My Guides to Jacksonville

I've met several people thinking of relocating to Jacksonville, and I often tell them to check out my website for my guide to the city. Except I did just that myself and realized it's not that easy to find, so here's a guide to my guides. 

Also, if you're thinking of moving here and want to hire an actual guide, that can be arranged. Use the contact form to work out the details. Or ask your realtor to take you everywhere...they love doing that.

Ultimate guide based on comments

The comments are from the bestplaces website along with my own commentary.

Guide for retirees

In case you're looking to retire here or bring the parents down to Jax

Is Jacksonville a bad place to live?

Guide based on a popular Google question

Guide to hidden costs in Jacksonville

You might think it's cheap living here, but there are some costs you haven't considered

Guide for middle school parents

Whether your kids are in public, private, charter, or homeschool through 8th grade, you might want to learn from our experiences applying to high school

Guide to high schools

This is especially for parents in East Arlington

Quick Guides to Jacksonville

This was written for people fleeing hurricanes elsewhere, but it can work for anyone with a couple of days here.

GIS map gives quick info about Jax, if you understand it. It has a lot of important information in choosing a neighborhood.

You won't see alleys (or many basements) in Jacksonville.

Stealing from unlocked cars is big business here.

Jacksonvillians. That's what we're called.

We don't have the worst drinking water here.

Climate

The weather can be nice in Florida.

Sometimes it might even snow in Jacksonville.

After a hurricane, FEMA will possibly make a house call.

Roads

Tolls are back in Jax, and this might be a way to simplify them for you.

Please use turn signals. It's not a big tradition here, but you can help change that.

Building our way out of congestion. It's probably not possible the way we currently build here.

Part of the reason for navigation problems is roads with changing names.

Here's why you'll see so many pickup trucks.

We don't have the worst drivers here. It does feel that way sometimes.

Crime

My take on local Jacksonville gangs.

Guns and more guns.

Crime isn't the worst in Jacksonville, but it's not great, either.

Christmas Traditions

Some ideas for what you might want to do in the area around Christmastime.

Here's a tradition you might not expect here: luminaries.

Skin Cancer

It's hot and sunny in Jacksonville, but skin cancer is more of a risk in other states. Really.

ADA Sidewalks

Big lawsuit means nice ADA ramps everywhere.

Sinkholes

Are sinkholes a concern in JAX?

Homes

Some people swear that older, larger homes are making a comeback. Almost.

Oversized houses. I never knew.

Housing tax exemptions and why they matter to you.

Recreation

Youth soccer in Jacksonville.

A semi-annotated list of Meetups in the Bold New City of the South.

Ice hockey, if that's your thing.

Specific Neighborhoods

Hidden Hills

Gated neighborhood in East Arlington can cost a little more.

Arlington

The Arlington area is trying to renew itself. This article outlines some challenges.

East Arlington

An analysis of opinions about the East Arlington / Intracoastal West side of Jax.

The naming of the East Arlington area.

The Dunes. It is a place, it used to be a place, and it's also not really the place it used to be.

Income by race. It's different than in other cities.

Monument Road as David Boynton Parkway.

The Woods

Some weird map images of properties in the The Woods.

Magnolia Grove

Small subdivision in East Arlington.

Basic information for homebuyers.

Orange Park

Be careful when moving somewhere with restrictions.

Nocatee

This popular article talks about the fees for Nocatee.

Skyway

You won't ride it, but thre's a skyway in Jacksonville.

St. Johns

People want shopping in the area and also don't want it. Or do want shopping.

Are there jobs in St. Johns?

 

Reviews

Super Tire

Never, ever, ever get your tires as Super Tire. You've been warned.

Xtreme Wings

I was hoping for a Packer bar. Oh well.

630City

The system for requesting service from Jacksonville. It actually works.

International Airport

Well, not exactly international.

Aquatics Camp in Orange Park (Doctor's Lake) Area

My two-year review of the camp.

Jax Beach Pier

Walk on it for $1 one time.

Cradle Creek Preserve

Go for a walk in nature.

European Street Cafe

ESC gets great reviews, but I just don't see it.

Franz Foreign Car Service

I don't have too many options for my Saab.

Blow Up Party Slides

Think hot sun and burning bottoms before you rent one for a party here.

ABC Fine Wines and Liquors

The Beach Blvd. location got this one all wrong.

Duval County Fair

Is it safe? Maybe, but I probably won't bother to find out.

Jacksonville Public Libraries

Our libraries won an award, but I have some added advice.

Jiffy Lube Atlantic Beach

I wanted to trust Google on this one, but just not a good experience.

Amazing Grace Crop Maze

It's something to do with the family in the fall. We wanted apple picking, but this was OK.

Alternative Radio

Sorry, not in Jax. Too much Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Ft. Caroline

I am not so sure about the history being taught here