Woodland Acres - Jacksonville, FL

The Arlington area, which includes Woodland Acres, has been inhabited for many thousands of years. Originally, the Timucua people lived in the region. Later, French settlers arrived at the site and founded Fort Caroline. Modern Arlington began to develop after the end of the civil war and residential neighborhoods expanded after the Matthews Bridge opened in 1953.

Nowadays, Woodland Acres is a youthful neighborhood: In fact, over half of its residents have children under the age of 18. Because of Woodland Acres' close proximity to central Jacksonville, residents don't have to travel far to share educational and fun experiences with their kids.

You'll find Cummer Museum in the Riverside area just across the river. Thousands of art pieces created over five millennia adorn its walls and display cases. Cummer Museum's gardens, which contain some of the oldest trees in Jacksonville, are extra beautiful in the spring and the fall.

Seafood, steak, barbecue, and an array of ethnic cuisine live happily side-by-side in Woodland Acres. Most restaurants lie on Atlantic Boulevard at the south of the neighborhood.

Start your day with an aromatic cup of coffee and a breakfast platter at Cafe Express. You find a variety of subs and sandwiches as well as breakfast foods at this near-legendary mom-and-pop sandwich shop. Fresh ingredients and excellent deli meats make this little place a daily haunt for many local people. Don't leave without trying the delectable homemade chips.

For over three decades, the award-winning European Street Cafe has been thrilling Jacksonville residents with its German/NY deli style bar, which provides amazing comfort food and service in a nurturing and nourishing environment conducive to family fun. The menu here includes over 150 original and traditional sandwiches, salads and soups as well as the biggest beer selection in North Florida. Not very hungry? Have an appetizer of warm brie served with almonds, apple slices, butter and pretzel bread. If you're ravenously hungry, try some kielbasa and corned beef, a sandwich of split-open Polish kielbasa, corned beef and melted Swiss cheese atop a hero roll, served hot with your choice of chips or sauerkraut.

Evenings in Woodland Acres are pretty subdued. Many locals hang out with their friends in area restaurants, some of which have fully stocked bars on site. A few bars in the neighborhood, including the World Famous Bull Tavern on Atlantic Boulevard, offer live music, bar food, pool and karaoke. Friendly service and well-prepared drinks make the World Famous Bull Tavern a good option if you want a livelier night. Other music venues near the local area include Underbelly in central Jacksonville. This hip dive bar regularly hosts local and big-name bands as well as comedy acts from the Florida region and beyond. An impressive craft beer line-up adds to the stellar ambiance.

Most people in the Woodland Acres neighborhood own and use a vehicle to get around. You can also walk or cycle, but the absence of bike lanes and the neighborhood's larger streets make driving much safer and easier. Major roads like the Arlington Expressway and the Southside Connector encircle the area, which makes for a number of different streets.

Public parking lots are mostly confined to Jacksonville city center and outlying park-and-ride stops. However, some businesses do provide parking lots for customers. Residential streets are another possibility for visitors. Most Woodland Acres residents have access to specified parking places, driveways and garages.

You'll find it tough to hail a cab on most residential Woodland Acres streets. However, taxi companies like Checker Cab serve the area and provide residents with a fleet of sedans, minivans and airport shuttles. You can order a car by phone or online.

If you don't have a vehicle, don't worry. You can get to the city center in about 20 minutes when you board a number 9 bus on the intersection of South Arlington Expressway and Bert Road. Stay on the bus until you get to Rosa Parks transit Station in the Downtown area.

Woodland Acres residents are lucky enough to live within a stone's throw of what is arguably Jacksonville's best urban getaway: Tree Hill Park. This incredible 50-acre expanse sits just north of the neighborhood on Lone Star Road. For a small fee, you gain access to trails galore and also to the renowned Tree Hill Nature Center. You can take your family to the on-site natural history museum, explore the gardens or discover local wildlife species.

The Joseph A. Strasser Amphitheater lies within Tree Hill's bounds and serves as a year-round venue for outdoor concerts and other events. The annual Joseph A. Strasser butterfly festival happens in April each year and includes a live butterfly release. Local vendors showcase their items at the festival, which also incorporates kids' face painting, live music and a selection of craft activities.

For a dog-centric experience, try the Confederate Park Dog Park, located on Hubbard Street in the Downtown neighborhood about four miles west of Woodland Acres. Doggy adventure opportunities include a six-acre fenced-in section for running and a selection of puppy toys for play. You can use the park's wash station to clean your mucky pup before home time. Paved walkways, plenty of seating and shade make the park relaxing for humans, too.

Living in the Woodland Acres neighborhood costs about seven percent less than the Jacksonville average. You'll pay an average of $575 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. Expect to spend $3.50 for a pint of domestic draft beer in a local bar. Imported bottles of ale tend to cost about $4.50 and craft beers vary in price depending on the brewery and the batch size.

Traveling into central Jacksonville via bus costs $1.50 for a one-way ticket, or 75 cents if you qualify for a reduced fare. Seniors ride for free, which can cut down living costs even more. Gas prices are about the same as the Jacksonville average, which run about one to two percent above the national average.

Shopping opportunities in and around Woodland Acres abound. Check out Atlantic Boulevard at the south end of the neighborhood and Southside Boulevard on the east side of the area. You'll find major stores such as Furniture Mart and Alfred Angelo Bridal within easy driving distance.

Most high-end boutiques and specialty stores are more easily found in Jacksonville city center. However, there are a few exceptions. Visit ABC Vacuum and Sewing Center on Atlantic Boulevard for a wide selection of sewing machines, sergers, embroidery machines and quilting machines. You'll love the personal service you get at this family owned place, which has been in Jacksonville since 1949.

Buy a brand new or used motorcycle or get your existing bike expertly repaired at Cycles of Jacksonville, also on Atlantic Boulevard. This place has a great reputation with buyers from the wider Florida area, both for its extensive collection of bikes and for its excellent customer service. This business' prices are also hard to beat. Grocery shopping is a cinch in Woodland Acres. Six grocery stores lie within a mile of the neighborhood, so residents have plenty of choices. Visit Comfort African Market on the Arlington Expressway for African staples and specialty ingredients. Kings Food and Beverage, also on Arlington Expressway, stocks a variety of essential foods. Zip down to Winn Dixie on South Arlington Road for a diverse selection of products.

Drive across town to the Riverside neighborhood to buy locally grown fruits and vegetables and seasonal treats at the Jacksonville Farmer's Market. Over 200 vendors and farmers congregate in this venue on West Beaver Street, which is open every day of the year.