Lake Forest - Jacksonville, FL Area Guide

Development in the Lake Forest neighborhood did not take off until 1944. Growing along with the rest of Jacksonville, at one time the area served as the outer boundaries of the growing city. Originally the location of a ferry across the Trout River, the area now boast many roadways that give easy access to the rest of Jacksonville, especially the north and west sides of town.

To gain more historical insight into Jacksonville’s history, visit one of the many museums located in the downtown area of the city. This includes The Jacksonville Fire Museum, the Ritz Theatre and Museum and the Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum.

You should also check out the Stage Aurora Theatrical Company to get a little local culture. They put on a variety of theatrical plays throughout the year, including well-known classics and more obscure works, including the Annual Aurora Jacksonville Black Arts Festival.

Most area eateries lie along Lem Turner Road, though visitors must travel outside the boundaries of the Lake Forest neighborhood to find restaurants unique to the Jacksonville area.

Head south along Lem Turner Road to find the Famous Sandwich Shop, which serves a wide range of subs, pitas and burgers. You can also dig into one of its cold salads, such as the chicken tender salad made with succulent chicken portions and plenty of fresh vegetables.

To the north along Lem Turner Road, you can find The Pig Bar-B-Q, in business since 1955. Tasty appetizers include corn nuggets, bite-sized pieces of sweet, creamy corn. You can also order one of the restaurant's dinner plates, which feature a plateful of succulent barbecue pork, beef or turkey, served with buttery garlic bread.

If seafood is your thing, head on down to The Golden Crab House. Local crab, shrimp and other marine delicacies feature heavily, of course, but the chef here has a way with all manner of ingredients.

Nightlife in Jacksonville gives you many options. Whether you want to relax and down some drinks, kick back and listen to live shows, or dance the night away, you can find something to fit all tastes.

Skyline Sports Bar & Lounge serves as a popular local hangout to relax and have some drinks while hanging out with the locals. Select from its large menu of bar food, or dance along to the beat on Thursday and Friday nights with a variety of dance music.To find other area music venues, take a trip to downtown Jacksonville, where you can find a wide array of area hot spots for drinks, music, and fun.

Lake Forest does not support walking or bike riding. Most people either drive or ride public transportation in the area. Available through the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, city buses follow a large selection of routes across the city. You can also hail a cab within the downtown area, though you have to order a taxi over the phone in other sections of town. Uber does not serve the Jacksonville area.

While you cannot find public parking lots in the neighborhood of Lake Forest, you can park on the street. Additionally, you can easily get to area highways and interstates, including Interstate 95, Edgewood Avenue and Lem Turner Road.

The Lake Forest neighborhood has a small selection of parks for public use, including two half circles, Concord Park and Marion Park.

Concord Park sits near the intersection of Edgewood Avenue and Interstate 95. Platted in 1944, along with Marion Park, the park provides a small area for local residents to gather. Amenities include playground equipment for the kids, open areas for sport activities and picnic areas for the enjoyment of the entire family. You can also bring your pets, but you must keep them leashed.

Named after American Revolutionary General Francis Marion, Marion Park is another half-oval park in the Lake Forest Area. The park has a playground, tennis courts and a water-feature playscape. As with all city parks, you can bring your pets as long as they remain on a leash.

If you just want to relax, you can spend time in nearby Norwood Park. Sitting along the southern bank of Montcrief Creek, the area provides plenty of bank fishing and shady areas.

When looking for area events in the city’s parks, visit Metropolitan Park in the downtown area in May, where you can find the Jacksonville World of Nations, a three-day festival celebrating the food, music and fashion of over 30 nations.

The cost of living in Lake Forest runs a little bit lower than the rest of Jacksonville. It costs an average of $545 a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment in the neighborhood. Getting to downtown Jacksonville costs $1.50 for a one-way trip. Buying a beer at a local bar should cost you around $5. A gallon of gas in the Lake Forest area costs about 1 percent lower than the national average.

When it comes to shopping, you can find many retailers clustered around one of a few areas, including the junction of Lem Turner Road and Edgewood Avenue, along Lem Turner Road extending to the south and Gateway Town Center on the southern outskirts of the area.

You can find many boutiques in the Jacksonville area, with several hair care and clothing salons available. Aviar Chic Boutique offers unique fashions to its clientele, including handbags, lingerie, jewelry and other apparel.

If you need to outfit and decorate your apartment or home, you should pay a visit to Bennett's Custom Cabinets. Providing custom cabinets to the Jacksonville area for over 25 years, the high-end business also sells a selection of other household items, including luxury closet setups, bars, entertainment centers and bathroom furniture. When the time comes to restock your pantry, head over to the local Save-A-Lot. The store has a wide range of food items and other grocery goods to choose from. If you want fresh produce from area farmers, visit the Jacksonville Farmers Market near downtown.