Jacksonville, Florida, features a variety of entertaining, educational and interesting venues for children to enjoy. Families can go for a hike through the Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, spend a day in the water at Atlantic or Neptune Beach or learn about the universe at the Museum of Science & History. Local residents and vacationers can also visit the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Hands On Children's Museum and Adventure Landing Amusement Park.
The Adventure Landing amusement park offers two miniature golf courses, batting cages, a laser tag center, more than 100 different arcade games and a go-kart racing track. Children can spend some time on rides that include the Frog Hopper and the Wacky Worm Roller Coaster or stay closer to the ground and ride the Max Flight Coaster Simulator. Kids can build their own stuffed animal at the Teddy Bear Factory or buy a treat from the Sweet Adventures Candy Shop. The seasonal Shipwreck Island Waterpark has waterslides, a wave pool, lazy river, a toddler's play area and a three-story Pirate's Play Village, with interactive water toys. Birthday parties at Adventure Landing include the Teddy Bear party package and the deluxe party package with private party room, access to park attractions, arcade tokens, lunch and birthday bags.
The castle-shaped Hands On Children's Museum features a variety of interactive exhibits that include the 50's Cafe, the S.S. Spinghetti boat, Winn Dixie Lil' Grocery and the Kid's U.S. Post Office. Other exhibits include a Kids Mini Bank, where children can learn about personal banking and become a bank teller for the day, and an imitation Kids TV/Radio Newsroom where children can deliver their local news and weather forecast. Children can also try out stethoscopes and microscopes in the Little Vets exhibit and try on costumes and perform on stage ay the You're the Star Stage exhibit. For children under 3 years of age, the First Adventures Toddler Room has a 5-foot dollhouse, castles and a caterpillar tunnel. Older kids can jump around in the McDonald's ball pit, climb up tubes, have a tea party and go for a ride on a miniature train. Birthday party packages include admission, a private party area, lunch or dinner and decorations.
The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has more than 1,400 animals and 1,000 different plants throughout the park. Exhibits at the zoo include the Plains of East Africa, with Nile crocodiles, cheetahs and white rhinoceroses, and the Elephant Plaza exhibit with African elephants, African rock pythons and Egyptian cobras. Other Exhibits include the Great Apes, with gorillas and bonobos, the Range of the Jaguar, with anacondas, squirrel monkeys and jaguars, and the Australian Adventure, with cassowary and kangaroos. The Children's Play Park has an outdoor play center, maze and Splash Ground Water Park. Family-friendly programs at the zoo include the Safari Sleepovers with dinner, animal encounters and late night tours of the zoo. Birthday parties can also be hosted at the zoo with packages that include park admission, train rides, private party area, birthday cake, decorations and goody bags.
