Springtime has arrived in Northeast Florida! Warmer temperatures, plenty of sunshine, and the excitement of outdoor adventures have families ready for a season of fun. If you are planning to stay closer to home this year, take a look at Clay County’s small towns with big passions – perfect for creating family fun during Spring Break.
Here are some adventurous ideas of ways to ‘Stay in Clay’ for Spring Break.
Outdoor Experiences
For those interested in spending time on the water during Spring Break, rent a boat from BoatFloridaRentals.com for adventures on Black Creek, Doctors Lake, and the St. Johns River. Test your skills at wakeboarding or skiing or bring your fishing gear and try to catch your own dinner. With 39 square miles of waterways in the area, there’s no better way to explore than on the water.
For more exercise, hop on your bike for a ride along the 4.4 mile Doctors Lake Trail on Doctors Lake Road or travel the State Road 21 Bike Path, a paved 5.5-mile path in Keystone Heights.
In Fleming Island, stop by Moccasin Slough Park for a jog or bike ride on their paved trails and stop along the way at the permanent exercise stations located along the route. Kids can enjoy the park’s large playground and the covered patio area is perfect for a picnic lunch.
At Gold Head Branch State Park in Keystone Heights, cool off with a swim in Little Lake Johnson and enjoy a picnic at the nearby covered pavilions. Afterwards, explore the park’s trails and the 5.44-mile stretch of the Florida National Scenic Trail. Keep an eye out for wildlife along the way too. For the adventurous, bring your camping supplies and sleep under the stars as the park offers 73 campsites ready to accommodate tents, trailers, and motorized campers.
Indoor Adventures
In Green Cove Springs, stop by Cowabunga Comics and check out the latest releases and the classics too when you peruse their massive bins of comic books. Don’t miss the dollar bin, where you’re sure to find treasures on each visit. Admire collectibles and artwork by local artists on display and available for purchase too! Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to learn about upcoming store events and artist meet and greet opportunities.
Located at the Orange Park Mall, the Great Escape Room – Orange Park, challenges teams of friends and family to gather clues and solve puzzles to escape a locked room within a set time limit. Solve the mystery and your group wins! There are two themed games to choose from, both varying in difficulty. Guests can choose from “Sherlock’s Study: What’s Up Watson?” with a Sherlock Holmes theme and an advanced game based on Houdini called “Escape Artist: The Final Séance”.
At the Get Air Trampoline Park in Orange Park, you can try your best gymnastics moves as you dive into the oversized foam pit and play a game of trampoline dodge ball with friends. Jumping comes in handy to show off your dunking skills with the basketball hoops, too. With thousands of square feet of trampolines, you can jump, bounce and flip for hours of fun.
In Fleming Island, test your skills at the Valhalla Indoor Axe Throwing center. With a quick tutorial from the professionals, your group will start throwing axes at targets in no time. The easy scoring system lets throwers compete in a round-robin of games against one another. This family-friendly activity allows ages ten and up to throw axes, making it the perfect spot to have fun and try something new together. Valhalla is a BYOB establishment and reservations are encouraged.
Where to Find Good Eats in Clay County
For the early risers, Grumpy’s Restaurant in Orange Park serves up a great, filling breakfast ranging from waffles, pancakes with bacon and eggs and plenty of coffee and fresh-squeezed juice. This full-service, Southern-style restaurant will fill you up with a hearty meal and have you ready for a day of adventure. Be sure to check out their chalkboard for daily specials.
If you are in the mood for waterfront dining, stop in at the legendary Whitey’s Fish Camp. A local favorite since 1963, here you can enjoy fresh seafood, live music and feel like you are truly on vacation. Set along Swimming Pen Creek, you can even arrive by boat!
Cool off with a tasty treat at Maggie D’s Ice Cream Parlor. Choose from 30 different flavors of hand-scooped ice cream or try their soft serve ice cream in a waffle cone. For an extra treat, Maggie makes fresh miniature donuts in numerous flavors and toppings. Have them for breakfast or a late-night snack – either way, you’ll find them delicious.
Places to Stay in Clay County
Treat yourself to an overnight stay and enjoy the pool at the Courtyard by Marriott Jacksonville Orange Park, Hilton Garden Inn Orange Park and the Holiday Inn & Suites Orange Park – Wells Rd. with affordable rates and close to restaurants, shopping, and more.
The nearby Days Inn by Wyndham Orange Park/Jacksonville, the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Jacksonville Orange Park, and the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Fleming Island offer easy access to Interstate 295 and connecting roadways.
Traveling by RV or interesting camping? Explore the possibilities at Camp Blanding Recreation – James E. Johnson Memorial RV Park, Camp Chowenwaw, Goldhead State Park, and Whitey’s Fish Camp.
For more ideas on planning your Spring Break in Clay County, visit www.ExploreClay.com. Who knows, you might even discover ‘new to you’ restaurants, attractions, and outdoor adventures right in your own backyard.
