Traveling to Florida on a budget? Here are six free sightseeing activities or outdoor pursuits that you can enjoy on your next vacation in Jacksonville, "where Florida begins," in the northeast corner of the state.
- Make your own masterpiece at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, when admission is complimentary every Tuesday from 4 to 9 p.m. With the hands-on "Art Connections" exhibits, visitors can actually create a digital piece of art to take home. Also stop at multi-media stations to learn about 30,000 years of art history! Otherwise, tour the gorgeous gardens, see the traveling exhibits and permanent collections.
- Get an overview of town on the free trolley from the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. Three trolley lines named after local blooms--Azalea, Sunflower and Magnolia--pass by important sights like the Ritz Theatre and La Villa Museum, as well as Jacksonville Landing (see below).
- Learn about Northeast Florida's African-American heritage at the historic Kingsley Plantation, open seven days a week. Admission is always complimentary to the grounds on Fort George Island that were part of a working plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries. Here you can tour slave quarters, a barn, waterfront, plantation house and an interpretive garden. A ranger-led guided tour is held daily at 2 p.m.
- Splash around at Kids Kampus, the downtown mini water park that's open May through Labor Day. Kids can also have fun frolicking on brightly colored creative playscapes, plus climbing, digging and sliding equipment. They also get a kick out of using a sundial and telescope, dancing down a yellow brick road and driving past the miniature Jacksonville landmarks.
- Listen to live music at Jacksonville Landing, with free concerts every Friday and Saturday night. Music ranges from folk and rock to reggae and jazz. The shopping, dining and nightlife complex is on the north bank of the St. Johns River and can provide hours of entertainment, whether you're on a romantic date or have the entire family in tow.
- Get close to nature during Free Family Saturdays at the Tree Hill Nature Center, a little oasis of green in the heart of the city. Each week is a different theme, and adults and kids of all ages can learn about various flora and fauna, make art projects and simply enjoy being together in the great outdoors.
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