The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Mericet on July 25, 2013, 09:38:13 PM
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Any members here live in the area? Looks like I will be heading down there soon.
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There are better places in Fl. if you have your pick. But the upside is that the weather is good and the fishing is great. Plus you're out in the woods for hunting or canoeing in short order if you want to be. I haven't sampled the night life, but there's a naval instillation and a port so there have to be some cool dive bars, and the seafood is top notch. Welcome to the circus we call Florida!
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There are better places in Fl. if you have your pick.
What are some places you would recommend in FL then? Just curious really.
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I'm not dissing Jacksonville and your post made me realize that my post might have come off that way. That wasn't the intent at all. Its a burgeoning city at the mouth of the St. John's river and the fishing is amazing. Not only do you have the usual suspects (snook reds and sea trout in the salt, and bass and panfish in the fresh), but you also have a massive annual shad run. There is plenty of wilderness nearby and the area isn't over developed. As far as better, its a matter of taste, and frankly, as a somewhat rabid fisherman, I tend to define that by what you like to go for. For Offshore I'd say Ft. pierce if you like a bit of rustic or the Palm Beaches if you want Glitz and good restaurants. For bass and rural, Okeechobee, on the north shore of the lake. For swamp ambience and the mangrove brackish water tarpon and snook, Everglades City, or if you must have a bit of Glitz Naples. Miami, well, I stay away, but if you're young, rich and pretty its a good place and the fishing is excellent. If you like quirky and prefer flats fishing its the keys. Islamorada for bone fish and tarpon. Key West if you don't mind a huge gay population and lots of tourists, but the fishing and food are great. So basically I recommend anywhere in Fl. if you're pro-gun and like to fish. Where is up to you. There are some places I'd avoid, but Jacksonville isn't one of them. Its a nice town (and it stays out of the papers).This is key here in Fl. as Orlando, Tallahasse and Miami seem to be the epicenters of weirdness..
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Thanks FQ! I only ask because my family is seriously considering FL. My wife is trying to get into teaching and finding it very difficult here in PA but it seems much easier in FL. We used to live in Pensacola while I was in the Navy and loved it.
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Thanks FQ, I am considering a position that will be based in Jacksonville. The shop location is north of 295 and east of 95.
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Thanks FQ, I am considering a position that will be based in Jacksonville. The shop location is north of 295 and east of 95.
I don't know Jacksonville well at all. Its the other end of the state from me. I've stayed there a few times and fished the Saint John's Shad run a couple of times, but further west even though technically still in Jacksonville. (Trivia, Jacksonville is the largest "city" in the lower 48 as all of Duvall County is incorporated even though 80% of it is rural). Its not a bad town. I can think of lots of good reasons to live there. I have no clue about the crime rate, schools or local politics, but as far as a place to live it ain't too shabby.
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I lived there for three years. In the Briarwood subdivision off Baymeadows road in the south part of town. Not quite to to Mandarin. It is a big, small town, though a lot has changed since '76 when I was there.
First, it is NOT at the mouth of the St. Johns river. It is well over 10 miles upstream (south). The St John's is one of the few major rivers to flow north. Most of the Naval activity takes place up near Mayport and not a lot of it spills down to Jacksonville proper. Some, but not the bulk. The riverwalk seemed nice when I visited a few years back. And yes, you're not far from being in the country in just a few minutes. Heading west there's not much between Jacksonville and Lake City at I-4. Pretty rural.
Give you an idea of how long ago it was, my company was one of the first tenants in the then just completed "Independance" building on the river. Now known as Modis building I think.
If you're a fried chicken fan, then "Beach Road Chicken" is a must stop. If they're still in business.
So much has probably changed, but I think it's been for the better. And of course you just a hope-skip-jump from the beach. Sawgrass. Or head on down to St Augustine for a little weekend get away.
All in all I have fond memories of the place.
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Brushmore... if your wife is a high school teacher, and is certified in chemistry, physics, or higher math, she should be able to find a job in most any county... she will need ESOL (English Spoken as Other Language) certification, which was 300 hours for Language Arts and 60 for other content areas (can be done over a period of time through inservices)....It helps to have Reading endorsement for middle and elementary... (I've been retired for 4 years, so she needs to check)... all the counties have a pretty good web page set up for prospective teachers.....
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I lived there for three years. In the Briarwood subdivision off Baymeadows road in the south part of town. Not quite to to Mandarin. It is a big, small town, though a lot has changed since '76 when I was there.
First, it is NOT at the mouth of the St. Johns river. It is well over 10 miles upstream (south). The St John's is one of the few major rivers to flow north. Most of the Naval activity takes place up near Mayport and not a lot of it spills down to Jacksonville proper. Some, but not the bulk. The riverwalk seemed nice when I visited a few years back. And yes, you're not far from being in the country in just a few minutes. Heading west there's not much between Jacksonville and Lake City at I-4. Pretty rural.
Give you an idea of how long ago it was, my company was one of the first tenants in the then just completed "Independance" building on the river. Now known as Modis building I think.
If you're a fried chicken fan, then "Beach Road Chicken" is a must stop. If they're still in business.
So much has probably changed, but I think it's been for the better. And of course you just a hope-skip-jump from the beach. Sawgrass. Or head on down to St Augustine for a little weekend get away.
All in all I have fond memories of the place.
Ten miles is close enough Alf. Hell, I live in West Palm Beach. And no, the town isn't on the ocean. You have to drive a few miles East for that. Welcome to Florida. ;D
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Ten miles is close enough Alf. Hell, I live in West Palm Beach. And no, the town isn't on the ocean. You have to drive a few miles East for that. Welcome to Florida. ;D
Stuck between the real Palm Beach and Loxahatchee are you? Have they ever paved the roads in Loxahatchee? Sister-in-Law lived there for many years.
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I don't know Jacksonville well at all. Its the other end of the state from me. I've stayed there a few times and fished the Saint John's Shad run a couple of times, but further west even though technically still in Jacksonville. (Trivia, Jacksonville is the largest "city" in the lower 48 as all of Duvall County is incorporated even though 80% of it is rural). Its not a bad town. I can think of lots of good reasons to live there. I have no clue about the crime rate, schools or local politics, but as far as a place to live it ain't too shabby.
Dude, check out Dallas/Fort Worth, they are considered one city . :o
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FWIW, I'd steer you away from Jacksonville. It's got all the "Big City" that you'd want to leave behind, I suspect.
If I had a choice and was going to live there anyway, I'd do the panhandle, Valpariso, Destin, Eglin AFB area or west of there, or at worst Lauderdale if you like the city stuff. Kinda depends on what you do for work, though..
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FQ is correctamundo about the size.......... heading into Jacksonville on I-10 from Lake City (and I might add it seems like it takes forever, nothing but trees) there is a lot of 'nothing' even after you hit Duval County/Jacksonville City Limits..... then all of a sudden it gets really busy. ;D