Southpoint - Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville's Southside area — once known as South Jacksonville — has a long history. The Timucua people lived on the site of modern-day Jacksonville for millennia before European settlers arrived in the 1500s. Between the 16th and the 19th centuries, the Jacksonville region passed between English, French and Spanish settlers before finally becoming an American territory in 1821.

You can find out more about Southpoint by visiting the Jacksonville Historical Society on North Palmetto Street in the city center. Other museums in Jacksonville include the Museum of Science and History on Museum Circle in the Southbank neighborhood. Meanwhile, the Cummer Museum on Riverside Avenue houses an impressive collection of art.

Annual events in the Jacksonville area include the Jacksonville Irish Festival, which happens at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds in late April each year. Head over to Ponte Vedra Beach in November for the Ponte Vedra Art Festival at Sawgrass Village.

If you're a foodie, you'll love Southpoint. Abundant cuisine options make suppertime an area delight. For fast food, head up to University Boulevard West at the north end of the neighborhood. For a more refined dinner experience, look along Belfort Road and Philips Highway.

Stop in at French Pantry on Powers Avenue for a beautiful selection of baked goods, dessert options and authentic French foods. This little place is open for lunch and bakes fresh bread on site every single day. Try the turkey bacon Swiss guacamole sandwich for melt-in-the-mouth goodness or the hot Italian for a wonderful mustard-tinted flavor combination. If you see wedding cake on hand, be sure to take a slice with you when you leave.

Meander over to Los Portales Mexican Grill on Belfort Road and relax in its laid-back atmosphere. The friendly team, super-fast service and excellent cooking will keep you coming back again and again. Some local people claim that Los Portales' chips and salsa are the best they've ever tasted. Order the pollo Mexicana for a tasty combination of lean chicken, roasted tomatoes, onions and spicy jalapeños. Finally, wash it all down with a well-made, reasonably priced drink.

Visit Sushi Factory Japanese Restaurant on Philips Highway for some of the best sushi in Jacksonville. Drop in for lunch, make a dinner date or order by phone for home delivery. Give the light and crunchy shrimp tempura a try, or opt for the carefully created California rolls. Fresh ingredients and wonderfully spicy miso make this venue a local legend.

At night, most Southpoint residents either stick around for a relaxed evening at a neighborhood restaurant or wander into nearby communities for other forms of entertainment. If you simply want to have a quiet drink, Applebees on Butler Boulevard offers a fully stocked bar. For dance floor action, head down to Pure nightclub on Philips Highway just south of Southpoint. Alternatively, travel east across Secret Cove to watch a movie at Cinemark Tinseltown.

Most people in Southpoint own a car because of the neighborhood's proximity to Jacksonville city center. Philips Highway travels right through the neighborhood, and Butler Boulevard and University Boulevard West both bisect Philips Highway, making it an easy road to reach.

Public parking in Southpoint can be scarce, though many stores do provide parking lots for their customers. Visitors can also park on many of the area's residential streets. Most residents have access to garages, driveways or designated parking spaces.

Southpoint is a walkable area and some residents also bike through the neighborhood. Bicycle lanes on Belfort Road at the east side of the neighborhood and along Powers Avenue on the west side of the area make Southpoint streets even safer for cyclists.

You can get into Jacksonville city center by bus in about 50 minutes. Simply board a northbound number 7 bus at the intersection of Butler Boulevard and Philips highway. Travel on to Rosa Parks Transit Station and then change to an eastbound number 18 (V) bus to get to the Downtown area.

You can't readily hail a cab on the street in Southpoint: However, you can call for a car. Several taxi firms, including Checker Cab, service the area. Uber is another option as UberX, UberXL and UberBlack all operate in the Jacksonville region.

You'll find several parks in and around the Southpoint neighborhood. Curtis Lovelace Park offers its patrons nearly 37 acres of space and has a picnic spot and a playground for the little ones. Nearby Drew Park has a baseball diamond, a softball complex, a playground, a grill area, a concession stand for events and plenty of parking. Both Curtis Lovelace Park and Drew Park lie along Barnes Road South just a few hundred feet north of Southpoint.

Make Camp Tomahawk Park, located just outside the south end of the neighborhood, a regular part of your exercise routine. Walk, jog or bike along the trails and take a break by Goodby's Creek, which runs diagonally through the park. Camp Tomahawk also has an impressive and innovative playground for the kids.

Treat your pup to a day at Dog Wood Park, located about a mile south of Butler Boulevard at the south end of the neighborhood. Just head down Salisbury Road to reach this 42-acre dog-centric park complete with swimming hole and a generous 25-acre fenced-in area. You can buy a day pass or purchase a monthly or an annual membership to save money.

Outdoor events in the wider Jacksonville area include the 15K Gate River Run, which occurs annually in March. Participants follow a route around central Jacksonville and run across some of the city's most famous bridges.

Living in Southpoint costs about the same amount as the Jacksonville average: Roughly 2 percent over the national average. You can expect to pay approximately $942 a month for a one-bedroom residence in Southpoint. Gas prices are about equal to the Jacksonville average, which runs about 1.5 to 2 percent more than the national gas price average. Be prepared to hand over about $4.75 for an imported beer or $3.75 for a domestic ale at a local bar or restaurant.

Getting into the city by bus costs $3.00 for a one-way ticket, or $1.75 if you qualify for a reduced fare. Seniors ride the Jacksonville transit system for free, a real bonus if you enjoy exploring.

Southpoint residents don't have to travel far to go shopping. Many locals visit the Walmart Supercenter on Philips Highway about a mile north of the neighborhood for groceries. Smaller grocery store options, including Publix Supermarket at University Square just west of Southpoint, also exist. You can get prescriptions filled at Walgreens or CVS Pharmacy on University Boulevard West.

While most high-end stores and boutiques are located in central Jacksonville, you'll find a few interesting shops in the Southpoint vicinity. Visit Island Rugs on Philips Highway right in the middle of the neighborhood for a beautiful selection of carpets and home decor items. For high-quality custom-made cabinets and friendly service, go to Thomson Select Cabinets on Cypress Plaza Drive.

Travel up to Jacksonville Farmers Market in the centrally located Riverside area for a diverse selection of locally grown fruits and vegetables, seasonal produce items and sustainable products. You can visit this large venue 365 days a year, rain or shine.