. You can also go on an enrichment tour from 1 to 3 Sunday. Typically, this self-guided walking tour takes 45 to 60 minutes to complete. more 2. Exploring Little Talbot Island State Park We also recommend exploring Little Talbot Island State Park at 12157 Heckscher Dr. There are many great outdoor activities that you can enjoy here, including surfing, paddling, and swimming. There are also hiking and biking trails that can be enjoyed. Birding is another popular activity that can be enjoyed out here. Some of the species you may be able to see include: Painted buntings Snowy owls Great-horned owls Plovers 3. Touring Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Touring Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens at 370 Zoo Parkway is another great way to spend a Saturday in Jax. There are over a dozen exhibits housing mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians from around the world. One of the most popular exhibits is Stingray Bay. Here, you can get an up-close look at Atlantic guitarfish, cownose stingrays, Atlantic stingrays, and bluntnose stingrays. The Land of the Tiger exhibit is also really popular. In this exhibit, you can find Malayan and Sumatran tigers. You can also find Visayan warty pigs and bluegills here. If you're a fan of birds, you can't miss the Emerald Forest Aviary exhibit. It is home to over a dozen bird species. While there are many great ways to enjoy a beautiful weekend in Jax, you need a car you can count on, like a 2023 Mazda MX-5 Miata. If you're in the market for a new car, take one for a test drive by visiting us today at Tom Bush Mazda.

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.