Sadie's Top 3 Jacksonville Faves

1. Plant Place Nursery: Whether you are looking for a new house plant, looking to add to your rare plant collection, or wanting to spruce up your outdoor landscape, Plant Place is the place to go! They have very adorable and friendly cats, chickens, and they even have their own bee hive. If you have not been, it is a great spot to go adventure!

2. RP’s Fine Food & Drink: 3 words… blackened chicken sandwich. RP’s is my favorite place to go on sunny beach days or for a Sunday Funday brunch. While their food is delicious and their cocktails are just as great, the most important thing is that they have amazing homemade ranch!

3. Angie's Subs: If you’ve never tried Peruvian sauce, you have to make a trip to Angie’s very soon! This delicious sub shop is a staple in the Jacksonville Beach community. For a local tip, Angies Subs are perfect to grab and enjoy while you’re catching sun rays on the beach!

Alaina's Top 3 Jacksonville Favorites

1. A little over a mile down Mandarin Road, ancient oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss bend over the narrow path. Tucked away on the right shoulder is Walter Jones Park and The Mandarin Museum. One of my favorite things to do is explore this park and poke around the museum. The Mandarin area, in general, is rich with history, but this nook, in particular, is a historical treasure trove! Author and Abolitionist, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s, winter home rests at the edge of the park and just beyond the Cypress Knees, in the St. John’s River, is the National Historic Landmark site of the sinking of The Maple Leaf. The museum houses a giant collection of artifacts from the shipwreck which I find so fascinating! This area is a real treat for Explorers, nature-lovers, and History Buffs alike!

2. Nestled in the heart of San Marco, a 250 year old Live Oak tree sprawls its massive branches and stands over 70 feet tall. This tree, known as Treaty Oak, predates Jacksonville as we know it today. The Treaty Oak is the only remaining aspect of the famous amusement park, Dixieland, that once stood by its side at the turn of the century. This park was known as “The Coney Island of the South” and featured ostrich racing if you can believe it! I love taking a book and reading beneath the tree’s gnarled branches. Despite it’s expansive nature, it’s surprisingly easy to miss so keep your eyes peeled for this majestic creature next time you’re in San Marco! You won’t regret it!

3. If you have a couple of hours to spare, I highly recommend The Jacksonville Main Public Library on North Laura St. I find it so easy to get lost in its thousands of rows of books. The building itself is breathtaking- the courtyard at the top of the grand staircase is the perfect setting to enjoy a coffee from Chamblin’s Uptown and catch up with a friend.

MaryAnne's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1. Great Room: A large, open, vaulted space is ideal as it becomes the epicenter of family fun, entertaining guests, and holiday gatherings.

2. A Friendly Front: I don’t love garages facing the front of the home, but with the right paint and landscaping, I can compromise. A pretty stained or painted front door adorning a seasonal wreath is a must have at my own home.

3. Renovated Kitchen: The heart of the home must be updated in order for me to feel like it’s a clean, fresh palate to prepare meals and host friends

4. Walk In Closet: Style + fashion are huge in my household because my hubs is in the fashion industry, so big closets are a must!

5. A View: Because I work so much, I want to relax when I come home so either a view of the City, some body of water, or garden is a non negotiable.

Shali's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1.     Sizable Open Kitchen  – We love to entertain and have game nights with extended family and friends. It’s important that we can cook together in the kitchen, have conversations across the bar, and have an eye on the living room to watch all the little ones while the adults enjoy themselves.

2.     High Ceilings – My husband and I are both tall and enjoy higher ceilings along with unusually tall doors. Not to mention a floor plan that might be smaller on paper really can come to life and feel “just right” when the ceiling is 9ft+.

3.     A Private Entryway – Personally, having lived in apartments, it was a pet peeve when I had visitors or someone stop by, that the door was the center of the living area. There was no privacy. In our current home, it was important we have a hallway that allows for a little privacy and guest having an opportunity to take coats and shoes off.

4.     Large Closet – The bigger the better! My ideal closet would be one that is its own attached bedroom to the Owner’s suite. With a bay window, chair, and tons of shelving and shoe racks.

5.     A Game/Movie Room- My husband likes to play video games, and we LOVE movies. I would envision a movie room with a tv the size of the wall where he can retreat to, to play games as well as double function as a fun movie room with the family. Adding in a popcorn machine and mini fridge for pure entertainment and décor.

Jacki's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1. A Fenced in Backyard- This is a common one, but definitely at the top of my list. I need a large area for my big dog, Tucker, to run around in and sunbathe. I also love the idea of being able to create my own little getaway spot with the potential for outdoor furniture and maybe a small herb garden.

2. Extra Storage- I need all the storage! I’ve lived in many houses where storage was so minimal with nowhere to put all the necessities let alone stay organized. I love a few large closets and a good sized garage (built in cabinets or shelving for an added bonus!)

3. Cozy Living Room Set Up- The living room is the most used and favorite spot in our house! It’s important to me to be able to visualize furniture in the space- I want it to fit well with a good layout and have the potential for a great movie night.

4. A Quiet Street- This is a new one I never knew I needed. Currently, my backyard backs up to a busy road with constant traffic noises. I’ve learned to tune it out but realize I took for granted the quiet streets I’ve lived on that are peaceful and tucked away. Definitely a must have for me.

5. Lots of Windows/Natural Lighting- I find myself hardly turning on any lights and when I have to, it just doesn’t compare. The natural lighting from a good sunny day boosts my energy and happiness overall. It also makes your space feel bigger and more open. I’ll take as many windows as I can get! 

Emily's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

Perfect timing!  My family and I are currently building our forever home in Historic Springfield so "must haves" have been frequent conversation topics the last few months. When the perfect lot + plan became available we jumped on it because it included our major wants in a home!   

1. Backyard- With a 5 and 3 year old we need a place for them to burn some energy.  They will literally run in circles for hours so we need a place to accommodate their energy levels.  We also love to entertain so a space for hanging out with friends + family is crucial for us (and I love being outside- even in the Florida summer heat).

2. Home Office Space-My husband and I both work from home, like most people in 2020, and it's essential to have a work space that is separate from the rest of the house to help maintain a work/life balance.  An extra bedroom, garage apartment, or she shed is the perfect place to make a functioning home office. 

3. Open Kitchen (bonus: an island)- Mike loves to cook and I love to eat so the idea of a large kitchen where I can hang out while he cooks, see the kids in the living room while doing the dishes, and be able to host parties (when we can again) is definitely on my top 5 list!

4. Kid Space- Before I had children my house was always clean and orderly.  Fast forward to babies and that quickly changed- seriously a clean house lasts maybe 3 minutes these days.  A dedicated playroom or area to stash the clutter is super important for my sanity.  

5. Location- There is nothing better than an early morning walk to grab a coffee from our favorite neighborhood spots.  Walkability or a quick drive to our favorite restaurants, breweries, and shops is something I can't live without!