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So, your athlete signed up to swim 2.4 miles, bike 112 miles, and run a marathon here in Jacksonville. And somehow, you got signed up for the adventure, too.

 

Welcome to the other endurance sport: Ironman spectating.

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Whether you're looking for a great place to grab coffee, a restaurant to refuel, somewhere cool to escape the Florida heat, or a little Jacksonville sightseeing while your athlete pedals into the next zip code, we've got you covered.

 

Think of this as your Sherpa Survival Guide to making the most of race day — without spending 12 hours standing on the side of the road wondering what to do next.

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Your athlete has a race plan. Now it's your turn to have one.

EXCURSIONS & THINGS TO DO

Let's face it - your athlete is going to be on the bike for a while.  Maybe for a long while. You'll certainly want to go see them - but you also may not want to be sitting on the side of the road all day waiting for your athlete. So....what to do in the meantime?

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Jacksonville is a HUGE city with lots of different opportunities.  Kill time strategically. Plan some adventures, but keep an eye on your Ironman tracker so you know when to head back to the race course!

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Here are some options:

Outdoor adventures

  • Hit up Jacksonville's Beaches.  Head to Mickler's Landing. Check out the Jacksonville Beach pier (there's also great shopping and restaurants there). Just don't forget your beach towel and sunscreen!

  • Head south on A1A to the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Reserve and do some hiking along coastal paddocks

  • Go north on A1A to Hanna Park and experience the beach, natural Florida, hiking and more. You can even rent kayaks there!

  • Riverside Arts Market will be open Saturday morning, and is right on the Ironman Jax course, right below the Fuller Warren Bridge and near the swim exit. Check out great local craftsmen, artists, and produce from local farms!

Check out our history

  • Head south to Saint Augustine - the oldest city in the United States. Check out the Castillo de San Marcos (a 17th century stone fort on the waterfront), and browse amazing stores and restaurants along historic St. George Street.  There's tons to see and tons to do in town - including a bunch of attractions like the Fountain of Youth, the Lightner Museum, the San Sebastian Winery, the St. Augustine Lighthouse and more. Keep in mind that Saint Augustine is roughly 45 minutes away from downtown Jacksonville and tends to be very crowded on Saturdays. Keep this in mind and plan accordingly if you head there.

  • The USS Orleck naval museum (610 E. Bay St.) in downtown Jacksonville will give you a glimpse into Jacksonville's rich naval history. 

  • Fort Caroline & Kingsley Plantation showcase old Florida - both from the native American perspective as well as early settlers.

Wildlife & Animal Encounters

FOOD, BEVERAGES, & LIBATIONS

Nutrition and hydration will be exceptionally important to your athlete on race day. They'll literally be eating and drinking all day.  And so should you!  But, honestly, do you really want to scarf down gel after gel and drink a bunch of electrolyte laden drinks?  Probably not!

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Plus - if you're hangry, you're not going to be a great sherpa and support person.  

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Never fear - here's a deep listing of options for you to consider.  Some are downtown and on (or very close to the course); others are out in Nocatee and the beaches.

Coffee Shops

Downtown

Nocatee / Ponte Vedra Beach

  • Foxtail Coffee (PVB). 260 Front St

  • The Kookaburra Nocatee. 351 Town Plaza Ave

Downtown (Northbank) Restaurants

  • Carolina Jax Hamburgers. 2548 Oak St.

  • Hawkers Asian Street Food. 1001 Park St.

  • River & Post. 1000 Riverside Ave.

  • Vale Healthy Kitchen. 90 Riverside Ave.

  • European Street Cafe. 2753 Park St.

  • Kickbacks Gastropub. 910 King St.

  • Sweet Theory Baking Co. 1243 King St.

  • Spliff's Gastropub. 100 E. Forsyth St.

Downtown (Southbank) Restaurants

Nocatee & the Beaches Restaurants

  • Palm Valley Outdoors Bar & Grill. 377 S. Roscoe Blvd.

  • Palm Valley Fish Camp. 299 Roscoe Blvd N.

  • Valley Smoke. 11 S. Roscoe Blvd.

  • Barbara Jean's on the Water. 15 S. Roscoe Blvd

  • V Pizza & Julep. 154 Canal Blvd.

  • Metro Diner. 340 Front St.

  • M Shack Nocatee. 641 Crosswater Pkwy

  • First Watch. 295 Pine Lake Dr.

  • Treylor Park Nocatee. 158 Marketside Ave.​

Brews & Libations

  • Ruby Beach Brewing. 228 E. Forsyth St

  • Pour Taproom. 61 N. Laura St.

  • The Volstead Speakeasy. 115 W. Adams St.

  • ​Keg & Coin Games & Pub. 1271 King St.

  • Kickbacks Gastropub. 910 King St.

  • Fishweir Brewing Co. 1183 Edgewood Ave S.

  • Hoptinger Bier Garden & Sausage House. 1037 Park St.

  • Aardwolf Brewing Company. 1461 Hendricks Ave.

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