Baymeadows - Jacksonville, FL Area Guide

The city of Jacksonville first went by the name Cowford following its establishment in the late 18th century. Over the next hundred years, Jacksonville slowly build a reputation as a winter vacation destination for Northern and Midwestern tourists. The city further grew in importance in 1940 with the construction of a large U.S. Naval program. Following this, the community flourished outwards during the 20th century. As it spread, formerly wild and rural areas such as Baymeadows transitioned into suburbs, housing the working- and middle-class populations of Jacksonville. Baymeadows today seems half-way through this transition; though lots of development exists, extensive natural areas complement the building.

Though no museums exist within Baymeadows' borders to tell this tale, several downtown museums house history exhibits detailing the area's heritage. Though private artists undoubtedly exist throughout Baymeadows, the galleries displaying their work are also located downtown, along with most of Jacksonville's events and celebrations.

The restaurants in Baymeadows cluster around Baymeadows Road, particularly near the intersection with Southside Boulevard. Fortunately, a number of restaurants exist in this area, representing a variety of culinary traditions from across the world. For instance, Baymeadow's Vietnamese restaurant, Bowl of Pho, holds a special status as a local favorite. This establishment serves dishes based on authentic and simple ingredients, though its pho definitely tops the menu.

For a more American menu, most residents of Baymeadows turn to the 4 Rivers Smokehouse. This barbecue restaurant operates in a buffet format, where guests move down the counter, handpicking specific meats and side dishes. This ability to handpick an exact meal definitely adds to the appeal of 4 Rivers. Be sure to save room for dessert; it's definitely worth investigating the treats sold at the on-site bakery.

Only one bar actually sits within the borders of Baymeadows, making nightlife within the neighborhood virtually nonexistent. For drinks and a night out, locals typically cross Butler Boulevard and travel to the Town Center area of nearby Windy Hill. A favorite bar for many Baymeadows residents is Suite. This upscale establishment features great DJs, a variety of drinks, elegant decor and even a handful of fantastic food options. Best of all, Suite regularly hosts events, concert series and other promotions that excite the local area.

None would dispute driving as the best method to move through Baymeadows; modern infrastructure makes automobile travel across the neighborhood a breeze. Highway 202 is accessible from Baymeadows, as well as I-95. Taxis sometimes visit Baymeadows without call and mostly visit the commercial area in Baymeadows' southeastern corner. Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing companies cater to the Baymeadows neighborhood with varying frequency.

The easiest area to walk around Baymeadows is the commercial part in the southeastern corner, though traversing on foot between this area and many of the residential zones would be quite a hike. Though few dedicated bike lanes exist, low traffic volume on the majority of the streets makes biking a viable option. Unfortunately, Jacksonville's public transportation system does not service the Baymeadows community.

Baymeadows' most famed park, the Dog Wood Park and Barkham Woods, caters specifically to your canine companions. Owners and dogs can treat themselves to ample running room, a dog bathing area and pond, a pet shop and an agility course. If you're worried your pint-size pet might be mistreated by larger animals, there's even an area specifically designated for small dogs.

The 9A Baymeadows Park also sits close to the community. This park primarily features sports facilities, including soccer and baseball fields. However, a large open area, a playground, and a picnic facility also exist. The picnic facility even comes fully equipped with grills. Outside of sports matches, few regularly scheduled public events happen at this park, though private events, such as birthday parties, do happen on a regular basis.

When compared to the city norm, the cost of living in Baymeadows rates slightly higher than average. A one-bedroom residence typically costs residents an average of $808 per month. Meanwhile, beer prices for a pint at a local pub cost approximately $5. Interestingly, gas in Baymeadows actually costs lower than the Jacksonville average, often by as much as 4 percent. This number also applies when compared against the national gas price average.

Like the area's dining options, nearly all shopping in the neighborhood occurs in the commercial areas. Shoppers will find a variety of locally owned specialty stores, including Ms. Mulligan's, which boasts a dedicated staff that urges shoppers to update their wardrobes and find a style to call their own. Sell outdated or outgrown items on consignment, and replace them with something more fresh and interesting. From gently worn designer and name brand clothes to shoes and accessories, this is the place to find great pieces for a fraction of their original retail prices. Since the store's unique inventory changes daily, check in often to see what's new before someone else beats you to it.

For the finest in eco-friendly gifts as well as home décor & accessories, visit Shilpa Rathi, where each product is carefully hand-crafted by Indian artisans from naturally available materials. The store's hand block printed and hand-woven bedding uses only 100 percent natural vegetable dyes and mixes the simplicity of contemporary designs with the beauty of traditional patterns and techniques.

Several grocery stores cater to Baymeadows, including a Publix and Winn-Dixie. For a farmers market, residents must drive into the city, where the Jacksonville Farmers Market stays open rain or shine from pre-dawn to dusk, 365 days a year, including holidays. Florida’s oldest farmers market is well worth the drive to visit over 200 farmers and year-round vendors with the widest and freshest selection of produce in north Florida. The festive outdoor market also provides an ideal location to find ethnic specialties as well as imported and hard-to-find items.