When it comes to things I love to do, the top five pretty much go like this:

• Eat
• Drink
• Lay on the beach
• Sleep
• Watch football!

Thankfully, Jacksonville, Florida is a great place to do all of these things… sometimes all in the same day! It’s especially easy to do everything I love considering you can knock out my two favorite pastimes - eating and drinking - at an incredible variety of tasty, fun and mouth-watering restaurants all over Jacksonville!

There are tantalizing restaurants throughout the city, especially in Downtown Jacksonville. From Burrito Gallery and Café Nola to Morton’s Steakhouse, it’s easy to find the perfect spot to satisfy any craving, whether you’re on your lunch break or enjoying the amazing arts and crafts of First Wednesday Art Walk. But despite the amazing selection of lip-smacking restaurants and bars located in Downtown and throughout Jacksonville, my favorite gastronomic haunting ground is, without a doubt, on and around 3rd Street, otherwise known as A1A.

Since favorite pastime #3 for me is lying on the beach, you can pretty much bet that you’ll find me with a beach towel, sunglasses and a great book on one of the beautiful white sand beaches in Jacksonville. And it’s easy to spend an entire day lounging about one of Jacksonville’s best attractions (without my appetite getting the best of me), thanks to the delicious delicacies being served up by an array of seaside restaurants.

Just stroll along the picturesque sidewalk and you’ll find all kinds of cafes, bistros and bars snuggled on the shore. I love to start my day at the Where Ya Bean Coffee Shop and Bakery on Jacksonville Beach. There, I’ll enjoy one of their signature breakfast sandwiches and an iced latte on the patio, the sea breeze and sound of waves adding a distinctly vacation-esque feel to my breakfast. After a few hours of sun, sea and relaxation, I’ll meander northeast along 1st Street. With the clear blue of the Atlantic on my right and beautiful houses, fun shops and (most importantly!) yummy restaurants on my left, this jaunt never seems to get old. Neither does the grouper sandwich at Neptune Beach’s Caribbee Key, which is quite possibly one of the tastiest lunch offerings along the coast and will keep you coming back for more. I certainly do!

After exploring the shops, stopping by the awesome local bookstore The Bookmark, and enjoying the beach a little bit more, I’ll treat myself to a one-of-a-kind dinner at Azuréa in the One Ocean Resort and Spa. This award-winning restaurant features the culinary masterpieces of Chef Ted Peters, a locavore who features local Jacksonville ingredients in his delicious creations. I highly recommend the red sea salt crusted diver scallops, and after such a hard day’s work, I’ve earned it!

Once the sun goes down, there’s still plenty of fun and tasty treats to be uncovered in Jacksonville. Pop back into Caribbee Key and enjoy the musical stylings of local musicians, whose sounds can be heard even in the second-story bar area. Or, head to Pete’s Bar for a taste of a Jacksonville original and a favorite of John Grisham. At this fun oceanside surfer bar you can enjoy a cold brew, challenge a friend to a 25-cent game of pool, and impress the other customers with your ability to work the jukebox (it’s filled with awesome tunes!). Don’t miss the original Budweiser models sprinkled throughout the bar’s décor. Pete’s has Budweiser lamps and a couple different models of the Clydesdales, but if you’re not on the lookout for them, you might miss them!

Whether you’re exploring downtown Jacksonville, one of the city’s quaint historic neighborhoods or the picturesque Jacksonville beaches, great food and a fun time is never far away! From seafood to Southern comfort, you’re sure to fill your belly and come back for more!

Check out more photos of the yummy food you’ll find at Jacksonville restaurants on my Flickr photostream.