Destination: Jacksonville
With the PGA Tour headquartered in its suburbs and the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame in nearby St. Augustine, the Jacksonville area is one of the most golf-centric locations in the U.S. Located on Florida's First Coast, this is also where you'll find the TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach), which hosts The Players Championship -- considered by many to be golf's "fifth major" -- as well as dozens of other quality courses open to the public. In addition, the city offers plenty of diversions beyond golf.
Destination: Jacksonville
Located on Florida's First Coast, the Jacksonville area is also where you'll find the TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach), which hosts The Players Championship -- considered by many to be golf's "fifth major" -- as well as dozens of other quality golf courses open to the public.
In addition, the city of Jacksonville offers plenty of diversions beyond golf. Jacksonville is not only the largest city in Florida in terms of population (approximately 1.3 million), but the largest in the United States in terms of area.
It's a city connected by waterways. The St. Johns River runs through the center of downtown, creating a picturesque background for the arts and culture community. You can stroll along the Riverwalk and stop by The Jacksonville Landing for a family-friendly festival, concert or meal, or continue to the Northbank to the Riverside Arts Market, Florida's largest weekly, free arts festival. And then there's the Intracoastal Waterway, which offers outdoor recreation activities and there are more than 20 miles of unspoiled beaches to enjoy.
If you're into sports, Jacksonville is not only home to the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, but each year it hosts the Florida vs. Georgia college football game as well as the Gator Bowl, offers minor league baseball, and dozens of recreational activities.
The city is home to the largest urban park system in the country with more than 111,000 acres to explore. Hiking, biking, kayaking, Segway tours all offer ways to get out and explore Jacksonville's vast natural landscape.
And Jacksonville is also gaining recognition as a dining destination -- from fish camps to four-diamond cuisine -- local restaurants and chefs have been featured on the Food Network, Top Chef and have been recognized by the James Beard Foundation.
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