Adventure Landing

Adventure Landing was the water park/arcade I always used to go to when I was little, (I think I had about 5 birthday parties there)and I still love going! There's a huge arcade area with all types of games and Lazer tag, and then an outside area with mini golf and go-carts! The highlight is the water park, which has several water slides, a kiddie area called Pirate Cove, a wave pool, and a lazy river where you can relax. It's the perfect place to take younger siblings, or go enjoy it for yourself, you're never too old for Adventure Landing!

Pirate Cove:



















Water Park:



















Lazer tag:

The Pavilion

The Pavilion is home to several concerts, fund raising events, and tons of festivals during the summer! Just to name a few, there's: the seafood festival, the Blues, Rock N Roll, and Jazz festivals, the annual sandcastle competition, runs and walks for different causes, and moonlight movies on the green! It's always free entry, and local food vendors and shops have booths set up everywhere. I would definitely recommend going to at least one festival, or try to attend everything like I am this summer!




Here's the schedule for this summer/fall:
April 24, 2010
34TH ANNUAL BEACHES SANDCASTLE CONTEST
Saturday – 9:30 AM until 11:30 AM
Location: Beach in front of Sea Walk Pavilion
Multiple categories and ages competition.

April 24, 2010
BEATS AT JAX BEACH
Saturday 2 PM — 8 PM
Location: Sea Walk Pavilion and Beach
Fundraiser for Mission House.
Enjoy the local bands, Skateboard Ramp demos,
& Beach Olympics.

April 25, 2010
Parade photo
64th ANNUAL BEACHES PARADE
Sunday 2 PM
Floats, marching bands equal fun!
Parade Theme: “Hillbilly Hoe Down”
Location: Downtown Jacksonville Beach.

May 1 & 2, 2010
26th ANNUAL WAVEMASTERS SURF CONTEST
Saturday and Sunday 8 AM – 5 PM
Fundraising surf contest to benefit local youth and environmental charities.
Location: Beachfront south of Fishing Pier

POPS AT THE BEACH
Mother’s Day Concert
Sunday: 5:30 – 9 P.M.
7:30 p.m. - Featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
A Little Night Music
5:45 p.m. Jacksonville Mass Choir
A Tribute to Michael Jackson
Location: Sea Walk Pavilion

May 15, 2010
DANCIN’ IN THE STREET
Saturday 11 AM- 9:30 PM
Location: Town Center in Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach
Atlantic Blvd south of Third Street

Moonlight Movies
The City of Jacksonville Beach is proud to announce this summer’s Moonlight Movies lineup. This is the 9th year of the popular series that celebrates the old and new classics of cinema history. Moonlight Movies take place over four consecutive Friday nights in May and June: May 21, May 28, June 4, and June 11. Save the dates and plan to spend your Friday evenings under the stars at the Sea Walk Pavilion.
• Friday, May 21 E.T. The Extra – Terrestrial
• Friday, May 28 Top Gun
• Friday, June 4 The Bourne Identity
• Friday, June 11 The Mummy

SUMMER JAZZ CONCERT SERIES
Cool Sounds of Hot Summer Nights
Jazz concerts by national recording artists and regional performers one Sunday each month during summer. Sunday – 5 PM - 9 PM
June 13, 2010 - Headliner: Peter White
July 11, 2010 - Headliner: Nick Colionne
August 8, 2010 - Headliner: R & R
Richard Braun & Richard Elliott


August 13, 2010
TOUR DE PAIN BEACH RUN
Friday 7 PM


October 9 & 10, 2010
EPIC FALL CLASSIC SURF CONTEST
Saturday and Sunday
Location: South of Jacksonville Beach Pier


October 16, 2010
MAKING STRIDES AGAINST CANCER
Saturday 8 AM to 12 Noon
5K beach walk, run or bike to celebrate life and breast cancer survivorship. Funds benefit the American Cancer Society’s programs & research.

Freebird

Freebird Live is one of my favorite places to go, and it's located right across from the pavilion at the beach. It's a little two story building that hosts many concerts of local and famous bands! It's up close and personal, kinda tight packed at times but perfect for headbanging or dancing to the music! This place has been home for many new bands to get themselves on the map, so if you and your band are looking to perform this may be the perfect venue to get your start!



Some bands playing this summer: check it out!
5/4: Saliva/Since October/Anchored/Another Way of Life- doors open at 7pm
5/15: Michael Franti
5/18: Cage the Elephant- doors open at 7pm
6/02: Badfish (a tribute to Sublime)/Scotty Don't
6/06: Reverend Horton Heat/ Cracker/ Legendary Shack Shakers
And many more!!!

Jax Bch. Nightlife

After soaking up the sun all day, take a nap and then enjoy the Jax Beach nightlife! There are a ton of great places to eat and even more places to drink! There's even a little trolley if you're planning on bar hopping!



Places to go:
The Ritz- a great cocktail bar and lounge to go with a bunch of friends, as well as the perfect place to hear thousands of horrible pickup lines! If you're in the mood to deal with creepers and have a few drinks, this is the place for you!

Brix- another great bar to go with your peeps (if you're of age of course!), conveniently located down the street from the pier!

Lynch's Irish Pub- the name says it all. It's the best place to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and a big hot spot for college/just out of college students to go and hang out.

Ginger's Place- this place has so much character, and it's a must-see when you're at the beach. Drinks, music and dancing, it's definitely the place to be. It's across the street from the pier but pretty noticeable: just look for the mermaid manikin in the second story window.

Ocean Club- ready to get your groove on? This is a fun club to go to later on in the night, It's on the corner next to the beach, in the center of everything! It's divided into three parts: a Tiki bar area with all types of drinks, the OC liquor store which is a sports bar area that airs all the new updates, and Bliss which has more intimate seating and VIP rooms. Not to toot our own horn, but this club won the "Best Dance Club" award in Folio Weekly, so you have to check it out!

The Pier

If you want to go to the beach, I would suggest setting up near the Jacksonville Beach Pier. It's a fun lively atmosphere, as well as the best place for catching waves. There are several great bars and restaurants surrounding it as well as tons of little shops and gorgeous oceanfront hotels!


Places to Eat:
Paco's Tacos- the home of delicious tacos and other things of the Mexican cuisine, it's a cute "whole in the wall" place to eat with friends, and it's inexpensive!

Chicago's Pizza- I would recommend getting the original Chicago type pizza, with the sauce on top and the thick crust, you'll be in Heaven!

Joe's Crab Shack- yummy seafood and snacks, a great place for birthday parties and big groups to go!



Sneaker's Bar and Grill- great sport's bar to go to watch a Seminole's game! Great food, a ton of huge t.v.s, and a whole restaurant full of screaming fans!

Campeche Bay- my personal favorite, this place has amazing Mexican food and character. It's located right across from the pavillion near the beach, and it's always packed! Me gusta este restaraunte, and I'm sure you will too!