Highlands - Jacksonville, FL Area Guide

Originally named Cowford by British colonists who had settled in the area, the location that became Jacksonville saw a big part of its development during the late 19th century. Its growth was halted numerous times over the years, though overall the city has seen steady growth, especially after World War II. It was during this time that Jacksonville became a major port for the U.S. Navy. Today, the city has over a million citizens, mainly as a result of its consolidation of outlying regions into its city-county government structure.

The Highlands neighborhood does not hold any museums. However, you can find the Anheuser-Busch Brewery nearby. Take a tour, or sample some of the many beverages the company offers. If you count running as one of your hobbies, then check out the Gate River Run, an annual 15K road-running event held in Jacksonville on the second Saturday of March.

When seeking the best places to eat, check out the establishments along Dunn Avenue, especially around the Highlands Square Shopping Center. You can choose from a wide selection of cuisines, including plenty of seafood options and American and Asian fare.

A popular area restaurant called Ship 2 Shore Seafood & Steaks features a range of seafood and steak favorites like the flounder stuffed with succulent crabmeat, shrimp and cheese. Try one of the cooked-to-order steaks, such as the angus beef sirloin, and finish up with a piece of chocolate fudge lava cake or white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.

Another area classic, the Pig Bar-B-Q, focuses on serving only the best barbecue to its customers. Whether you order the pig special or a rib sandwich, you are sure to enjoy it. The rib sandwich has two juicy ribs covered in signature pig sauce squeezed between two pieces of white bread.

The Millhouse Steakhouse offers a wide assortment of steaks, ribs and other delectable meals. Try out the Millhouse Gorgonzola sirloin, pan seared to bring out the best flavor and served with garlic sautéed spinach, mashed potatoes and Gorgonzola butter sauce.

Nightlife in the Jacksonville area is varied and gives you a wide selection of venues and bars to choose from. Area restaurants do serve alcohol, though you might have a hard time finding a place that hales itself as strictly a bar in the Highlands neighborhood. You can find such establishments closer to downtown Jacksonville.

One such location, Skyline Sports Bar & Lounge, functions as a restaurant and bar by day, but come night time it turns into a popular area club. Found across the river in the downtown area of Jacksonville, the club features a selection of bottled and mixed drinks, as well as live music and dancing on Thursdays.

For some truly inspiring music, travel to the Arlington area and visit the Jazzland Cafe. This music venue features soulful jazz music played by a wide variety of artists.

Car dependent, the Highlands neighborhood of Jacksonville is not pedestrian- or cyclist-friendly. You can find transportation around the area using Jacksonville Transportation Authority buses. The JTA also has a Park-n-Ride program that allows you to park at one of its lots and catch a bus from there.

While the City of Jacksonville is not serviced by Uber, you can hail a taxi downtown or call for a pickup in other areas, including the Highlands neighborhood. The Highlands neighborhood does suffer from a lack of designated public parking lots and structures. Fortunately, you can park your vehicle on most surface streets. Area highways and expressways include Interstates 95 and 295, which you can easily access using roadways.

The Highlands area has a few area parks that you can enjoy. Ray Greene Park brings a bike trail, playgrounds and sports facilities to area residents. This 38-acre park has plenty of parking, two concession stands and a picnic shelter. Dog owners must keep their furry friends on a leash in this pet-friendly park.

You can also visit Lake Bethesda Park to the west. Stocked and maintained for area fishermen, this 20-acre lake also has 1,400 feet of nature trail boardwalks, picnic tables and a lodge that the public can rent. You also have the option of renting out one of the four cabins found on site. This park is also pet-friendly.

Visit the nearby Metropolitan Park in downtown Jacksonville, and attend special events throughout the year. One of these includes the Starry Nights concert series put on in May during the week leading up to Memorial Day weekend and featuring the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. Another annual event popular with local residents, Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks, takes place every Independence Day at the park.

Living in the Highlands neighborhood of Jacksonville should cost you less, as the cost of living sits a little lower than the city average. The cost of public transportation runs at about what other cities across the United States charge, with it costing $1.50 to get to the downtown Jacksonville area. Rent for a one-bedroom residence costs about $540 on average, and a beer should set you back about $5. A gallon of gas in the Highlands area costs just slightly more than 1 percent over the national average.

Shopping in the Highlands area is most focused around Dunn Avenue, especially at the junctions with Interstate 95 and Lem Turner Road. While you cannot find high-end stores in the neighborhood, you do have a few options when it comes to boutiques and specialty stores.

One such area shop, The Boutique Experience, brings fashion clothing, shoes and accessories to the area. Some of the clothing available comes from the various lines the store offers, including from the Chic, Modesty and Alluring Collections. Each collection features a variety of tops, pants, shoes and more. You can additionally pay a visit to Favor Styling and Boutique. This unique shop gives consultations on styling your wardrobe to best fit your body type.

Visit the local Publix for deli, grocery and personal-hygiene items. You can likewise visit its pharmacy to fill all of your prescription needs. If you seek fresh area produce, stop by The Garden Produce, found west of the downtown Jacksonville area.