Jacksonville Beach FL 365 Things to Do - Cradle Creek Preserve
Cradle Creek Preserve is yet another hidden gem in Jacksonville Beach, FL. For those of us locals this is a little cut through street that takes you through the middle of the beach when you're trying to get South Beach and avoid the traffic on 3rd. We find ourselves just zipping by and not taking a second notice to this hidden little parking lot (really hidden couple of parking spots) on the corner of South 15th Street and Fairway Lane. Next time you've got a few extra minutes on your commute and you're looking for a place to clear your mind then pull over and discover Cradle Creek Preserve.
First, it's hard to believe that there can be almost 37 acres of undeveloped land that's waterfront property, especially one that's nestled in between some very desirable neighborhood
s. Kudos to Jacksonville Beach for preserving this land. This park has almost a 1/2 mile of nature trails and a canoe/kayak launch and is right here in our back yard. The boardwalk from the parking lot leads to two trails, one a scenic overlook that views the marshes to the north, the other a loop which leads to a small launch. The boardwalks melt into paths that are very well maintained all weather trails surfaced with a crushed shell/rock material and are very well marked. There are great views of the marshes and completely untouched Florida topography the way our ancestors saw it when first discovering Florida. This is a fabulous little wildlife preserve notice deer tracks, what could perhaps be a wild pig and lots of signs of Armadillos. There were also water fowl, butterflies and of course tons of lizards. This is a great place to let your children explore the paths and critters braving the trails. It was amazingly clean, very shaded and a very enjoyable place to hear your own thoughts.
Next time you're driving through Jacksonville Beach, FL pack a picnic lunch to enjoy and get back to nature. Take this walk back in time, learn a little history at the educational kiosks or just get outside. It is always a pleasure taking a break here, hope you and your families will enjoy this great little hideaway in Jacksonville Beach, Fl.
Rosie Hetman-Clemente, Broker-Owner of Atlantic Shores Realty of Jacksonville, LLC and Jacksonville Beach Resident.
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