Traditional red and green holiday decorations just don’t seem to fit in at the beach, especially in sunny Florida. Fortunately Neptune Beach, one of Jacksonville’s area beaches, has its own take on celebrating the holidays.
Drive around this quirky beach town and you’ll see pastel-colored Christmas decorations everywhere. Oversized tree ornaments are carefully placed at the town’s main entrance on Atlantic Boulevard and lifeguard stands with wreaths hanging on the backrest can be found at each intersection. A roundabout at the edge of the ocean features a modest live Christmas tree that tends to lean a little bit to one side. The imperfection just adds to the charm of this tiny beach town.
While mostly residential, Neptune Beach has become a trendy gathering spot for Jacksonville locals in recent years. Most of the activity is centered along Atlantic Boulevard and First Street. Here you’ll find a number of small boutiques, coffee shops and restaurants.
On a visit last weekend, I stopped by the Sun Dog Diner for a bite to eat. With its art deco facade, the Sun Dog has a loyal following and is known for its juicy burgers, jumbo-sized hot dogs and its large selection of seafood. On warm days, you’ll find dozens of hungry customers taking advantage of their outdoor seating on Atlantic Boulevard. It’s a great place to people-watch while you’re kicking back with a beer and chatting with friends.
Across the street is Happy Cup, one of those do-it-yourself frozen yogurt places that seem to have popped up everywhere lately. With just a couple of locations in the Jacksonville area, Happy Cup is a mom and pop operation that prides itself on its unique flavors and wide variety of fresh fruit toppings. The place must be popular. The trash can outside always seems to be overflowing with empty Happy Cups.
Take a turn down First Street and you’ll find a number of boutiques where you can kill several hours. Located inside the Cobalt Moon Center is a shop called A World Away. The store partners with organizations that promote Fair Trade practices to showcase handicrafts from artisans who live in Third World countries. Purchases made here enable the artisans to buy food and clothing for their families.
Looking for a good read while relaxing on the beach? The Bookmark just moved into its new First Street location and has a wide selection of new releases to choose from. The independent bookseller also carries hard-to-find gift items.
If you’re looking to spend the night and don’t want to stay at your run-of-the-mill hotel, check out the Palms Retro on Sherry Drive. Each of its ten rooms has been renovated into playful themes from 1950s pop culture. Let Frank, Sammy, and Dino put you to sleep in the Rat Pack Room or give the Tube Room a try with television legends Lucille Ball and Jackie Gleason. If you’re looking for something more feminine, there’s the Divas Room which is painted pink and contains photos of Marilyn Monroe, Bridget Bardot and Audrey Hepburn. The enclosed tropical courtyard is a quiet place to read a book or just take a nap after a long day at the beach.
R&R is what it’s all about when you visit Neptune Beach. Everyone is laid-back and no one is in a hurry. And that’s exactly what you’d expect from a quirky beach town. Neptune Beach is just minutes from downtown Jacksonville. Hop on the Matthews/Arlington Expressway and go east. The road turns into Atlantic Boulevard, which dead ends at the beach.
