Jacksonville - Category of Things to Do

Traveling north from Jacksonville on Hwy-A1A, you'll first hit the Ponte Verda Beach , whose crowd-free sands and million-dollar homes form one of the most exclusive communities in northeast Florida. However, travel a few more miles farther north and you'll discover the much less snooty Jacksonville Beach . Although Hurricane Floyd destroyed the pier in 1999, the area around it remains the center of activity. At the time of writing, a rebuilding program was scheduled for completion by 2003. If you tire of watching the novice surfers here and want some action of your own, Adventure Landing , 1944 Beach Blvd (FebMay & SeptNov, SunThurs 10ammidnight, Fri & Sat 10am1am; tel 904/246-4386; $18.99), offers an uphill water coaster, wave pool go-carts and an amusement park. Two miles north of the old pier, the more commercialized Neptune Beach blurs into the identical-looking Atlantic Beach. Both are best visited for eating and socializing only.