You can also hit the links with plenty of gorgeous golf courses for golfers of every skill set and budget. Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens is pet-friendly and a great place for family hikes and photo ops. Enjoy a beautiful, shaded 15-mile biking and hiking trail. For outdoor lovers, there's the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail. The parks offer people access to boating, swimming, fishing, jet-skiing, surfing, and waterskiing. Home to the most expansive park system in the United States, Jacksonville has over 337 recreational parks. You'll find a great mix of local artisans, craft makers, artists, farmers, and entertainment groups.
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Don't miss out on the Riverside Arts Market. Beaches Town Center is a quaint and relaxing shopping and dining center. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has over 2,400 rare and exotic animals to discover. The area offers a pleasant array of family-friendly attractions. This annual celebration of college football rivalry is always a fun time. They also host the notorious Florida-Georgia game. Jacksonville has one major league sports team, the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and.
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Rich in music history, many other renowned groups come from Jacksonville. Notable and legendary performers are Buddy Guy, Herbie Hancock, Kenny G, and Miles Davis. The city is also home to the second-largest jazz festival in the country. Be sure to check out the Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament and Northeast Florida's largest Gay Pride parade. A few of the most popular are the yearly Gate River Run and the Gator Bowl. Throughout the year, there are many annual events to enjoy. The area's economy centers around distribution, banking, biomedical technology, consumer goods, information services, insurance, manufacturing, and tourism. They are currently the third-largest naval complex in the country. In the late 19th century, Jacksonville became a major deep-water port for military and merchant ships.
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Jacksonville was one of the earliest European settlements in the continental United States. The area was first inhabited by the Timucua Native American tribes. Census estimated Jacksonville's population at 1,523,615. Named after Andrew Jackson, the city of Jacksonville is the most populated town in Florida and the southeastern United States.