A beautiful escape to nature right in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Jacksonville life, that is how I would describe the Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens. It is one of my favorite places to go for a walk, explore, look for birds, and take photos. If you live in Jacksonville or the surrounding areas, take the time to visit!
What is an Arboretum (Pronounced “arr-boor-eetum)?
According to the Jacksonville Arboretum’s website, “an arboretum is a place where trees and other plants are grown and studied. The word arboretum comes from the Latin word arbor, meaning tree.” Trust me, if you visit, you will see a vast amount and variety of trees! Look above and below for just a few photos I have taken of trees at the Arboretum.
Hike the Trails!
One thing that makes the Arboretum an awesome place to visit is the trails. If you enjoy walking in nature, birding, or just exploring, add the Arboretum to your must-visit list! You can traverse over 3.5 miles of nature along 7 different trails, and see things such as creeks, a lake, flatwood forest, hardwood forest, a ravine, a tidal marsh, and of course, trees, flowers, other plants, and wildlife. Look below to see some of the trail photos I have taken during my visits to the Arboretum (my husband got a kick out of a tree in the middle of one of the trails along the way, lol).
What you might see!
The Arboretum is of course filled with many, many trees … in fact, the Arboretum consists of 120 acres! In addition to a variety of trees (including many Live Oaks and a championship Loblolly Bay), you will see a variety of plants, fungus, and possibly wildlife! Every time I visit, I seem to see something different. The photos below are just a sampling of some of the plant life and wildlife I have seen during my visits. I love birds and have enjoyed seeing a variety of birds at the Arboretum, including woodpeckers, an owl, cardinals, ducks, and more! The garden has a variety of flowers and plant-life that are really beautiful to enjoy year-round!
Something for everyone!
The Arboretum is a place for everyone! You can go enjoy a leisurely walk around the lake or hike all the trails for a little bit more exercise. You can take your kids on a nature hunt, take your dog for a walk, or just sit and relax by the lake. It is a wonderful place for people who like to take photos and/or those that like to bird watch. They also have special events, such as a Butterfly Release. You can check out their calendar here. If you haven’t been to the Arboretum, go visit, you’ll enjoy it! They are open 7 days a week from 8 am to 5 pm. Check out my other Florida blog posts for things to do around the St. Augustine/Jacksonville area. Until next time, keep on adventuring! ~Kristina~
My Florida Life 
Your photos are beautiful.
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Thank you! I appreciate your comment:)
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Looks like a really lovely place to stop and relax!! Great post!
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It is, one of my my fave local spots to walk and take pics.
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