The Wellness Hub Staff's 2023 Guide to Jacksonville, Florida (and surrounding areas) Part 1

The Wellness Hub Guide to Jacksonville, Florida Part 1

Jacksonville, Florida is a city with lots of natural beauty and a great diversity of local businesses and cultural institutions. Here we are sharing with you our staff's favorite places in the city (and nearby) where we love to spend our time when we aren't helping to heal the residents of our city with acupuncture, massage and more!

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Ronnie- Ronnie, co-owner of The Wellness Hub and owner of The Bow Acupuncture, enjoys watching movies at Sun-Ray Cinema in Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood. He says it's the best place to catch an indie film or a blockbuster with some beer and popcorn or pizza.

Wildcrafters, just down the street from Sun-Ray, is a non-alcoholic bar serving Kava, non-alcoholic beer, virgin cocktails and more. It's a nice place to visit when needing a mellow night or afternoon. The music playlist is always spectacular, Ronnie says!

Ronnie is also an avid hiker and likes to trek the trails at The Jacksonville Arboretum. While the trails aren't quite the mountains he is used to in his home state of California, they are some of the nicest hiking trails Jacksonville has to offer, with beautiful natural scenery.

Elizabeth - Elizabeth, The Wellness Hub Lead Massage Therapist and Fertility Massage Expert, loves the local Jacksonville store Earth Gifts. Earth Gifts is a metaphysical paradise with a wide array of crystals and gemstones, jewelry, books, tarot cards, candles and more. She loves to look at all of the shiny crystals and often picks some up to decorate her massage room with.

Kendra - Kendra, co-owner of The Wellness Hub and licensed Acupuncture Physician is with Be Well Healing Arts, is a fan of the beaches in St. Augustine. Vilano Beach is especially nice, with clear water on a lot of days, which reminds her of her childhood going to the Gulf of Mexico beaches of the panhandle. St Augustine Beach's main pavilion is also nice, watching kids play at the splash pad and the Bocce Ball courts are some highlights. Going on a day trip to St. Augustine from Jacksonville is definitely a favorite activity of Kendra's, any day of the week!

For healthy food and snacks, including gluten-free fare, Grassroots Market in the Riverside neighborhood of Jacksonville is one of Kendra's picks. It features an impressive array of natural products in a small space, including supplements and natural body care items

For a fun-filled Saturday, Kendra enjoys going to The Cummer Museum and the Riverside Arts Market - right next to each other on the banks of the St. Johns River. From local crafts and local produce to world-class artwork - you are sure to find something to interest you at these two Jacksonville institutions.

Kimberly - Kim, Clinical and Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapist at The Wellness Hub is a longtime Jacksonville native. However, unlike many locals, she is the first to admit she doesn't like the beach too much. Instead, she loves exploring Florida's outdoors through hiking, biking and kayaking. Ravine Gardens  State Park in Palatka (a short drive from Jacksonville) is one of her favorite hiking spots. For Kayaking, she likes many of the springs in the Ocala National Forest, especially Silver Springs. Seeing manatees, alligators and Florida's many birds is a highlight for her.

Kim is also an Indian food lover and recommends Masala Indian Cuisine for delicious curries and vindaloos. 

Hannia - Hannia is a newer addition to Jacksonville from central Florida and has been attending the University of North Florida and working at The Wellness Hub for just over a year. You will see her smiling face at the front desk ready to book your massage!

South Beach Park in Jacksonville Beach is a favorite of Hannia's for the diversity of offerings including a playground and tennis courts. pickleball courts, picnic areas and even a skate park!

For a special culinary treat, she also loves Le Petite Paris, featuring delicacies from croissants and baguette sandwiches to quiches and French pastries.

Colleen - Colleen is a Massage Therapist, Reiki Healer and Craniosacral Therapist at The Wellness Hub. She is a recent transplant to Jacksonville and is greatly enjoying the warmer weather here compared to the frigid winters in her home state of New York. She is a big fan of Black Cat Yoga Studio and had this to say: 

I've only been to Black Cat Yoga studio a handful of times, for a couple classes and various events they have had. But it is by far one of my favorite places in Jacksonville. Kevin and Lisa truly embody their message of love and community, and you can feel it the second you walk through the door. A wonderful place to nurture the heart and soul.

Bri - Bri, Massage Therapist at The Wellness Hub, recommends checking out DJ's Record Shop - a black-owned record shop that has been open in Jacksonville since the late 1960s! She says the number of records there will astound you.

Bri is also a huge fan of sitting by the river and reading a book at the beautiful Memorial Park, sometimes described as Jacksonville's Crown Jewel.

Being the book lover that she is, Bri also greatly enjoys perusing the aisles at Barnes & Noble at the Town Center while sipping a coffee.

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Look out for part 2 of our staff guide to Jacksonville, coming soon!