etdmom

The only time I travel down Atlantic Boulevard is when I am headed to the beach. There are a lot of restaurants down Atlantic, a few places to shop and a number of car dealerships. The residential areas are really nice, but some are a little pricey. It has decent night life as well.

The Jacksonville Landing is just off Independent Drive. I used to work out at the Landing and it is a great spot to meet up with your friends. It is located right on the river with loads of entertainment. There is usually live music on the weekends and there are nice hotels for visitors to stay in.

Every time I head to this side of town, I tell myself never to come back. There is way too much traffic. No matter what time of day it is, there is always congestion. There is a mall and a few good restaurants, but there are much nicer areas to visit in Jacksonville.

Loretto Road is not a very long road, but it is home to loads of families. It is a good location for families, since there is an elementary school right down the street. Students can walk home and parents are reassured of their safety, because it is such a friendly atmosphere. Be cautious down this road, as there are children at play.

Gate Parkway is a very nice are. In fact, it is where I would like to move. The apartments, shopping, and restaurants are all top of the line. Obviously that means that rent is not cheap, but it is worth it! The new St. John’s Town Center is located just off Gate. This outdoor mall is AMAZING!

Southside Boulevard is the best place to go for evening entertainment with friends or family. The area near the Tinseltown movie theater is ideal. It is packed with restaurants. I enjoy meeting friends at the Ale House for drinks and watching sports games. There is also a wonderful dessert stop known as Camis Cupcakes. You must try it!

Baymeadows Road starts at San Jose and ends at 9A. There are several places to live down Baymeadows. Most of these residential areas are apartments. They are not anything extravagant, but they are affordable. Due to its central location it is not a bad place to live. Shopping is minimal but there are some decent restaurants.

Phillips Highway is not the nicest stretch of road, but it is home to the Avenues Mall. There are several businesses off this road along with a Regal Cinemas movie theater. The southern end, near the mall has restaurants and shopping. The northern end is primarily industrious as it leads into the downtown area.

If you are interested in taking the scenic route right near the infamous St. John’s River, Mandarin Road is the most enjoyable drive. The streets are covered with trees hovering over and a sense of peacefulness. This is a road filled with friendly neighborhoods and parks for the children to play in.

San Jose Boulevard is an extremely long stretch of road. There are loads of things to do and see while driving. To the right and left you will see restaurants, drive thrus and numerous shopping plazas. Traffic is not too bad, but it does get congested around 6:00 am and 5:00 pm when everyone is on their way to or from work.