Enjoy a Long Weekend in Jacksonville

 I don't understand why more Orlandoans don't think of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach for a long weekend getaway! I had a chance to experience the city recently and want to share with you the best places to stay, eat and play.

I think what really made our trip special and relaxing was staying at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk on the St. John's River. I would highly recommend staying at one of the hotel's expansive suites on the fifth floor. When you walk into your suite, the first thing you see is the amazing view: the immaculate 1.2-mile wooden Riverwalk sports a ferry that takes you to Broadway plays and the symphony. And the backdrop is the beautiful Jacksonville city skyline.

Inside the suite is a massive living room with modern furniture, a kitchen/ bar area, a beautiful bedroom with king-size bed, and the biggest hotel bathroom I have ever been in. Seriously. This bathroom sports a jacuzzi tub, shower, and even a closet. 

Fortunately, you don't have to go far for food and drinks. The Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk sports the Currents Lounge, which has an elegant atmosphere and upscale cocktails to match. The lounge's dinner menu - which features many Cajun dishes - is quite extensive. You can ask the mixologist to create one of his unique concoctions. The night we were there, he crafted a delicious chocolate strawberry margarita! 

For dinner, we tried the special of the day: grouper with rice pilaf and vegetables. The fish was cooked alright, but was quite greasy. The rice and vegetables were good. We also had the Cajun Chicken and Shrimp Pasta. It was seasoned well, but was oversauced. 

Within walking distance of the hotel is the highly-rated BB's Restaurant and a yummy Thai eatery. Stay tuned: next week, I'll tell you about the other great places to eat in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach!