Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens

     We took Amelia to the zoo to see the animals for the first time yesterday! We had taken her to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens last Halloween, but none of the animals were really out at night. She really enjoyed looking at everything and spending time outdoors, as did we, even if it was chilly!

     She did really great in and out of her stroller! That's a really surprising statement considering she has always hated to be strapped into that thing. We took her out a couple times to see things where the fences were too tall, but she spent almost all day in there. The zoo was really stroller friendly for the most part, not that it wasn't a workout.

     Now, about the zoo itself. They house over 2,000 wild and exotic animals and over 1,000 types of plants. Some of the larger exhibits include The Range of the Jaguar, Land of the Tiger, Giraffe Outlook, and the Great Apes. The zoo is essentially a safari covering East Africa, Asia, Australia, and more! They have great exhibits on Florida wildlife, amphibians, and birds. Many of the animals were put up during our visit because it was too cold out for them, but we had a great time seeing the ones that were still in their habitats.

     The gardens are beautiful! Many of the plants were actually in bloom, which was a pleasant surprise in February. The Butterfly Hollow is a seasonal exhibit, but the paths through it lead to a beautiful view of the Trout River. There is seating scattered throughout the garden and it was absolutely a lovely space late in the afternoon!

     Another point I would like to hit on is the food. They have pretty standard and yummy fare at their cafes, but their sweet shop is fantastic! They have absolutely amazing fudge, ice cream, and a huge selection of candy. Their fudge is so good that Jeremy actually convinced me to buy this much of it! They have lots of different flavors. We got Rocky Road, Birthday Cake, Heath, Cappuccino, Dulce De Leche, and Butterfinger. He swears it take us a along time to eat it all, but I'm already doubting that!

     We had a great day! It is an absolutely beautiful and fun zoo and we will definitely be making a return visit in the future.

Walter Jones Historical Park

Our plans for the day were cancelled, so we decided to check out a local park instead. I'm so glad we did. The Walter Jones Historic Park is a little bit of Southern charm situated on the St, John's River. The paths were nicely shaded and the park was very clean. 

My husband and I love to visit historic sites and I imagine we will visit this one often. There is a restored farmhouse, barn, outbuildings, and sawmill. Growing up in rural Alabama, I had a lot of this in my hometown and it was great to have something so reminiscent of home here in Jacksonville. 

There are beautiful trees filled with Spanish moss and a boardwalk that leads out to the river. There is considerable growth between the observation decks and the river, but it is enjoyable all the same. I could have spent a lot of time there, had there not been a storm rolling in. 

As for the history of the park:

"Major William Webb purchased 31.2 acres on the St. Johns River 

in Mandarin in 1873. He built a home, barn and 1,000-foot dock 

extending into the St. Johns River. Walter Jones, proprietor of the 

Mandarin Store and Post Office, moved his family to the homestead 

in the early 1900s and his family members occupied the property 

until 1992. The City of Jacksonville acquired 10 acres of Major 

Webb’s original homestead from the descendants of Walter Jones 

in 1994 for the purpose of creating the city’s first historical park."

 City of Jacksonville

I loved this park and I can't wait to visit again!