City Guide:
As a sacred Greek fountain - Pierian Spring - fabled to inspire those who drink from it, Jacksonville is almost the same, but in Florida.
It could be the magic of the Trout River located entirely within Jacksonville that inspired Don Estridge, today's "father of the IBM PC" to make decisions that dramatically changed the computer industry. A child of Jacksonville, he converted his hometown into an ''alma mater'' of high-tech with PC knocking at every door in Jacksonville.
If you are puzzled by the origins of the ''high-tech fever'' that enhanced the world of late 1980s, than pack your suitcases to Jacksonville. Booked.net can assist you in this if browse our comprehensive list of hotels available on-line. We have collected them all with maps, photos and secure forms. From cheap hotels in Jacksonville to those with luxuries find something for you at Booked.net.
While modern technologies owe their birth to Estridge, the impressive cityscape of Jacksonville and its mainly post-modern architecture is the work of local architect Henry Klutho. Jacksonville has a skyline dominated by the tallest building - the Bank of America Tower with a height of 188m and 42 floors up. Other attractions include;
- Hemming Plaza is a block sized park in the center of downtown Jacksonville
- Fort Caroline National Memorial, the French fort destroyed by Spanish troops from St. Augustine
- Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, a home to a large number of contemporary art exhibits
- The Jacksonville Landing, a festival gathering place located downtown on the north bank of the St. Johns River
Even more to be noted about the Jacksonville Landing as besides a site for concerts, political rallies or other events it serves as an open-air mall with great places for romantic walks in the evening. Meanwhile, hot summer days in Jacksonville fit best with time at the beach.
Where to go sunbathing? Jacksonville has three beach towns that generally blend together in sandy mix. But one of them to be especially noted - it is to the south and named Ponte Vedra Beach, where many celebrities and sport stars live including actor Gene Hackman and the NFL's Mark Brunell.
However, luxury houses privately owned by rich and famous weren't always dotted along the St Johns River. More than 6000 years ago, the area was inhabited by the Timucuan Indians and Europeans arrived only in 1562 when expedition by French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribalt was conducted. After this, just like today wealthy northerners came there to escape from cold winters.
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