Family Fun in Jacksonville, Florida

“Jacksonville boasts the largest urban park system in the nation, four times the size of Manhattan, with over 80,000 acres of parks! Combine that with 22 miles of white-sandy beaches and you’ve got a city that’s basically one giant playground. As a local parent, I can tell you: there’s no shortage of family activities in Jacksonville, FL. Whether you’re a new resident or a long-time local, this city offers things to do with kids in Jacksonville, FL all year round. From building sandcastles in July to enjoying zoo lights in December, Jacksonville, FL family fun never takes a season off!

In this guide, we’ll explore the best kid-friendly activities in Jacksonville, FL by category: beaches, attractions, parks, and rainy day ideas; with seasonal tips for each. Let’s dive in (sometimes literally)!

Beaches for Kids

Families enjoying a sunny day at Jacksonville Beach, one of the area’s beautiful kid-friendly beaches. Jacksonville’s coastline isn’t just a summer attraction, it’s a year-round treasure. The city’s main beaches (Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Mayport Beach, and Atlantic Beach) together offer 22 miles of family-friendly shoreline. In the summer, these beaches are buzzing with activity: kids splash in the warm Atlantic, build sandcastles, or hunt for seashells while parents kick back under beach umbrellas. The gentle waves and soft sandy bottom make it a great place for beginner surfers too, local surf schools even run kids’ camps each summer. On hot days, beach splash pads (like the one near Sunshine Playground in Jacksonville Beach) help little ones cool off without the open water.

Even in cooler months, the beaches remain a hit. Fall brings milder temperatures perfect for beach picnics or evening walks on the Jacksonville Beach Pier, which stretches a quarter-mile into the ocean. You might catch an Atlantic sunrise or watch anglers reel in a big one at the pier’s bait shop. Winter in Jacksonville is generally mild, families often stroll the shore collecting shells or fly kites on sunny winter afternoons. And don’t miss the seasonal fun: each December, Jacksonville Beach hosts Deck the Chairs, an award-winning holiday light display where lifeguard chairs are decorated in dazzling lights and imaginative themes. It’s a whimsical, only-in-Jax tradition that kids adore!

For convenience, certain beach parks make family outings easier. At Huguenot Memorial Park, you can even drive right on the sand and park beachside; a lifesaver when you have a car full of kids’ gear. And many beaches are pet-friendly, so feel free to bring the family pup along for the fun. Whether it’s summer sandcastle contests or a brisk spring morning collecting shark teeth at nearby Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville’s beaches offer something for every family in every season. In short, the beach belongs to us locals year-round, and it never disappoints!

Zoos, Museums, and Attractions

Giraffes at the Jacksonville Zoo’s Giraffe Overlook, where kids can meet these gentle giants eye-to-eye. When it comes to Jacksonville, FL zoos and museums, the city’s attractions are both fun and educational. The crown jewel is the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, a 122-acre zoo home to over 2,000 animals. Kids can feed giraffes at the Giraffe Overlook, touch friendly stingrays, or wander through the African Forest exhibit with gorillas and chimpanzees. The zoo’s beautifully landscaped gardens make it North Florida’s most visited garden, so parents enjoy the scenery while kids spy monkeys and elephants. The Jacksonville Zoo is open year-round, and they really amp up the magic in the cooler months: in October, the zoo transforms into a not-too-spooky wonderland for Spooktacular (a Halloween event with trick-or-treating and lighted displays), and in December the evening ZOOLights event turns the zoo into a sparkling winter festival with thousands of twinkling lights. Bundle up with cocoa in hand, it’s a holiday outing your kids won’t forget!

Jacksonville also offers enriching children’s museums and science centers. The Museum of Science & History (MOSH) downtown is a must-do for families. MOSH features interactive exhibits on dinosaurs, local history, and space; plus one of the largest single-lens planetariums in the world. Whether your child is launching a paper rocket or gazing up at a star show, MOSH makes learning fun. They even host a “Little Learners” program on Saturday mornings for preschoolers. Another gem is the Hands On Children’s Museum on Beach Blvd, a smaller, playful space geared toward kids under 8. It’s essentially a big indoor playground with pretend shops, a castle, and hands-on exhibits where learning is child’s play. This Jacksonville, FL children’s museum is perfect for a rainy morning or whenever your little ones need to get their wiggles out in a safe, imaginative environment.

Art and history lovers in the family will also find kid-friendly activities. The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens in Riverside offers art-making classes for kids and has beautiful gardens where children can run among sculptures (bonus: free admission for kids under 6, and free Tuesday evenings!). Meanwhile, the Beaches Museum at Jacksonville Beach shares local history in a quaint setting; even if museums aren’t usually a toddler’s dream, the old train locomotive on-site will definitely captivate young explorers.

For more adrenaline-pumping attractions, Jacksonville doesn’t disappoint. Adventure Landing & Shipwreck Island Water Park in Jax Beach has been a family favorite for decades; it combines a water park (think slides and a lazy river) with go-karts, mini-golf, an arcade, and laser tag. It’s open spring through summer (and as of this year, extended to operate through 2025), a perfect spot to cool off on scorching summer days or throw an unforgettable birthday party. Thrill-seeking families can also check out iFLY Indoor Skydiving, where ages 3 and up can experience the sensation of free-fall in a vertical wind tunnel. Or race over to K1 Speed for high-speed indoor go-karting, great for older kids (and competitive parents!) on days when it’s too hot or rainy outside. And for classic fun, mini-golf and arcades abound, from the pirate-themed course at Adventure Landing to the arcade games and bowling lanes at Main Event on the Southside. There’s truly an attraction for every interest, age, and weather forecast in Jacksonville.

Before we move on, here’s a hot tip for November: that’s Kids Free November in Jacksonville, a city-wide promotion where many top attractions let kids in free or at big discounts. This means family activities in Jacksonville, FL become even more affordable; the zoo, MOSH, and other sites participate. Mark your calendars and enjoy some cheap (or free) adventures before the holiday season hits!

Parks and Outdoor Play Areas

Sunshine Park in Jacksonville Beach boasts an amazing playground and a free splash pad, perfect for kids to burn energy and cool off. One of the best things about Jax? You’re never far from a park or playground. In fact, Jacksonville has over 400 city parks, the most of any city in the U.S.. That means countless Jacksonville, FL playgrounds for your kids to explore! The parks range from small neighborhood pockets to vast nature preserves, offering year-round outdoor fun.

During the spring and fall, Jacksonville’s parks truly shine. The weather is warm but not too humid, ideal for picnics, nature walks, and playground time. Take the kids to Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park on a weekend: it’s a one-stop family adventure zone with 447 acres of beach, trails, and a freshwater lake. Hanna Park’s recently renovated playground is huge, and in summer months it features a splash pad so kids can romp through water jets after playing on the swings. You can rent paddleboats on the lake, ride bikes on shaded trails, or even camp overnight if you’re feeling adventurous. Another favorite is Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve on the Northside, which covers 46,000 acres of unspoiled coastal habitat. There you can hike with the family under oak canopies, visit the historic Kingsley Plantation (the oldest plantation house in Florida) and learn a bit of history, or climb the observation tower at Fort Caroline for panoramic river views. It’s a wonderful way to mix outdoor play with a dose of education; without kids even realizing it!

For those looking specifically for awesome Jacksonville, FL playgrounds, you won’t be disappointed. We’ve got Sunshine Park & Playground (pictured above) in Jacksonville Beach, a massive, imaginatively designed play area that kids adore, plus a seasonal splash pad that’s free to enjoy. On any given weekend, you’ll see birthday parties at the picnic pavilions and children giggling through the spray fountains. Over in Orange Park (just south of Jax), Clarke House Park offers a wooden castle-like playground and even a little nature boardwalk, it’s worth the short drive for a change of scenery. And don’t overlook the simple joy of a neighborhood park: places like Boone Park in Avondale or Kravitz Park in Mandarin have great jungle gyms and open fields for frisbee or soccer. Many parks feature fitness trails and bike paths too, so older kids can scooter or skateboard while younger ones hit the swings.

Summer in Florida can be sweltering, but our parks have you covered (literally). Look for parks with shade or water features: Donner Park in Atlantic Beach, for example, added a new splash pad in 2024 that’s a hit in the hot months. And Jacksonville’s arboretum and botanical gardens host “Glowing Gardens” in winter, but they’re also a lovely summer morning outing if you go early before the heat; lots of trees and trails for a peaceful family hike. In winter, the parks are perfect for picnic lunches and playing without breaking a sweat. You might need a light jacket in January, but that’s about as fierce as winter gets here. With so many parks to choose from, every weekend can be a new outdoor adventure, from climbing oak trees in historic James Weldon Johnson Park downtown (check out the fun “Kids Zone” with giant blue foam blocks for creative play) to spotting turtles at Tree Hill Nature Center in Arlington. Jacksonville’s green spaces invite your family to get out and play, no matter the season.

Rainy Day Activities

Even in the “Sunshine City” (we average 270 sunny days a year!), the skies occasionally open up; especially during those pop-up summer thunderstorms. But don’t worry: there are plenty of things to do with kids in Jacksonville, FL when rain (or extreme heat) drives you indoors. In fact, some days the kid-friendly activities in Jacksonville, FL are best found under a roof with air conditioning!

One go-to option is to unleash the kiddos at an indoor trampoline park. Jacksonville has several: Surge Adventure Park and Urban Air are just a few. These places are essentially giant padded rooms filled with trampolines, foam pits, climbing walls, and obstacle courses; a dream come true for energetic children on a rainy afternoon. Parents can join in or relax on the sidelines as the kids literally bounce off the walls in a safe environment. Another fantastic indoor play space is We Rock the Spectrum (an inclusive kids’ gym). These venues often have open-play hours where you can drop in and let your little ones explore climbing structures, ball pits, and dress-up corners.

For a more low-key day inside, consider enriching entertainment. Jacksonville’s public libraries host regular story times and craft sessions for children, perfect for toddlers on a drizzly morning. Or catch a family-friendly movie: during summer, theaters like Regal and Cinemark run cheap morning movie series for kids (think $1 tickets for classic animated films). If your kids enjoy hands-on creativity, take them to Doing Dishes Pottery Studio where they can paint their own pottery or make mosaic art; it’s quiet, calming, and you’ll go home with a special keepsake.

Don’t forget about the many indoor attractions Jacksonville offers, they’re as good on a rainy day as any other. Revisit the MOSH or the Hands On Children’s Museum we mentioned earlier, or head to MOCA Jacksonville (Museum of Contemporary Art) which has a fun interactive area called Art Explorium for kids to create art. Older kids might enjoy an escape room challenge (there are several around town with family-friendly themes) or an afternoon of bowling and arcade games. Beach Bowl in Jacksonville Beach, for example, offers bowling lanes and a retro arcade, a great mix for a wet day. And if you have teens, Dave & Buster’s or Main Event will keep them entertained for hours with video games, laser tag, and billiards.

Rainy days are also a wonderful chance to explore some of Jacksonville’s unique indoor experiences. For instance, have a sweet adventure at Sweet Pete’s Candy, a real candy factory downtown. They offer tours and candy-making classes where kids can learn how to make chocolate truffles or gummy candies (and yes, plenty of samples!). It’s a sugary dream come true and totally indoors. Or, visit the Community First Igloo, Jacksonville’s indoor ice skating rink and sports complex; nothing like skating on real ice while a summer storm rages outside!

Lastly, when cabin fever really strikes, you can always don raincoats and embrace the weather. After all, splashing in puddles can be an activity in itself, the simple joys sometimes create the best memories. But rest assured, with Jacksonville’s vast array of indoor play places, Jacksonville, FL family fun never gets rained out. From summer thunderstorms to the rare chilly winter drizzle, you’ll have an arsenal of rainy day activities to keep the kids smiling.

No matter if it’s spring, summer, fall, or winter, Jacksonville delivers family fun by the bucketload. One weekend you’re building sandcastles on a sunny beach morning, the next you’re feeding giraffes or ziplining at an indoor trampoline park. This city truly has it all: family activities in Jacksonville, FL that fit every season and every child’s interest. So grab your kids (and maybe their friends), and start exploring our First Coast paradise. As we locals like to say: in Jax, “family time is the best time,” and there’s always something new to discover together; rain or shine!