Golden Glades/The Woods - Jacksonville, FL

The Arlington area, including the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood, saw the first visit by Europeans in the United States. The French Fort Caroline was built in the area and served as a garrison for French forces from 1564 to 1565, before being destroyed by the Spanish. The area saw increased growth with the building of the Matthews Bridge in 1953, leading to the Arlington area becoming the fastest-growing neighborhood in Jacksonville.

You can visit the Beaches Museum & History Park in nearby Jacksonville Beach to learn about the history of the region and how the railroad helped drive economic growth in the early days of the Jacksonville, Florida, area.

You can easily find a restaurant in the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood. Journey along Beach Boulevard to the south or Atlantic Boulevard to the north where you will encounter Italian, Asian and American cuisine.

Check Epik Burger for some mouthwatering burgers, including the wild mushroom burger, featuring sautéed mushrooms with wasabi mayo. Chase it down with an Epik burger and a handmade shake, such as an Elvis shake containing banana, bacon and peanut butter.

If down-home cooking is what you prefer, check out the Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro. Serving a selection of soul food menu items, try out the slow-braised oxtail beef with southern-style collard greens and extra cheesy mac and cheese.

You can feed your sushi craving Hana Yori. Order the lava fries, a Panko crunch tempura roll or Russian silk roll. At the end of your meal, finish up with some tempura ice cream.

For nightlife in the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood, visit the Time Out Sports Grill. This sports bar includes a full-service bar with a wide selection of draft beers, wines and liquor.

You need a vehicle to complete errands within the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood. With options for walking and riding a bicycle on city streets all but nonexistent, area residents need to find other ways to get around. In addition to using a motor vehicle, other methods of transportation include riding Jacksonville Transportation Authority buses, which have routes all over the Jacksonville area, including downtown and the beaches.

While Uber does not serve the Jacksonville area, you still have many cab services to choose from. In the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood, you can call a cab company for a ride.

The Golden Glades/The Woods area holds no public parking lots, but you can park on local streets. When traveling in the Jacksonville area and beyond, you can easily access highways and expressways from the Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood. Whether you head toward the coast or into the city, roadways are easily accessible. Interstate 295 can take you to other points of interest in the vicinity of Jacksonville.

When looking for locations to enjoy the great outdoors, the Golden Glades/The Woods area features a few parks to choose from. Most Jacksonville area parks allow pets if you keep them on a leash.

Patton Park, a 120-acre facility, encompasses 12 soccer fields and a football field. This park provides an area for use by the First Coast Soccer Association and also has a concession stand for patrons.

Castaway Preserve Park has 235 acres of hiking and bicycle trails, as well as a canoe and kayak launch. Observe the local fauna from one of the many wildlife observation posts or enjoy a nice lunch at one of the parks picnic tables.

While none of the parks in the Golden Glades/The Woods host annual events, a short trip to downtown Jacksonville can provide just the distraction you need. Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville is the host of a variety of annual events, including The Jacksonville Jazz Festival, the Spring Music Festival and the Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks celebration every July 4th.

The Golden Glades/The Woods neighborhood has a higher cost of living than the rest of Jacksonville. Rent on a one-bedroom residence should cost you approximately $744. Getting to downtown Jacksonville from the area costs $1.50 on JTA buses. A beer at a local bar will set you back around $5, and a gallon of gas in the Golden Glades/The Woods area sits at half a percent point lower than the national average.

You have many options when looking for places to shop in the Golden Glades/The Woods area. Some of the major shopping areas lie at the junction of Atlantic Boulevard and Kernan Boulevard. Other areas that provide shopping opportunities include along Atlantic Boulevard toward Neptune Beach and down Beach Boulevard toward Jacksonville Beach. Specialty stores and boutiques dot the region surrounding the Golden Glades/The Woods area. One such location, LulaMae Boutique & Salon found in Jacksonville Beach, sells a variety of designer clothing for women. You can also find a wide selection of shoes, jewelry and accessories to add to your wardrobe. Head over to 33 Star Rock & Roll Boutique, also in Jacksonville Beach, to find formal and casual wear for men and women, including clothing to don while onstage or on the dance floor. You can also find accessories and jewelry to go along with your outfits. To find groceries, visit the local Winn-Dixie on Atlantic Boulevard. Here you can find a wide selection of food and personal items. If you seek a more upscale shopping experience, check out The Fresh Market for a variety of specialty and regular grocery items. When looking for fresh produce from area farmers, take a trip to the Jacksonville Farmers Market in downtown Jacksonville.