Modern art lovers will enjoy this museum immensely, as it houses one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the Southern United States. With more than 1000 pieces in its permanent collection, and plenty of exciting temporary exhibits, MOCA Jacksonville has a lot to offer. Here you’ll find works by important modern artists, such as painters Joan Mitchell, Hans Hofmann, Theodore Stamos, and Syd Solomon, as well as many other photographic and sculptural works.

There’s a parking garage next to MOCA Jacksonville, and plenty of metered street parking outside, meaning you should have little trouble finding a convenient spot. The museum is fully wheelchair and scooter accessible, and we advise organizing a rental in advance of your visit, so that all you need to worry about is enjoying the fabulous art while you’re there.

For those with a sweet tooth, this candy emporium (which has its own restaurant and bar) is heaven on earth. Sweet Pete’s is home to The Candy Apple Café and Cocktails, which was named Jacksonville’s best new restaurant and serves up amazing Southern food as well as sweet treats. The facility also houses a rooftop patio and dessert bar. You could also just visit the store to load up on gourmet candies to take home with you – that is if you have the willpower to not eat them all before you leave.

At Sweet Pete’s you can also take part in interactive candy making sessions, or book spaces in the 23,000 sq. ft. facility if you have a special event in mind. This place is magical, but also huge, so you’ll want to make sure you go prepared with a mobility device to help you explore every delicious inch of the emporium.

If you want to find out about the local flora and fauna of Florida, then the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a great place to start, as there are numerous exhibits exploring the natural inhabitants of this fascinating state. You’ll have the opportunity to see a variety of animals here, including tigers, penguins, great apes, and giraffes. The zoo also has a strong educational component, and visitors are invited to attend talks put on by keepers and interact with some of the animals.

The botanical gardens at the zoo are very pleasant, and follow a number of local and international themes. The Asia Bamboo Gardens are particularly popular – they are home to a real Komodo Dragon, a mini-forest filled with bronze sculptures of giant pandas, and an impressive koi pond. Because there’s lots of ground to cover at the zoo and gardens, it is recommended that you use a mobility device, which you can rent directly from the attraction. Alternatively, you can rent from Scootaround in advance so that you have it to take with you (a much more cost effective option).