| My family moved from Maryland to the Jacksonville, | | | | places to go, and things to do. |
| Florida area approximately 6 years ago due to an | | | | Jacksonville has become known a Florida's First Coast, |
| employment change. Jacksonville itself, due to its | | | | and more recently "Where Florida Begins". Unlike most |
| acreage, is one of the largest cities in the world. | | | | of Florida the many miles of "First Coast" beaches are |
| Needless to say our search for a home covered a | | | | unspoiled and unfenced. The variety of beaches offer |
| large area with many options. We were looking for a | | | | many vacation resort type amenities as well as more |
| place where our 4 year old could grow, in an | | | | remote beach experiences where you can drive your |
| established neighborhood, with kid's her age, and be | | | | car, or SUV, onto the beach, pull out your beach chairs, |
| able to attend an excellent rated school close by. In | | | | and fishing rods, and just relax. |
| addition we were looking for an area with amenities | | | | The hub of Jacksonville's growing entertainment district |
| and activities that would provide a vacation type life | | | | in the Downtown area, The Jacksonville Landing, is a |
| style with many things to do. We found this type of | | | | cool place to dine and shop on the St. Johns River. |
| atmosphere on Fleming Island. | | | | From North Florida and around the United States, |
| Fleming Island is located just outside of Jacksonville, | | | | millions of people enjoy the Jacksonville Landing's |
| Florida. There are times where I think I would never | | | | festive mix of shops, restaurants and eateries and its |
| need to leave the island, other than to go to work, | | | | hundreds of entertainment events annually. |
| because of all of the conveniences and things to do. | | | | The Jacksonville Zoo is also located just north of |
| There are a wide variety of retail stores, services, and | | | | downtown Jacksonville and is a natural wonderland |
| restaurants located throughout the island, along with | | | | growing and changing daily, with more than 1,000 rare |
| various neighborhoods and activities. Retail stores | | | | and exotic creatures. Covering about 70 acres along |
| include department stores such as Target, Stein Mart, | | | | the St. Johns River, the zoo has the only walking safari |
| Kohl's, and Wal-Mart. Food stores on the island include | | | | in Northeast Florida. |
| two Publix and a Winn Dixie. There are also a variety | | | | Jacksonville is also home to the Jacksonville Jaguars. |
| of restaurants, services, and specialty type stores as | | | | Jacksonville Municipal Stadium is the centerpiece of the |
| well. As far as activities, they are endless, and include | | | | city's sports complex. In February 2005, the stadium |
| Golf, Tennis, Cycling, Boating, Fishing, Camping, and the | | | | played host to Super Bowl XXXIX. The stadium is |
| list goes on. | | | | also the site of two annual college football events -- |
| Water around the island includes Doctors Lake, Black | | | | the Gator Bowl Classic and the annual Southeastern |
| Creek, Swimming Pen Creek, and the St. Johns River. | | | | Conference matchup of Florida and Georgia. |
| Doctors Lake provides an excellent place for | | | | Occasional concerts and other special events are also |
| swimming, and boating activities, such as skiing or | | | | held at the stadium. |
| fishing, as does Black Creek. Doctors Lake is | | | | The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, home of the |
| approximately 13 square miles and Black Creek winds | | | | Jacksonville Suns, and The Jacksonville Veterans |
| through many miles of back Florida nature. The St. | | | | Memorial Arena are also located in the Sports |
| Johns River is one of two rivers in the world that | | | | Complex. |
| flows north. You can travel from Fleming Island via | | | | Just to the north of the city you will find a popular |
| boat north, up through Jacksonville, all the way to the | | | | tourist vacation destination called Amelia Island |
| Atlantic Ocean with excellent fishing along the way. | | | | Plantation and just to the southeast lays the tourist |
| The surrounding Jacksonville area, if you choose to | | | | vacation destination of St. Augustine. |
| leave the island, also provides many things to see, | | | | |