Home  >  Florida  >  Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach, Florida Vacation Rentals Houses and Condos.

More than 20 miles of wide, white sandy beaches skirt the Atlantic Ocean just a dozen miles from downtown Jacksonville. Jacksonville Beach, Florida vacation rentals by owner beach houses, condos, and cottages offer great vacations for families and friends who seek cool ocean breezes, salt spray waves, or just the chance to relax and enjoy great seaside restaurants, nightlife and shopping. Indeed, on the beaches of Northeast Florida there is something for everyone to do, including sightseeing, sunbathing, surfing, fishing,  boating, biking, dancing, golf, tennis and countless other outdoor recreation opportunities.

Biking enthusiasts, for example, will find many shops that rent bicycles by the hour, day or week. Jacksonville, Florida’s  "River City by the Sea"
has something to offer everyone. Visitors can also enjoy unique shopping and dining, lively nightlife and entertainment, and events, a riverfront festival marketplace and cruises on the St. Johns River. Jacksonville Beach, Florida vacation rentals by owner beach houses, condos, and cottages and Southern hospitality make any visitor feel right at home.

Today, Jacksonville Beach is experiencing a modern day renaissance, with renewed interest by area business people and city leaders who are spearheading a $6 million redevelopment project. Restaurants, shops, watering holes, and Jacksonville Beach, Florida vacation rentals by owner beach houses, condos, and cottages have sprung up along the Jacksonville Beach boardwalk, and festivals, concerts and arts and crafts shows are regularly held at the SeaWalk Pavilion, the Beaches’ large, oceanfront public stage and park.

At the south end of the boardwalk stands the historic American Red Cross Life Saving Station, erected in 1947. The historic watchtower serves as the central headquarters for the 100-member volunteer life saving corps. A little further down the shore, between 5th and 6th avenues, is the 1,200 foot long Jacksonville Beach Pier, a popular spot for anglers that features a bait and tackle shop and a rustic restaurant. Both are accessible from your Jacksonville Beach, Florida vacation rentals by owner beach houses, condos, and cottages.

Just north of the small community of Atlantic Beach is one of the oldest fishing villages in the nation, Mayport, also home to one of the largest U.S. Navy bases on the East Coast. On weekends, visitors are allowed on base for ship tours, and occasionally may even board a naval vessel visiting from a foreign land. Also on the ground of the Navy base, but located outside the gates, is the historic Mayport Lighthouse, built in 1859.

A few more miles north still, but just as history-rich as Mayport, is Ft. George Island. Tucked away on the tiny barrier island is Kingsley Plantation, one of the most historic sites in all of Northeast Florida. The plantation house, the oldest remaining plantation home in Florida, sits at the far end of the island overlooking the lazy Ft. George River. Not far from the main house are the remains of 23 slave cabins. Visit this historical site from your Jacksonville Beach, Florida vacation rentals by owner beach houses, condos, and cottages.

But there is more to the beaches of Northeast Florida than history. Nature lovers will find endless escapes at such places as Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, a 450-acre oceanfront park in Mayport, and B.E.A.K.S. (Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary) on Ft. George Island. This 13-acre wild-life rehabilitation facility is acclaimed for its care of sick and injured pelicans, eagles, osprey and other feathered friends.

Not far from B.E.A.K.S. are two of the region’s most treasured natural areas. Big Talbot and Little Talbot Islands. Acquired by the state as a wetlands nature preserve, Big Talbot features a near-pristine beach and miles of nature trails to explore. Little Talbot offers miles of white sand beaches ideal for walking and picnicking, as well as hiking trails and camping sites. Visitors may also rent canoes, bikes and other recreational equipment at the park.