Arlington Hills - Jacksonville, FL Area Guide

The first area in the United States to be visited by Europeans, Arlington showcases the importance of the area in its history. The French settlers built Fort Caroline in 1564, and today, a replica of it stands as the Fort Caroline National Memorial. After the fort was destroyed, this area remained undeveloped until the 19th century when saw mills and plantations cropped up along the St. Johns River. After the Civil War, it became a residential community and grew after the construction of the Matthews Bridge in 1953, which connected this area to Jacksonville.

Visit Kingsley Plantation, the last remaining plantation house in Florida. Glimpse into the history of the native Timucuan people at the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. See a Timucuan hut or the salt marshes, hardwood hammocks, and coastal dunes in this unspoiled 46,000 acre preserve.

The oldest operating dinner theater, The Alhambra, produces Broadway style plays.

With cuisines from around the world, soul food, seafood and burgers, Arlington Hills' restaurants always satisfy. Try Caribbean island fare, Turkish coffee and tabouleh, or European food, all fresh and bursting with flavor.

From addas and lentil soup, stuffed grape leaves, and warm pita bread to roasted lamb on basmati rice, Tabouleh has a menu that allows you to sample all this and more. Try the feta fries, baba ganoush, baklava and Greek salad. Wash it down with some Turkish coffee or mint ice tea. Every Wednesday, the menu features vegan specials, such as stuffed squash. Located on Merrill Road, tucked away in a shopping center, expect small wait times and crowds at Tabouleh Mediterranean Cafe. You can also enjoy smoking a hookah while you visit.

Step into Jamaica as you savor jerk shrimp, brown stew chicken, curry goat, and oxtails with yellow rice and peas, all made to perfection at Spices Caribbean Restaurant. Don't judge this place by its small size and less-than-optimal location, order ahead and enjoy large portions of real Jamaican food in the comfort of your home.

Go to the the Tent Hookah Lounge for the amazing decor, and stay for the superior hookah experience, food and drinks. This intimate place has tents with low couches and cushions arranged on the floor with fake fire pits and candles. Enjoy date night or a quiet evening with a small group of friends at the lounge. Watch belly dancers perform on Fridays and Saturdays, and on Thursdays, ladies can get a free glass of wine or beer. Waiters in Aladdin outfits add a nice touch.

At Austin Karaoke, get your own room and have a musical party with your friends for just $5 per person. Order Korean food, or bring your own food and drinks. Enjoy tambourines and flashing lights at this cool joint.

Most residents commute to work in private vehicles, and some carpool with neighbors or co-workers. Interstate-295 connects Arlington Hills to Jacksonville and neighboring areas. Public transportation, biking and walking don't feature as popular ways to get around the area. Like most of Jacksonville, Arlington Hills has few sidewalks and no biking lanes, making it risky for walkers and bikers. However, hiking and biking trails exist, which residents can enjoy.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority runs buses from the city of Jacksonville to Arlington and the beaches. Parking in downtown and park and ride facilities with 43,000 public parking spaces make parking easy in Arlington Hills. Skyway, a free train, connects downtown attractions and businesses on both sides of the St. Johns river.

Ez Airport Shuttle serves the Arlington Hills neighborhood. Uber serves Jacksonville and surrounding areas.

With acres and acres of parks, preserves, and arboretums, locals can hike, fish, boat or bike in Arlington Hills. Also, most of these parks welcome kids and dogs as well.

The 120-acre Jacksonville Arboretum and Gardens has three trails and a walkway around a 2-acre lake. Explore the native flora, with over 100 labeled plants, or take your dog for a walk in this free park. In November, the park hosts The Art of Nature, with sculptures, a fairy village, and craft activities for kids. Food trucks and nature-inspired merchandise give visitors a chance to shop and refuel.

For a small fee, visit the Tree Hill Nature Center with trails, creeks, docks and animals. Pack a picnic lunch, and take the kids to the petting zoo and indoor discovery center with a touch pool. See turtles, alligators, goats and chickens. Every April, the butterfly house buzzes with activity and draws many visitors.

Featuring a small-sized basic playground with canopies, picnic shelters and a trail,a Arlington Playground makes an ideal place to bring your kids to burn off some energy.

Head to the beaches or Jacksonville for events such as the Jazz Festival, Great Atlantic Seafood and Music Festival, and the Country Music Festival in the summer.

Arlington Hills and Jacksonville have almost the same cost of living, with gasoline prices in this neighborhood 3 percent higher than the national average and average rent for a one-bedroom residence at $750. A mug of beer costs $4 at local pubs.

Arlington Hills has a few department stores and an indoor mall, the Regency Square Mall. This neighborhood also seems to have several specialty food stores from around the world.

Find freshly made red beans, buns, high quality sake and other hard-to-find Japanese ingredients in Circle Japan, a small store on Beach Boulevard. Run by Japanese owners, this store delivers exceptional customer service and great prices.

A health food store on Atlantic Boulevard, Earth Fare has a fresh pizza station, juice bar, organic produce and a deli. Find fair trade coffee options, a great wine selection and a full line of vitamins and supplements. With reasonable prices and a clean, well-maintained store, the store allows you to get the best quality products.

Grocery stores, such as Publix and Walmart Supercenter, serve the Arlington Hills neighborhood, along with smaller, locally owned grocery stores. Two farmers markets, the Beach Boulevard Flea and Farmers Market and the Atlantic Boulevard Produce Market, allow residents to shop for fresh local produce, locally made products and food.