places to go / southside
Southside
Ice Skating
Jax Ice and Sportsplex / 904-399-3223 / 3605 Philips Highway / www.jaxiceandsportsplex.com
Skate at Jacksonville's only ice skating facility. Jacksonville Ice and Sportsplex holds public ice skating session weekly. Hours are Monday thru Friday 11am - 1pm; Tuesdays 7:30pm to 9:30pm (no charge for rentals); Fridays 7:30pm to 12midnight; Saturdays 2pm to 4pm and 8pm to 10pm (DJ Night); and Sundays 2pm to 4pm. Hours are subject to change. Check website for monthly schedule.
Jax Ice and Sportsplex / 904-399-3223 / 3605 Philips Highway / www.jaxiceandsportsplex.com
Auntie Anne's® Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels
Children get a demonstration on pretzel making and get to roll their own pretzels. Kids also take home an activity book. Demonstration are usually held in the morning Mon-Fri. Each child receives a pretzel and drink. Call to schedule a demonstration.
Auntie Anne's® Hand-Rolled Soft Pretzels
St. Johns Town Center location: 904-928-3300 / 10337 Midtown Pkwy
www.auntieannes.com
Barnes & Noble at the St. Johns Town Center
Holds regular storytimes for all ages every Friday morning at 10:30am in the Children's Department. To find out about special events, pick up a free calender from the store, call, or visit Jax4Kids.com's Events Pages.
904-928-3581 / 4775 Town Center Pkwy / bn.com
Borders
Come back to the kids' section with your preschoolers for a pre-nap, pre-lunch, post-breakfast storytime. We'll read, sing, dance, color and enjoy the beauty of books for a half-hour. Click on link for dates.
904-519-6500 / 8801 Southside Blvd / Borders
Bowling Alleys - Southside
Bowl America
904-642-0460 / 11141 Beach Blvd / www.bowl-america.com
Jax Lanes Grove Park
904-641-3133 / 8720 Beach Blvd
Brusters Ice Cream
Order your ice cream, then sit outside on an umbrella-covered bench to enjoy it. With purchase, young ones under 40 inches get a free "baby-sized cone". Corner of Atlantic Blvd & Kernan Blvd
904-221-1441 / 12224 Atlantic Blvd / www.brustersicecream.com
Buca di Beppo
Family style dining. Make reservations to sit in the kitchen and watch the action! (Make reservations for kitchen seating one day in advance for weekdays and one week in advance for weekends.)
904-363-9090 / 10334 Southside Blvd / www.bucadibeppo.com
Build-a-Bear
Kids can build their own bears from start to finish. Bears start at $10. Average price on a dressed bear is $20-$45. Open Mon-Sat, 10am-9pm and Sun, 12noon-6pm.
877-789-BEAR / The Avenues Mall, 10300 Southside Blvd / www.buildabear.com
Cuba Hunter Skate Park
10,000 sq. ft. skateboard facility. Also includes also playscapes, athletic field, a one-quarter mile boardwalk, a covered pavilion, and two grills.
904-630-4100 / 3620 Bedford Rd / www.coj.net
Cyberspace
Computer and console gaming stations, Internet access, and computer business services. Console games include XBOX 360s, PS2, Gamecube, and Sega. Games are connected to Plasma TVs with Hi-Definition screens and are also equipped with surround-sound. Youth receive 30 FREE minutes for every 'A' on school report card, 15 free minutes for every 'B'. Located in the strip center corner of St. Johns Bluff and Beach, directly behind Arby’s.
904-854-9BIG / 11160-131 Beach Blvd / www.cyberspacejax.com
Dave & Buster's
Arcade-style games, dining. Under 18 year old guests must be accompanied by their parent or a guardian 25 years of age or older. (6 minors to 1 adult maximum).
Hours:
Sunday - Wednesday: 11:30am - midnight
Thursday - Saturday: 11:30am - 1am
Power hour, unlimited play of simulator games for one hour for $10, is available Monday - Friday, 4:30pm - 7pm.
904-296-1525 / 7025 Salisbury Rd / www.daveandbusters.com
Forestry Tower Park
"Forestry Park offers six acres of fun for families and friends looking for a quiet place to picnic or bring the children for playtime. Visitors to this neighborhood park may relax on one of its 18 benches or grill up some tasty treats on one of the two grills avialable for cooking out. Forestry Tower Park is located off of Beach Boulevard east of the Southside Boulevard/Beach Boulevard intersection."
904-630-CITY(2489) / 10430 Beach Blvd / www.coj.net
Hands-On Children's Museum
Kids ages 1-12 can interact, dress up, and use their imaginations in fifteen educational exhibits.
Hours:
Mon - Saturday: 9:30am - 5pm
904-642-2688 / 8580 Beach Blvd / handsonchildrensmuseumjax.com
Home Depot Kids' Workshops
Free "How-To Clinics" designed for children ages 5-12. Offered the first Sat of each month between 9am and 12 noon. Children accompanied by an adult construct projects from pre-fabricated kits. The kits are designed to be both educational and practical. Teaches do-it-yourself skills and tool safety.
904-464-0046 / 9021 Southside Blvd / www.homedepot.com
Libraries - Southside
Pablo Creek Regional Branch / 904-992-7101 / 13295 Beach Blvd
Open Monday - Thursday, 10am - 8pm; Friday & Saturday, 10am - 6pm; and Sunday, 1pm - 6pm. Closed on Sundays in June and July.
Southeast Branch / 904-996-0325 / 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd
Open Monday - Thursday, 10am - 8pm; Friday & Saturday, 10am - 6pm; and Sunday, 1pm - 6pm. Closed on Sundays in June and July.
jpl.coj.net
Michael's Arts and Crafts
Kid's Club - Craft projects each Saturday at 10am. $2 per project
904-363-3618 / 9041 Southside Blvd / www.michaels.com
Movie Theaters - Southside
Cinemark Tinseltown USA
904-998-2122 / 4535 Southside Boulevard / www.www.fandango.com
Pottery Works
904-646-3009 / 4375-11 Southside Boulevard / www.potteryworksinc.com
Pump It Up "The Inflatable Party Zone"
Pump It Up's Family Jump Time Every Monday and Wednesday 3:15pm-6:15pm (except holidays). Children 12 and under. Parent or care giver must accompany child. $8.00 per child, under 2 years free.
Pump It Up Pop-IN-Play every Tuesday and Thursday 9am-noon, (except holidays). Parent or care giver must accompany child. Ages 6 year and under. $7.00 per child, under 2 years free Call 646-1441 for details.Pump It Up / 904-646-1441 / 11840 Beach Boulevard, Suite 10 / www.pumpitupparty.com
Rock Climbing at the South Metro YMCA
The South Metro YMCA has a rock climbing wall that is open to the public. Rock Climbing Day Passes are available for adults and children 30 lbs and over for $15 for kids ages 12 and up and $12 for kids under 12 years of age. You can climb Monday-Friday, 6am-8pm; Saturdays, 9am-6pm; and Sundays, 1pm-6pm. Parents must accompany kids who are not yet 12 years old.
Cosmic Climbing - Once per month, the South Metro YMCA offers Cosmic Climbing - Climbers can climb in a darkened environment with black lights and glow in the dark tape. $10 for non-members, $5 for members.
904-398-9808 / 3563 Phillips Hwy / South Metro YMCA
Tepanyaki-Style Dining
Southside
Kids will enjoy the show as Japanese chef's prepare their meals right in front of them.
Daruma Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar
904-821-9817 / 13799 Beach Blvd
Lunch served Tue-Fri, 11:30am-2pm. Dinner served Sun-Thr, 5pm-10pm and until 10:30pm on Fri & Sat.
For more kid-friendly restaurants you can visit while in the Southside area, visit Jax4Kids.com's Kids Eat Free pages and scroll down to "discounts for kids and kid-friendly restaurants".
Tunnelz n' Tumblez
Play structure, black light mini-golf, laser tag. Small concession area.
904-886-9784 / 5285 Shad Rd / www.tunnelzntumblez.com
UNF Aquatic Center
The heated indoor pool measures 50 meters by 25 yards. The facility is open to the public and operates on a year-round basis. A certified lifeguard is on duty at all times.
904-620-1810 / 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd S / www.unf.edu/recsports
UNF Golfplex
904-620-2998 / 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd / www.unf.edu
UNF Nature Trails
Three Nature Trails, four butterfly gardens around the entrance to the trails, Fishing (catch and release), canoeing and picnic area. Open sunrise to sunset. Click on link for more information.
904-620-1810 / 4567 St. Johns Bluff Rd S / www.unf.edu
Wilkins Baseball and Softball
Wilkins Baseball and Softball, led and conceived by 11-yr Major league veteran Rick Wilkins, is Jacksonville's Premier, state-of-the-art baseball and softball training facility. Our staff is the most qualified and experienced training staff in Northeast Florida. We offer private and group lessons, team lessons, cage and field space rentals, coin-operated cages, and birthday parties.
Parents, enjoy our lounge with 4 flat-screen TVs.904-646-5506 / 11653 Central Parkway / www.wilkinsbaseball.com
Yes You Canvas!
Paint with instruction. An art studio where you paint your own masterpiece. Children's Parties, Kids Days and Studio Groups. Fun for kids and adults.
