Jacksonville Entertainment

An evening out in Jacksonville can take many forms and depends very much on your tastes and budget. If you are a family holidaying in the city, then a good meal at one of the many family-friendly restaurants followed by a movie at any of the large cinema multiplexes is a good option. While those looking for something a little more up-tempo will find a great selection of bars and nightclubs. For cultural entertainment, there are live music and theatre venues.

Eating out

Jacksonville is a haven for lovers of fine cuisine, and the city's restaurants will certainly live up to the high gastronomic expectations. Jacksonvilles proximity to the ocean gives it a reputation for excellence in seafood, with establishments serving up some of the finest marine cuisine in Florida.

The best places to head for in search of good restaurants are Jacksonville Beach and the downtown districts; in the first area, youll find a good selection of grill-style eateries where all the family can enjoy an evening meal, while the downtown area is a good place to find some more upmarket eateries for special occasions or for those with unlimited budgets.

Local cuisine

The local cuisine is typified by its tasty seafood creations which are numerous and based around the exceedingly fresh, locally caught produce. Popular dishes include oysters, prawns, cod fillet, rainbow trout and flounder. Cajun platters offer delights such as crab legs, fried Cajun catfish and crawfish.

Theatre and music

The Florida Theatre, located on East Forsyth Street, is the citys main venue for cultural performances and traditional theatre productions, and it offers a varied programme of events including opera, ballet, dance, comedy and live music. For further details, visit their website at: www.floridatheatre.com/; or call them on: +1 904 355 2787. Other venues to catch shows and live music at include the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and the Times Union Performance Arts Center.

Shopping

Jacksonville offers no shortage of opportunities for those visitors wanting to indulge in a little retail therapy. There are malls with big name outlets and smaller, more select shopping strips with independent retailers. Among the most popular places to shop in Jacksonville are Avenues Mall, Five Points, Jacksonville Landing, Regency Square Mall and San Marco Square.