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Drive on Over: 5 Favorite Sports Stadiums Near Jacksonville, FL

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Residents of Jacksonville, FL have so many entertainment options right on their doorstep. That includes a range of amazing stadiums and sports venues where people can enjoy watching sports. Keep reading to learn more about five local favorites.

Drive on Over: 5 Favorite Stadiums and Sports Venues Near Jacksonville, FL

1. TIAA Bank Field

TIAA Bank Field is one of the largest and best-known buildings in Jacksonville and the surrounding area. This 67,000-seat stadium is home to the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL and also hosts college games, including the Gator Bowl.

You'll find TIAA Bank Field on TIAA Bank Field Drive in the Downtown area. If you're driving in the city, an efficient car like the 2023 Mazda Sedan 2.5 S Preferred is a great option.

2. Hodges Stadium

The 12,000-seat Hodges Stadium is perfect for sports fans of all kinds. Hodges Stadium hosts soccer, track, and more. The stadium is located on the Jacksonville campus of the University of North Florida.

Hodges Stadium also hosts pro soccer for Jackson Armada FC. This team plays in the North American Soccer League, and the atmosphere at their games is electric. Or, if you want to get patriotic while enjoying fast-paced sporting action, you can enjoy watching the United States National Rugby team here too.

3. VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena

VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is the best indoor arena in Jacksonville. This 14,000-seat stadium is home to three professional sports teams, so there's something for everyone to enjoy. The Jacksonville Sharks indoor football team and Jacksonville Icemen hockey team are both regular tenants, while basketball games and other events take place here, too.

You'll find VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena at 300 A Phillip Randolph Boulevard. It's immediately next to TIAA Bank Field. Concerts and other events sometimes take place at the arena.

4. Jack Taylor Stadium

If you're a fan of local sports played at a quality venue, Jack Taylor Stadium might be for you. This small stadium seats only a few thousand people and hosts various high school athletic events for local teams.

Jack Taylor Stadium is located on the campus of Fletcher Middle School. The street address is 700 Seagate Avenue.

5. 121 Financial Ballpark

Thanks to its beautiful weather, Florida is the perfect place to enjoy baseball, and Jacksonville has its own minor league team, the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. They play at 121 Financial Ballpark, a well-equipped ballpark capable of seating more than 10,000 fans.

The Jumbo Shrimp are the Triple-A affiliates of the Miami Marlins. That means you can enjoy watching Major League stars of the future playing close to home. You'll find the stadium on A. Philip Randolph Boulevard.

With the right car, you can go around to all these great venues and discover more favourites for yourself. Stop by Tom Bush Mazda today and browse our inventory.

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3 Charming Small Towns You Can Drive to From Jacksonville, FL

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.

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Drive on Over: 3 Weekend Activities Near Jacksonville, FL

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.