Beat The Heat: Jacksonville's Summertime Water Parks And Outdoor Fun

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Florida has hundreds miles of beaches. The City of Jacksonville operates 28 public pools and 16 splash pads during the summer months. The Shipwreck Island Water Park at Adventure Landing has a lazy river, a wave pool, and four "xtreme" slides. The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has a Splash Ground in the Play Park portion... which is free with zoo admission.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park is about 80 miles west of Jacksonville in Fort White. The river at Ichetucknee Springs State Park closes when it reaches capacity.

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Forget what the chamber of commerce and the travel agents tell you; Florida can be miserably hot and humid in the summertime. Many of us deal with it by going from our air-conditioned house to our air-conditioned car to the air-conditioned grocery store and back. Florida has hundreds miles of beaches, all of which are open to the public, at least below the mean high water line. You can find beaches packed wall-to-wall with sun worshippers or beaches where you can't see another soul as far as you look. There are places where you can take your car on the beach, and places where you can take your clothes off on the beach.
All you really need is a towel, some sunscreen and a few bucks to park.