Royal Lakes - Jacksonville, FL Area Guide

Originally inhabited by the Sammamish tribe, this area was claimed by Europeans in 1870. In 1876, logging began, made possible by the Sammamish River, and brought construction of buildings. David Bothell bought 80 acres in 1885 and, in 1888, the area was named Bothell and incorporated in 1909. Shortly afterward, the river was diverted and caused logging to slow and eventually cease, while farming took over. After World War II, road construction began and, by 2006, the population rose to 30,000. When the tech boom arrived in the region, the University of Washington branched out to Bothell.

Find local restaurants along Old Baymeadows Road on the north side of the area. Chain restaurants, along with barbeque, Mediterranean and Vietnamese cuisines tempt the palate.

Serving sophisticated barbeque in a rustic setting, 4 Rivers Smokehouse on Baymeadows Road satisfies that urge for rich, smoky meat. Try the Texas destroyer, smoked brisket with provolone or, if you feel faint from hunger, see if you can manage the brontosaurus beef ribs. Round it out with scrumptious sides, including fried pickles and jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon.

Mandaloun Mediterranean Cuisine on Old Baymeadows Road prepares sumptuous dishes from the Middle East, as well as American dishes, and has a lunchtime buffet. Check out the mixed grill of three chicken, beef and lamb kabobs to get the full flavor of this exotic restaurant.

To enjoy a casual meal, try Bowl of Pho located along Old Baymeadows Road. Pho means noodle soup in Vietnamese, and this restaurant serves noodle soups, along with salads and meat and rice dishes. For a rare treat, enjoy the shrimp noodle pho.

Pure Nightclub on Phillips Highway stays open until the wee hours of the morning, providing a great spot for dancing on a packed dance floor, with well-known DJs spinning the music. The nightclub draws a number of professionals, and patrons dress to the nines.

My Tap Room on Baymeadows Road presents a classic, casual bar where you go with your friends to drink a brew and watch a game. It carries 30 types of draft beer and has package deals on game nights. Find the Ritz Bar and Cocktail Lounge on Jacksonville Beach, about 16 miles along Highway A1A, for a cold drink, a game of pool and arcade games. A Jacksonville institution since 1945, the bar lies two blocks away from the beach and serves all its drinks in pint glasses, with live bands appearing nightly. Lynch’s Irish Pub lies along the same stretch, and carries a large menu including Irish food and 50 taps with domestic, local and imported beers. Enjoy nationally touring headline acts at Florida Theater on East Forsyth Street.

Many people use personal vehicles to get around the area, but the JTA bus service is cheap and reliable. If you ride regularly, a monthly pass costs $50. Taxi services operate in the area, as does Uber. Parking is free many places, though downtown uses metered parking, which costs 25 cents for a half hour. Garage parking runs more. The Royal Lakes neighborhood, conveniently located near interstates 95 and 295, makes it easy to travel. Wide streets and sidewalks in the neighborhood make it easy for pedestrians to stroll to neighborhood destinations.

Visit one of the five big department stores in The Avenues Mall on Southside Boulevard for the latest trends in apparel. Upscale stores such as Charlotte Russe and Banana Republic reside among the 150 shops as well.

Apricot Lane Boutique, located at The Avenues, carries trendy clothing in a rustic atmosphere. Try it out for the latest in dresses and summer wear. Wolfgang, about 11 miles up Route 9 on Park Street, has an enormous selection of hip clothing, including fabulous prints and sunglasses that glow in the dark. On Atlantic Boulevard, you can browse for the latest in rompers or McGuire jeans at the upscale AshleGryre.

Publix and Winn-Dixie stand as the most popular options for standard groceries. There are also specialty markets that specialize in Mexican, Caribbean and Japanese ingredients around the area. The Jacksonville Farmers Market on West Beaver Street opens daily, including holidays, to offer residents local produce and unique items used in ethnic or specialty cooking.