5 Reasons Why Jacksonville is The Perfect Weekend Getaway Destination
- By Aubrey Jackson
- Jacksonville, United States travel destinations
Hi babes from Jacksonville, FL or as the locals call it “Jax”. This area holds a special place in my heart as it is my hometown. I was raised outside of the sunshine state and now have the chance to return and see the splendor of the city where my family resides.
This weekend we’re having the ultimate Jacksonville getaway experience with riverfront luxury hotel stays, amazing brunches, and one of a kind festivals all happening over the course of the trip and you’re coming along!
Jacksonville really offers the best of both worlds, from downtown “city vibes” to relaxing beaches offering a more “coastal” approach to your vacation; making it the perfect staycation or weekend getaway spot without having to leaving the state!
We literally live where most vacation, relish in the beauty of that and explore!
Fun Facts About Jacksonville
Jacksonville is named after Andrew Jackson. The seventh U.S. President and the first military governor of the Florida Territory.
Jacksonville’s Florida Theater, opened in 1927, is one of only four remaining Florida high-style movie palaces built in the ’20s . Elvis Presley performed his first indoor concert at the theater in 1956.
Did you know that, Jacksonville is Florida’s youngest city with an average age of 36 years old, whereas the state of Florida, average age is 42.
Did someone say Hollywood? more like Jacksonville… In 1916, more than 30 movie companies were based out of Jacksonville and stars like Oliver Hardy and Fatty Arbuckle called Jacksonville home. Rumor has it, citizens complained about the “noise” of filming and the industry moved to California.
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront at a glance
Visiting Jacksonville and wondering where to stay? Its a no-brainer to book at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
Here’s why… LOCATION! Seriously, its in the heart of the downtown. The hotel puts you steps away from the boardwalk along Jacksonville’s St. John’s River. Highly suggest booking a room with a river view for the optimal experience. The hotel offers amazing on site dining with SHOR Seafood Grille, Tavern and Morton’s The Steakhouse. Take advantage of the 24-hour gym, FedEx business center and rooftop pool with city views.
Travelers tip: Are you a member of Hyatt’s loyalty program? You can use points to offset any additional costs during your stay.
Check in time: 4:00p.m. However, early check in requests are honored depending on availability at the time.
Check out time: 11:00am.
Valet parking is available for $39/overnight and includes in and out privileges. The hotels self-parking garage is located on Newnan Street and cost $20/overnight.
The hotel is pet friendly and provides a pet bed & water bowl during your stay. The Front Desk will provide a temporary ID tag on the collar of your pet during the stay as well and per the hotels policy the tag must be returned to the front desk upon checkout to avoid paying a $25.00 fee.
How do I get there?
I drove to Jax from TPA and it was less than 4 hours for me. It’s a smooth ride. If you’re coming by way of a flight, the hotel offers an airport shuttle to guests that departs from JAX airport to the hotel at the hours of 1PM, 3PM, and 5PM.
To reserve your Airport Shuttle: ECT Airport Shuttle.
Checking in
The Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront has more than 900 elegant guest rooms. I had the pleasure of staying in the Junior Suite that’s around 740+ sq ft in size and offers connecting bedrooms with a king and/or queen-sized bed option, along with a queen-sized sleeper sofa in the parlor. The Junior Suite is ideal for groups traveling together or a family booking a stay at the hotel.
Love the Pharmacopia products. The Body bar left my hands so clean and moisturized after every wash.
The unique qualifier for the hotel and why its hands down the best booking option for your vacay is the LOCATION!
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront is close to all of Jacksonville’s best attractions; like the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, TIAA Bank Field for football, and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens which is perfect for families with kids.
The hotel also has an eco-friendly bike service that reaches the Times-Union Center, Museum of Contemporary Art and Florida Theatre, which are also walking distance from the hotel.
What I appreciated the most, is how conveniently close the hotel is to the Jacksonville Jazz Festival. The event is set up right outside the doors of the hotel, not kidding, staying here is ideal for festival goers!
A short distance from the hotel is where you’ll find the iconic Florida Theatre and amazing local dining options and shops in Jacksonville’s downtown.
I loved seeing the murals all over town, it shows how much the city appreciates and supports artistry in all forms.
Dine
There’s plenty to choose from dining wise when staying at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. The hotel has 3 on site dining options to choose from.
SHOR is easy to find in the hotel, right in the lobby, not far from the check in counter, can’t miss it! The menu is amazing as the entrées are influenced by southern, creole and Floridian flavors that make up Jacksonville cuisine.
Highly recommend the Shrimp & Grits and Seafood Mac & Cheese. Sooo good! You are on vacation, leave the calorie counting at home *wink*
Tavern is set up right next SHOR and is the perfect place to grab a drink and unwind. TAVERN offers everything from signature cocktails, to craft beer, and world class wine. Happy hour is from 4PM – 7PM and includes food and drink specials.
There’s also a nicely situated gift shop in the lobby area of the hotel. Perfect for grabbing keepsakes before you check out!
Brunch
Jacksonville’s food scene doesn’t disappoint, so its no surprise that I didn’t have a hard time finding a brunch spot to enjoy.
Southern Grounds & Co is a short drive from the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and is known as as a chef curated cafe; serving coffee, wine and food with live music on weekends, how cool is that?!
During my brunch experience at the cafe I ordered their shrimp and grits dish it was ahhhmazing! Might not be a bad idea to take a peak at the menu and have your order ready, it was pretty busy when I stopped by, I decided to dine in as many were sitting around eating and working on their laptops or conversing with their friends. You can dine indoors or out.
Things To Do
Online the hotel has a list of local area attractions and seasonal events and happenings to keep you in the know of what’s available to you in town during your visit.
One of them being the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the largest free jazz festival in the country, that began four decades ago as the Mayport and All That Jazz Festival. This years lineup was star studded with acts like Stephanie Mills, Kem, Damian Escobar and the iconic Pattie Labelle.
Final thoughts ...
Overall I had an amazing time visiting ‘home’ in Jacksonville. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and would highly recommend the hotel and the city to those looking to have a relaxing getaway or family focused time in town. There’s a little bit of something for everyone, which makes Jax an ideal vacation destination.
Comment below any travel related questions that you may have and I will be sure to answer your question personally.
My stay at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront was compensated . My views and opinion of the location and accommodation are authentically my own.
@ImAubreyJackson
Helping you find cool experiences and the perfect place to call home
