Jamily's Top 3 Jacksonville Faves

I haven’t lived in Jacksonville long, we’re coming up on our 5th year Jacksonville anniversary. But even so, it’s the longest my husband and I have lived anywhere! In the almost 14 years since we got married we’ve lived in 3 states and had 10 addresses, and no, we’re not military. When we first moved to Jacksonville it took some getting used to. We were coming from the Gulf Coast of Florida and if you’ve been there, Sarasota specifically, you know it’s just different. At first Jacksonville felt so big, like I’d never get the hang of the neighborhoods, and honestly even now I still occasionally have to look at a map to get my bearings. In the short time it took to reach our first fall and winter in Jax, I was hooked. The weather completely sealed the deal for me and I absolutely love living here! You get just enough of cold and cool weather to miss the beach and just when you’re longing for hot beach days it warms up! It’s hard for me to choose 3 favorite things about living in Jacksonville but if I had to choose:

1.     The Bridges. Follow me here for a second. With all the land that encompasses Jacksonville and the St. John’s River flowing through it, you’ve got to have several bridges to get around this large city. Jacksonville has 5 major bridges connecting its towns and I absolutely love them all. Depending on which bridge you’re on you get to see so much of our beautiful city! You can see the river, the waterways and marsh, the beautiful mansions on the water, boaters, fishermen! I could name a hundred reasons but my absolute favorite is going over the Dames Point bridge at sunset. The glistening water and views of Jacksonville are breathtaking and I am so thankful every time I go over that bridge that I live here.

2.     Local Pride. Business owners and long-time Jax residents love it here! It’s no secret that Jacksonville is one of the biggest cities in the country, but did you know that because we have two major military bases we also have a huge revolving door of people coming and going? I think that makes us unique and those that are locals, including small business owners, are happy to stay for the long haul. The people of Jacksonville are proud to be here and support local businesses more than chain stores. That’s unique for a city so large and I’m happy to be a part of that local culture.

3.     The Seafood. I’m a huge foodie – it’s my first love and passion. It takes skill to cook a great fish but also to supply it. My favorite seafood restaurant here is called Safe Harbor Seafood (https://www.safeharbor-seafood.com)  and you can find me there at least once every 3 months. My family and I have been going there for about 4 years and they consistently serve fresh, local seafood time and time again. There is a plethora of wonderful seafood restaurants here in Jacksonville – we’re so close to the ocean you’d be hard pressed to find one that didn’t serve wonderful food. Our local fisheries take pride in their craft and providing our town with the best catch is something they have mastered.

Jamily's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

I have a fairly large household. With 4 kids and two dogs my husband and I are always on our toes ready for the next adventure. Some days those adventures are simple, like getting our 5 years old to eat in a timely manner (seriously, some days it takes her an hour to finish a bowl of cereal) and other times they’re a little more complex. But nonetheless we’ve adapted our lifestyle to the ebbs and flows of our family and with that comes some must-haves for the Fullers.

1.     Coffee Maker. If you’re a coffee drinker you know how essential the first cup of the day is. Admittedly I’m slightly dramatic when it comes to coffee but it’s such a large part of my life it’s hard to be anything less than enthusiastic when I talk about it. A GOOD coffee maker (or 4) is non-negotiable in my home and that means a brand that adheres to the Golden Cup Standard.  I know, I’m a coffee nerd. The Golden Cup Standard was established to basically brew the best cup of coffee calculating the right temperature of the water and the ratio of ground coffee to achieve perfection. There are several coffee makers that follow this guideline and I can attest to the difference it makes! You can find your perfect home brewer here: https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer and pair it with my favorite coffee from Black Rifle Coffee here: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

2.     Hurricane Preparedness Kit. With a large family comes large responsibility and that applies to safety! Florida is a hotspot for hurricanes and severe storms anywhere between June and November. Because of this we take safety very seriously in our home, especially during those months. Usually you can see a hurricane come closer in the days leading up to landfall to make preparations or even evacuate if needed. But you never want to be rushing to the store during those times and push through the crowd only to find the essentials already gone. Prepping for storms (or safety in general) is a standard, not an exception, in my home. We always have a surplus of things like first aid kits (one in the car and one in the house), propane for the grill, gasoline, dry goods/foods, water bottles or in gallons, batteries, flashlights, lanterns and satellite radio. My best advice would to be to have a family meeting and discuss the things you need, make a list and start collecting! The next time a storm or disaster strikes you’ll be prepared to care for yourself and others without the added stress of not having what you may need.

3.     Outdoor Space. Are you a back porch or front porch person? Personally, I’m more of a back porch person because you can make it your own and generally you have more space to do so. It can be such a wonderful oasis to relax and clear your mind. Or it can be party central (am I aging myself yet?) just waiting on the next weekend’s gathering. Here in Northeastern Florida we see some wonderful weather September through April where we can enjoy the outdoors with minimal bugs and low to no humidity. I love sitting outside in the early mornings with a coffee cup in my hands or watching the sunset – thank you west-facing backyard! I remember when my husband and I were house hunting and one of the first things we would do after walking in the home is go to the backyard. A home can speak to you just from the outdoor space.

4.     Knives. Yep, knives. I’m a sucker for a good chef’s knife because how else are you supposed to cook a great meal without one?! My background is in hospitality and culinary arts so I naturally gravitate towards cooking for people and making them feel happy and with that comes home cooked meals. Ever since I met my husband he’s been buying me knives for special occasions and it brings me so much joy! If you don’t have at least one great knife, like a Shun which is a company that used to make Samurai swords, I highly encourage you to take the leap and buy one! Your kitchen will thank you and your cooking will never be the same again.

5.     Exercise Equipment. This one is so versatile! It really just depends on how you enjoy moving your body. It can be as simple as a great pair of walking shoes or as grand as your own workout room - my personal dream. Right now, we have a spin bike, weights, a bench, some resistance bands and my favorite Brooks running shoes! There isn’t a perfect spot in my current home for those items but we make it work! Having a healthy mind and body is so important to success in anything from work to every day parenting.

Amanda's Top 5 Must Haves In a Home

1. A Yard with Sunshine and Shade. I like to garden so a yard with plenty of room and light for a vegetable garden is my #1 thing.  I also like some shade for spending time relaxing outside though.  Plus we have an Australian Shepherd.  They are EXTREMELY active so she needs space to run.

2. A Large Working Kitchen.  Because I grow so much of my own food I love cooking and I am someone who doesn't like to be crowded in a kitchen.  I have a ton of equipment too like a kitchen aid, tagine, cuisinart, pasta maker, dehydrator, air fryer, canning equipment - you name it I've probably got it. So kitchen storage as well as work space is definitely important.

3. A Nice Office Space for myself + Mark.  Since I work primarily from home, a private office for myself is preferable.  Mark and I shared an office in our home in Maryland, when we were both flight attendants, and that just didn't go over well.  since I'm a visual person I like having stuff laid out.  If I file it away I will forget about it.  He thinks it's a mess.  I say "welcome to my brain" :)

4. A Formal Dining Room.  Not used much because it's just the two of us, but when my family is visiting we need to have space for 8 to eat.

5. A Guest Room. Again, to help accommodate my family.  In our house now, we have a guest room (my parents), a pull out couch in my office (my niece), and an apartment over the garage for my sister + brother-in-law. This is great because we each have our own space when visiting but are still close.

Our home now has all of my must have's so I feel very blessed at this time in my life.  Now we need a vacation home in NC! LOL

Shali's Top 5 Reasons She Moved to the Northside

Initially I was strongly opposed to living anywhere but close to or inside the downtown historic districts. We fell in love with the charm and everything downtown living had to offer. Walkable restaurants, the beautiful Jacksonville skyline by the water and many other fun artsy things to do. However, as we began our home search we realized that as our family is changing, our needs are changing as well.

1. Conveniences- The convenience of living on the Northside near River City Marketplace as well as the developing town of Yulee is amazing! Grocery shopping has never been easier. Although I have utilized grocery delivery during the time of COVID, there are just some days you need to run to the store for something quick. Living on the Northside truly means quick shopping. Being 10 minutes from Yulee’s always empty Target and 7 minutes from all other stores and restaurants has been a total game changer for me and the way city living can be.

2. Entertainment- We chose a home community that has low CDD/HOA fees, however it is absolutely packed with fun things for the entire family, including a pool and splash pad for the toddlers. For the 4th of July, our community had a 30 minute Firework display, 3 food trucks (Funnel Cake!!) and family friendly social distanced celebration. They offer Panera Bread Coffee and Bagels every Tuesday for either to go or to stay and mingle and meet your neighbor. Every Friday they have a different food truck and once a month they have adult night out, where the kids are being watched at the community center, so the adults can come together. In addition to all these fun things in walking distance, you can drive for less than 10 minutes to the Jacksonville Zoo or drive 7 minutes the Catty Shack Ranch.

3. Accessibility – My husband’s family is in Georgia, and my family is in Tallahassee. One of my favorite places to shop is IKEA, and we do occasionally visit the mall. Traveling to all these places could not be any easier by living 3min from I-95 and 5 min from I-295. Regardless of where we want to go within Jacksonville, it is typically within a 30 min commute. Considering how much time we like spending at home this commute is totally worth it! 

4. Restaurants – Initially, I was concerned on missing out on all the locally owned restaurants and shops, but to my surprise, these hidden gems do exist everywhere. From King Craw to the Jungle Bowl and Sun Sun Garden, local restaurants are present and thriving. Not to mention super delicious!

5. Community- Prior to making an offer on our home, we drove through the community at various times of day, and each time were pleasantly surprised by how many people were actively walking, talking, moving around their neighborhood. Kids riding on bicycles up to the community center to play ball, little kids learning to ride bikes in their cul de sacs, everyone looking out for each other and feeling safe. The feeling of “safe” is priceless. Being able to see my son go outside and walk over to the neighbor to play just warms my heart. Within the first week of us living here, we made more family friends than we have staying in any apartment we’ve ever lived in.

Now, living on the Northside checks all the boxes for our family, and to our surprise, at an amazingly affordable price point. We were able to afford our dream home at a fraction of the cost in comparison to anywhere else in the city. Believe me, we looked! Let me know if you want to connect on the Northside or if you’re looking in the area!