Finding Fun (and Friends) in Jacksonville: A Mom’s Guide to Making the Most of the “Most Boring City in America”

Jacksonville and its surrounding areas are booming, despite being voted “Most Boring City in America.” It seems like every time I open Instagram, I find yet another fun activity to attend or a new place to visit. After a 10-year hiatus, my husband and I have recently moved back to the area with our family of five. We lived here together in our past lives before our children, and we could not be happier to be back. There is so much here for our family. Northeast Florida is better than ever!

READ: Why I Love Living in Jacksonville (And Why You Should, Too!)

While moving our whole life with our three small children was not on my bingo card this year, I am so glad we landed in Jacksonville. I am almost overwhelmed with the variety of things to do as my newly created Jacksonville Bucket List continues to grow. When we first moved back, I missed my friends from our previous town in South Florida. I found comfort in planning days out with my children, which led to discovering many new activities and meeting some really nice people. I have especially loved visiting the amazing variety of coffee shops. My Saturday mornings are made better with Kookaburra!

Finding Routine & Making Friends

But how was I to find my new mom friends in my new town? I love to be social, and I’ve always enjoyed getting my mom friends together, so it was important to me to meet new people when we moved back. Like many mothers, I cling to routine. So, in my exploration of all there is to do in Jacksonville, I did what I do best and created our new routine. I made it my mission to go out together and make our own fun. I did this to establish a feeling of belonging in our new city and in the hope of meeting other mothers and their children. Certain days of the week are for different activities, and we put those on repeat until it’s time for a change or something new becomes available.

In my new routine, I discovered the best of the Jacksonville area, and I knew I would meet other families during our days out. Two birds with one stone! The world is smaller than we think it is, and we will often see familiar faces as we continue with our activity routine each week. Many families will visit the same activities you do, be it a story time at your library, a playground near your house or school, or another favorite pastime. This is the best way to find each other! It’s an open, easy way to meet other mothers, giving you something to look forward to each week. Find your favorite things to do, and I bet you’ll find your people, too.

READ: Desperately Seeking Mom Friends? You’re Not Alone

For us, choosing our routine is based on preschool schedules and activity availability. Some of the things we like to do are always available, and others are scheduled. For example, packing a lunch and visiting our favorite playground at South Beach Park & Sunshine Playground is always an open option. Then we have story time at the Ponte Vedra Beach Library, which is offered on certain days of the week, so we know we can look forward to it each week on the same day. For an easy-going morning out, we love to pick up a treat from Cinotti’s and head to the pier! My favorite way to balance our schedule is to allow space for free play and last-minute things to do, with an emphasis on a few scheduled activities during the week. My little ones know when library day is coming and they always look forward to story time! I love knowing they’re excited to go, and it gives them something fun to look forward to. And, it’s even better when we run into a friend! Find something you and your children enjoy doing together and make that part of your routine. Familiar faces and new friends will follow!

So, in light of Jacksonville being voted the most boring city in America, I say fun is what you make it. Being a mother is a gift, and we get to raise children in a vibrant city full of life.

What is your ideal day out with your children? For me, I’ll have a coffee in hand while we enjoy a park day. Whatever it may be for you, find your favorite kind of fun, make friends along the way, and enjoy these years as mothers with young children — together!

About the Author

Born in Southern California but raised in Florida from age 5, Paige Weber knows the Sunshine State as home. She was married to her husband right out of college in 2017, and from there it was a whirlwind of fun, chaos, and everything in between. Paige is an interior decorator, and while she still considers this her career path, being a mother and giving back to her community have taken the front seat in her life. She is a devoted stay-at-home mom to her three children and loves to spend time with her extended family, who also live locally. Between the busy days of motherhood and fulfilling her other roles, Paige loves going to the beach, finding new coffee shops, and taking day trips with her family. Follow her on Instagram at @misspaigeweber — and if you see her out and about, feel free to say hi; she is always ready to chat and meet someone new!