Residents, tourists split after new study ranks Jacksonville the worst city for summer travel

Residents and tourists gave differing opinions after a recent study ranked Jacksonville as the worst place for a summer vacation.

[@randyjax09]

It’s because there’s nothing to do here, and traffic has become a nightmare.

[@johnbartholf777]

If you think traffic is a nightmare now, do you even remember when the Buckman bridge was 2 lanes in each direction with no shoulder?

[@underdogspraying]

Yep NOTHING TO Do!! Sucky night life downtown due to 1st baptist church taking up the whole downtown!! Ridiculous!

[@underdogspraying]

First Baptist is known to slow this city down!!

[@kalibmilner877]

Makes sense everything’s closed by 10 o’clock. Jacksonville is a retirement community.

[@westwild8913]

Not even a retirement community if you ask me.

[@chris_mo_904]

Can't be mad at the ranking there is NOTHING TO DO HERE lots of ppl moving here they are building subdivisions and apartment buildings everywhere with nothing to do no type of entertainment smh

[@timothysmith2032]

do nothing city councilmen need to resign

[@kalibmilner877]

Jacksonville should take this into consideration when spending taxpayers money on that ridiculous stadium.

[@Graphics_Card]

Or maybe it’s what happens when you let empty land sit into what could have been potential businesses generators. If you don’t build it, they won’t come. This is exactly what has been happening for the past 10 years in this place…

[@Been_offical_0417]

You sound crazy literally every city got a stadium 🏟 and Jacksonville still going cheap only spending 1.5 billion … most cities spend 3-4 billion … you part of the problem don’t won’t growth

[@kalibmilner877]

@@Been_offical_0417 the stadium is not growth it’s debt. You must be a fan of guys and tight spandex.

[@georgepotter9621]

Good!! Maybe this will slow down the mass influx of new people. Traffic is a nightmare just about 24 hours a day so hopefully some will decide on another city to visit or move to. We are past the point of a livable and happy city due to the high numbers of newcomers. Yes, I realize I sound like a grumpy old guy but it just took me 65 minutes to go from Timuquana to the beaches, used to take no more than 30.

[@shawndavis4837]

Crime is NOT everywhere.

[@jewdollaz305]

Duval sucks

[@jmwasp]

Woohoo we did it! Congrats everyone

[@georgecornwell7706]

It’s the best from October thru April. Jactionville isn’t the best place to visit. But it’s a great place to live. The statistics show that.

[@johnbaird7190]

The study was for the downtown Jacksonville not the beaches.

[@JimHep]

Nothing to do here? Really? Jumbo Shrimp Game Sharks Game Jazz Festival Kayaking/Fishing/Biking: Four Creeks State Forest Ralph Simmons State Forest Cary State Forest Big Talbot Little Talbot Hanna Park Huguenot Park Amelia Island State Park Fort Clinch Rails to Trails Jennings State Forest (Ichetucknee/Silver Springs/Santa Fe/Juniper Springs 1.5 Hr Drive) Endless Concerts at Daily’s Place and Veterans Memorial Arena Autoban iFly Indoor Skydiving Top Golf Windsor Parke Golf Club Golf Club at Fleming Island USS Orleck Museum Jacksonville Zoo Jacksonville Symphony at Florida Times Theatre Alhambra Jax Not an exhaustive list and no not everything is right next to each other, but I wouldn’t say there is nothing to do. lol

[@1962LIBBY]

I’d definitely give props to the Shrimp. While not world class the zoo is enjoyable. Unfortunately driving is awful and getting worse.

[@misteriknow2069]

The problem is…most of those things you named you can do in another city on a greater level. Jax doesn’t have anything you can do that’s uniquely “Jacksonville Only”. The one thing that did exist was the Landing & they tore that down. Maybe have Khan donate one of his yachts for a river tour during certain months 😂

[@sallydajero3434]

Hanna Park for the win! (Local here!)

[@therealaustinpowers1967]

Huguenot Park is enjoyable too. But yeah, I enjoyed myself every time I've been to Hanna Park.

[@tmfijiibeatz6361]

Jacksonville was suppose to be Hollywood before it moved to california never forget that smh Its crazy to because this one of the biggest cities in America a dam shame

[@keithm.8230]

Americans have become so morally disjointed that when answering a question about high crime rates the response is: “Well there’s crime everywhere”as if that makes it OK! SMH.

[@amandabrown7674]

Really not bad here compared where I used to live in Newport News, VA. If you really check things out, there is stuff to do and events near the beaches. However there can be alot of traffic.

[@NofaceChinko]

I’m witcha I grew up in Jax but I stayed in new port news on Jefferson and Warwick I would much rather be in Jax lol

[@Duckmantv904]

Jacksonville is really boring. There is not much of a nightlife at all. It can’t compare to Orlando, Tampa or Miami!

[@rugaru420]

It's so true, we have like how many hotels to stay @? It's beyond pathetic this will never be a vacation town. Facts

[@Graphics_Card]

Facts

[@westwild8913]

Jacksonville washed up.

[@stevem-h5e]

It's crazy how people will spend big money to sit in the sand.

[@ToddTheTriumphant]

Bro, am I the only one who believes there's a lot to do around here? Amelia, St Augustine, Savannah, springs Hanna Park and Talbots are just a few things I can name that are in short distances for us to do. Maybe people just hate being outdoors?

[@misteriknow2069]

I’ll give you Hanna Park & Talbot island…but the rest of those places you listed aren’t in Jax lol. Besides bar hopping at the Beach or Riverside there really isn’t anything to do at Jax that you can’t do in any other coastal city in the South. Jax needs a theme park or aquarium or another updated version of the Landing to give them some status, because it’s basically a giant strip mall, subdivision, swampland, trailer park/hood all rolled up into 1 ball.

[@evan22303]

I have to agree with Shandrea on this. You just gotta be able to find the fun. Jacksonville is like my home city of Raleigh when it comes to tourism. It may seem like dullsville compared to cities like Orlando, Miami, & Las Vegas. Maybe that's a good thing if you are just interested in visiting the beach, small businesses, & the city parks(JAX has plenty of those). Yes, I like going to the bars in Jacksonville too. I'll be visiting Jacksonville for a long weekend a year from now, so keep it sunny and hot for me by then because I want to spend plenty of time on the beach when I return.

[@royalsweettreatsmore2449]

So true, Jacksonville needs more attractions!

[@johnbartholf777]

I'd think it was Gary, Indiana 🤔

[@kristypiits8982]

That woman doesn't know what she is talking about. Everytime my family comes there is nothing to to do that doesn't cost alot.

[@tinabanks7559]

Don’t forget to mention the horrible traffic! Accidents all the time

[@chumbala1]

100% agree Go to Fort Lauderdale beach St. Petersburg Naples And jax has nothing to offer Crime alone jax is awful

[@Eag757]

Not the worst but sure does need improvments.Airport flight delays to Jax one of the reasons Jax makes it to worst place to travel.

[@MrBonediver]

In over 2 years I've never had a delayed flight out of JAX!!!

[@robertstevens9004]

Crime is not everywhere ----its at Jacksonville Beach ⛱️

[@Radioroom91]

You should be going up north to the jetties not Jacksonville Beach

[@quennoc5056]

That's Good Go Back Where you come From ....We Grew Here you Flew Here Thanks for the Ranking... Gaming/Family Events I Agree we need more Activities!!!!😮😊🎉

[@justinbutler3465]

Yay please keep leaving! 😂

[@1962LIBBY]

Jax gifted beautiful beaches under its feet yet never smart enough to invest. Trashy city trashy state. Not just its spokesmen I’m a member.

[@larrybailey1896]

Turning into Atlanta 2.

[@Graphics_Card]

There’s more things to do in Atlanta…

[@johnnydoe9969]

@@Graphics_Cardwhat Atlanta has that jax does not?

[@westwild8913]

Atlanta is better but the cost of living is higher than the average.

[@johnnydoe9969]

@@westwild8913 how is it better than Jax ? I never been

[@timallison8560]

lets face it, no one WANTS to go to jacksonville.

[@Graphics_Card]

Yet out of towner with out of state tags still want to ignore that.

[@jeffreywood5207]

What's there to do in Jacksonville..... Go to St Augustine!!! But we have the JAGS!!! We need a new mayor

[@sjaykay9884]

There’s been nothing to do in Jacksonville for decades. What has that got to do with the mayor? Jacksonville is a blue collar, working class city that just so happens to have a beach. It’s never been a tourist attraction/destination. Even with the football team, the city hasn’t built hotels or expanded restaurants and nightlife options to accommodate and enhance the game day experience. From one administration to the next Jacksonville has just been one big podunk town.

[@jewdollaz305]

Duval sucks the water is dirty... it's a curfew 🖕

[@therealaustinpowers1967]

To be fair, what Lenny Curry do to improve Jacksonville? I believe he was a two term mayor. Donna is still on her first term, so it's yet to be seen is she has improved the city

[@westwild8913]

The Jaguars suck

[@larrybailey1896]

Dude loves Beer.

[@RobertZemeckis2025]

dem mayor is reason

[@BuyhomesinFL]

The survey is right. Jacksonville is boring. Where is the night life here? People go to Orlando just to have fun and meet pretty women.

[@DuvalssFinestt98]

Definitely praying for better days for our city 🙏🏽🖤💯. The locals know where to go for some fun buttt no doubt that we CAN and NEED to do BETTER ☝🏽.

[@EsmaTabak55]

Coming from Europe, Jacksonville was the worst place I visited and lived in. Nothing to do besides going to the beach where water is uninviting, restaurant selection is really bad, really, really bad, hot to the point where you cannot be outside, must drive everywhere and cannot live without a car. What a depressing place!

[@edgaranaya4961]

You would have to be rich to enjoy Jacksonville