Car Rental Jacksonville - Exploring Jacksonville

With regards to area, Jacksonville is the largest city in the country; thus, navigating the area by car is the most convenient way to see all the sights. Additionally, numerous fascinating attractions lay a short drive north and south of the city.

Just an hour away by car, Cumberland Island is Georgia's largest and southernmost coastal island. The island is dotted with historic homes, ruins, live oak forests, saltwater marshes and high sand dunes.

Okefenokee Swamp is also an hour away. Deep, dark and sometimes mysterious, the swamp is one of nature's unusual creations. Two rivers, the Suwannee and the St Mary's, flow through the shallow basin, keeping it renewed and ever-changing. Sitesghts along the walking trails off Swamp Island Drive include a restored homestead originally built in the 1920s, and wildlife flourishes within the areaterrain.

The pleasant historic town of St Augustine is 64kms down the coast from Jacksonville. The oldest permanent settlement in the country, it was founded by the Spanish in 1565. Spanish colonial life can still be experienced in the Spanish Quarter.

Additionally, exquisite Spanish architecture is best seen at the Basilica of St Augustine, the Castillo de San Marcos and the Mission of Nombre de Dios. Don't miss St Augustine Alligator Farm with its rare white alligator, and the St Augustine Lighthouse and Museum, where you can climb the tower for breathtaking views.

Another 64kms south is the world famous Daytona Beach, home to the thunderous Daytona International Speedway. Although restricted, driving on the beach is still possible. The extensive collection of Cuban art housed at the Museum of Arts and Sciences is also worth seeing.

Farther south is Cape Canaveral and the famous Kennedy Space Center. Orlando is to the west. This large city is a playground for theme park lovers, and features Walt Disney World. The park is comprised of the Epcot Center, the Magic Kingdom, Disney-MGM Studios, and much more. Orlando is also home to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure, along with a myriad of shops, restaurants and bars.

North of Jacksonville, near the border with Georgia, is the charming Amelia Island, accessible via a bridge. Here you can enjoy 21kms of pristine beaches sprinkled with exclusive resorts. Alternatively, Fernandina Beach is a quaint Victorian town listed on the National Register of Historic Places due to its fascinating cultural history, with sovereignty over the area changing hands eight times since the 16th century.