Erica's Top 3 Jacksonville Favorites

1. Dreamette: Growing up, my mom was the director of a preschool in Murray Hill right down the street from Dreamette, and I have so many memories of us walking over there on summer days or stopping by on our drive home. You really can't go wrong with anything you order but my go-to always has been and still is the banana milkshake. It's so good anddddd now I'm craving one.

2. Sun-Ray Cinema: I always heard people talk about how cool this two screen movie theatre was but until a few years ago I hadn't been for myself. They show new movies, old movies, and even kids movies in the summer. They serve classic movie theatre treats like popcorn, hot dogs and candy but they also offer sandwiches, salads, + desserts! They recently added Sun-Ray Pizza Cave and they just announced this week they're opening a permanent drive-in location which I'm very excited to go to!

3. The Beaches: We have so many beaches to choose from here in NE Florida. Family friendly, fun, and mostly free - you might have to pay for parking. As a Jacksonville native, I've always loved living near the beach. When I was a kid my parents would take us on a stay-cation in an oceanfront Fernandina Beach condo, we'd spend our weekends on Huguenot aka The Jetties (I loved that we could drive on that beach) and in high school almost every day of spring break and summer were spent on Neptune or Jax Beach. I loved beach days then and I still love them now. PS - don't forget to wear sunscreen!

Mary Mychael's Top 3 Jacksonville Favorites

1. Memorial Park: Right on the St. John’s river, Memorial Park is the perfect place to watch sunrises, sunsets, and fireworks. It has such rich history as Florida’s true WWI Memorial: “To further honor the fallen, the names of the more than 1220 Floridians who died in the first World War were inscribed on parchment and placed in a lead box within a bronze box which was buried in the ground in front of the statue Life.” – Quote taken from www.memparkjax.org. Fun Fact: Eric and I got married in this park in a last minute mini-elopement ceremony! 

2. Riverside Arts Market: Every Saturday, right in Riverside under the bridge, local vendors, artists, farmers, jewelry makers, musicians, (you name it), come together for a fun outdoor gathering space. You can shop while you sip on a beer, snack on some local goodies, and even treat yourself to an ice pop while listening to a local band or watching a local ballet performance. 10am-3pm every Saturday!

3. Restaurant Orsay: Okay, if this isn’t at the top of everyone’s “faves in Jax list” then I don’t know how to help you  Impeccable food, gorgeous cocktails, and a sexy environment…Orsay is always exceptional. They have the best happy hour in town and just remember to ALWAYS save room for dessert – you’ll thank me later! 

Amanda's Top 3 Jacksonville Favorites

1. Location- I love how far north that Jax is in Florida. It's easy to get anywhere down south, or if you head north, you can easily be in the mountains in NC or easily go for a weekend getaway on Jekyll Island, Savannah, or Charleston.

2. Seafood- I love seafood, and I love living in a place where there is so much FRESH seafood year round.

3. Local Hustle- I moved to Jax in 2004 and since then have seen the development of a ton of great, unique, locally owned businesses. When I moved here there weren't that many, and we would try to support them all. Now there are so many popping up, it's hard to support allll of them anymore, but thankfully enough like minded people have moved here and the local love is going around!

Alaina's Top 3 Jacksonville Favorites

1. A little over a mile down Mandarin Road, ancient oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss bend over the narrow path. Tucked away on the right shoulder is Walter Jones Park and The Mandarin Museum. One of my favorite things to do is explore this park and poke around the museum. The Mandarin area, in general, is rich with history, but this nook, in particular, is a historical treasure trove! Author and Abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, winter home rests at the edge of the park and just beyond the Cypress Knees, in the St. John’s River, is the National Historic Landmark site of the sinking of The Maple Leaf. The museum houses a giant collection of artifacts from the shipwreck which I find so fascinating! This area is a real treat for Explorers, nature-lovers, and History Buffs alike!

2. Nestled in the heart of San Marco, a 250 year old Live Oak tree sprawls its massive branches and stands over 70 feet tall. This tree, known as Treaty Oak, predates Jacksonville as we know it today. The Treaty Oak is the only remaining aspect of the famous amusement park, Dixieland, that once stood by its side at the turn of the century. This park was known as “The Coney Island of the South” and featured ostrich racing if you can believe it! I love taking a book and reading beneath the tree’s gnarled branches. Despite it’s expansive nature, it’s surprisingly easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled for this majestic creature next time you’re in San Marco! You won’t regret it!

3. If you have a couple of hours to spare, I highly recommend The Jacksonville Main Public Library on North Laura St. I find it so easy to get lost in its thousands of rows of books. The building itself is breathtaking- the courtyard at the top of the grand staircase is the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee from Chamblin’s Uptown and catch up with a friend.

MaryAnne's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1. Great Room: A large, open, vaulted space is ideal as it becomes the epicenter of family fun, entertaining guests, and holiday gatherings.

2. A Friendly Front: I don’t love garages facing the front of the home, but with the right paint and landscaping, I can compromise. A pretty stained or painted front door adorning a seasonal wreath is a must have at my own home.

3. Renovated Kitchen: The heart of the home must be updated in order for me to feel like it’s a clean, fresh palate to prepare meals and host friends

4. Walk In Closet: Style + fashion are huge in my household because my hubs is in the fashion industry, so big closets are a must!

5. A View: Because I work so much, I want to relax when I come home so either a view of the City, some body of water, or garden is a non negotiable.

Chai's Top 5 Must Haves

1. Patio/ Outdoor Living- I am such an outdoor person, and being in Jacksonville where the weather is always so beautiful, I find myself spending most of my time out on my patio. It's a retreat for me! Being able to enjoy nature and feel the fresh air gives me such happy energy. Whether I'm entertaining or just enjoying by myself, it's always refreshing and relaxing. It's definitely my happy place.

2. Spacious Kitchen- Generally, the KITCHEN is the most important room in your home, because it's the center of your family day-to-day living. I love to cook, entertain, and spend time around my family, so having an open space is a must. It's good to be able to chat and see people's faces while I'm cooking. I also like to have my kitchen clutter-free, so a good size pantry would be great!

3. Main Entry- It's great to have space and storage for keys, shoes, an umbrella, etc. I feel having a functional entrance creates a positive flow when coming home or leaving the home. I do love a double door and a high ceiling, it creates an open space for me. Oh, and definitely built-in cabinets to hide stuff would be great.

4. Master Suite- Having my own oasis so important to me. I think your bedroom should be exactly how you want it, and it should make you feel relaxed and happy. It's a wonderful way to start your morning and end your day. Big windows and a high ceiling would be fantastic.

5. Home Office- These days I'm working from home more than ever, so an office space with lots of natural light and facing the woods or lake would be amazing! Of course, built-in cabinets would be very functional.