Turtle Creek - Jacksonville, FL

Timucuan Indians inhabited this area before explorers and missionaries arrived from Spain. In 1562, approximately 150 settlers arrived from France, seeking freedom from religious persecution in their home country. In the 1820s, residents started referring to the city as Jacksonville in honor of Andrew Jackson. Developers eventually built the Turtle Creek neighborhood to meet the need for additional housing.

Turtle Creek residents have access to the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, the Cummer Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and History. If you love art, visit Downtown Jacksonville or the Cork Arts District to view paintings, sculptures and other pieces created by local artists. Jacksonville hosts many annual events, including the River City Wine and Dine Extravaganza, Buckler’s Craft Fair, the Railroad Days Festival and the Jacksonville Beer and Food Festival. Jacksonville also plays host to the Northeast Florida Blueberry Festival each year.

Although Turtle Creek is a residential community, your favorite foods are just minutes away. The neighborhood has a prime location near Northside, which has more than 50 restaurants. Several restaurants sit on City Station Drive and Max Leggett Parkway, but Northside has eateries all over the neighborhood. Local restaurants serve everything from classic American fare to fresh seafood with a Cajun twist.

For steak or seafood, visit the Millhouse Steakhouse on Airport Road. Seafood lovers have no shortage of entree options, from the Cajun jambalaya pasta to the glazed Norwegian salmon. If you prefer red meat, order a steak with house steak sauce, truffle butter or gorgonzola sauce. Finish off your meal with turtle cheesecake, tiramisu or the chocolate overload, a slice of chocolate cake topped with dark chocolate icing and chocolate morsels.

Hecksher Drive serves as home base for Chowder Ted's, a seafood shack known for its oyster po'boy. If oysters aren't your thing, try the conch fritters or the blackened tilapia.

Because of Turtle Bay's residential nature, locals go to bars and clubs in neighborhoods nearby. Visit Dos Gatos in LaVilla to have a cocktail with a date or enjoy a margarita after dinner at a local restaurant. Don't leave without trying a jalapeño margarita or the Hemingway cocktail. If you don't mind driving a few miles to the Riverside neighborhood, go to Intuition Ale Works to try craft beers such as Jon Boat, Equality Ale, Movembrew and People's Pale Ale. Club enthusiasts also flock to the Westside and LaVilla neighborhoods. Westside has the LOFT, a dance club with a young crowd and a variety of music genres for your listening pleasure, and LaVilla has Mavericks at the Landing, a dance club featuring country music and drinks served in Mason jars.

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena hosts sporting events, comedians and performing artists. Visit the arena to see the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, or watch a soccer game featuring the Jacksonville Armada Football Club. Florida Theatre and the Times-Union Center for Performing Arts also host musical performances.

Many homeowners and renters in Turtle Creek drive their own vehicles when they go to work, run errands or participate in recreational activities. The center of Turtle Creek sits just 2 miles from Interstate 95, giving residents convenient access to Savannah and other points north of Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Transportation Authority operates more than 40 bus routes in the city, but the agency does not have a stop in Turtle Creek. If you need to take public transportation, take the 306 bus to the Jacksonville Zoo stop or the 307 bus to one of the stops in Northside. The nearest stop, Jacksonville Zoo, is 2.9 miles from the center of Turtle Creek, so bring your bike on the bus or arrange a ride ahead of time if you don’t want to walk that far.

Amtrak, Greyhound and ride-sharing service Uber also operate out of Jacksonville. If you plan to take a taxi, call the cab company in advance. You won’t find cab drivers roaming the residential streets of Turtle Creek, but one of them will pick you up if you give the cab company enough notice. The Turtle Creek neighborhood does not have any public parking garages, but it does have plenty of off-street parking. The Downtown neighborhood has more than 1,500 metered parking spaces and a monthly parking lot operated by the City of Jacksonville.

You can walk to a neighbor’s house easily in Turtle Creek, but you won’t be able to accomplish many errands on foot. The City of Jacksonville has 19 different bike routes, but if you plan to ride in Turtle Creek, you’ll have to stick to the side of the road. Because Turtle Creek is a residential community, cycling is relatively safe, especially if you wear the right gear and obey local traffic laws.

Eartha H. Napoleon Park takes up a little less than 3 acres off Dunn Avenue. The park has a lighted basketball court, two bike racks and a swimming pool. It also has four picnic tables and five grills to use if you want to have a picnic. Let your kids have fun on the playground equipment while you enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, or take your dog on a walk around the perimeter of the park. You do not have to pay an admission fee to use Napoleon Park.

Visit Northbank Riverwalk Artist Square to get some exercise in while you look at work made by local artists. The park has a concession stand and 45 bike racks for your convenience. These amenities come in handy during the Riverside Arts Market held on most Saturdays during the year. In addition to the weekly market, this park also serves as the site of Holidazzle, an annual holiday event with a focus on the arts.

Turtle Creek has a slightly lower cost of living than Downtown Jacksonville. The neighborhood gas prices sit at just over 1 percent above the national average, but a pint of domestic beer only costs $4 to $6 at the local pub. The average rental rate for a one-bedroom apartment is about $533 per month, making it an affordable neighborhood for families, young professionals and retired people. If you take the bus, expect to pay $1.50 for a regular trip and $2 for an express trip.

Turtle Creek has several grocery stores within a 10-mile radius. Publix, the closest, has fresh produce, meats, bakery items and prepared foods. Winn Dixie and Walmart Supercenter also have prepared foods along with fresh, frozen and canned items. If you need specialty items, visit Grassroots Natural Market in Riverside. The store has a juice bar and a wide selection of organic foods.

You don't have to drive far to find clothing, decorative items or jewelry to suit your tastes. Jacksonville has a Coach store less than four miles from the center of the neighborhood. Located approximately 20 minutes from Turtle Creek, Regency Square Mall has Sears, JCPenney, Dillard's Clearance, and an AMC theater.

If you prefer to shop local, visit Chamblin Bookmine or Pecan Park Flea and Farmers Market. Located next to Roosevelt Square, Chamblin Bookmine has used books, cassette tapes and VHS tapes to round out your collection. Pecan Park Flea and Farmers Market has a mix of food and merchandise vendors. Stop by for fresh produce or treat yourself to a funnel cake or Italian ice while you shop. Antique enthusiasts visit the Westside and Riverside neighborhoods to hunt for treasures. Westside is home to Treasure House Antiques and Southern Crossing Antique Mall, while Riverside has Fans & Stoves Antique Mall.