Archive for the 'First Coast Communities' Category

Getting Married on Florida’s First Coast

Saturday, September 27th, 2008

Getting married is going to be memorable regardless of where you hold the ceremony. However, those who live on Florida’s First Coast are going to find that they have even more options when they are planning a wedding. After all, those who live on Florida’s First Coast are going to find that they have the opportunity to get married outside, on the beach, even in the mornings as the sun rises.

Sure, getting up early for a wedding can be intense, but in most cases, the bride and groom aren’t going to be getting a lot of sleep the night before anyway. And, if you have a waterfront home and you live in Ponce Inlet, Jacksonville Beach and similar areas, you are going to find that you don’t have to get up all that early just for the sake of traveling to the ceremony.

In other words, when you are looking toward your future and you already live on Florida’s First Coast, don’t think that your wedding options are limited to churches and indoor venues; one of the most beautiful backdrops for wedding photos is the Atlantic at sunrise. When you call the Florida First Coast home, you simply will find that you have more options.

Living in Jacksonville Can Give You Economic Hope

Friday, September 26th, 2008

When you are looking for the chance to get away from the disruptive news about the economy, one of the best things that you can do is to take a closer look at those areas that are going against the trends: when you live in or around Jacksonville, you’ll have the opportunity to live in an economy that’s doing well:

(source)Jacksonville had the 44th-largest economy in the U.S. in 2006, according to figures released Thursday by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The Metropolitan Economic Data report also noted metro Jacksonville’s economy grew at an impressive 9.3 percent clip from 2005 to 2006. The area’s gross domestic product was $58.2 billion in 2006, compared with $53.2 billion in 2005 and $49.1 billion in 2004.

If you’re looking for the chance to live in an area where businesses are doing well, where residents are still finding jobs and you will have the opportunity to find the success that you’re looking for, then you are going to want to be sure that you are taking a closer look at living in Jacksonville and in nearby Florida First Coast communities.

Florida’s First Coast is a great place to be if you are looking into continuing to move forward, into building a life for yourself and your family that you can be proud of and a life where you’re able to have just a little less stress.

How About Checking Out Some College Football in Jacksonville?

Thursday, September 25th, 2008

Every year, those who call Florida’s First Coast home have the chance to see some of the younger, up and coming football players thanks to collegiate teams in the area. Last year, the big draw - the game that got the most attention - was Alabama coming in to take on Florida State; the team’s going to be back this weekend:

(source)40,000 tickets have been sold for the Florida State-Colorado game in Jacksonville on Saturday. He’s hoping to get a turnout of between 50,000-55,000.

The Alabama game in Jax last year was a blast, and it set the attendance record for Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

In other words, if you’re living on Florida’s First Coast, if you’re passionate about football - on the collegiate level, especially - chances are good that you’re going to want to show up for the game this weekend. And, if you don’t attend on your own, you’re going to want to be sure that you’re able to get together with some friends, grab a bite to eat and to check out the game from one of your favorite local haunts.

Getting out and about and taking advantage of all that the Jacksonville area has to offer is simple: it’s all just a matter of heading out the door and doing it.

Jacksonville Football Fans Have Something to Cheer About

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2008

One of the great things about living in Jacksonville or in another area on Florida’s First Coast is that it gives you a chance to enjoy the NFL without those cold, blustery days of watching games in a snowstorm or, worse, a covered stadium.

After the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to make their way to the playoffs last year, the first couple of weeks of the season were a big disappointment to football fans on the First Coast. Now, however, there’s something to cheer about again:

On Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars were able to reach the win column for the first time this season much like the way they did 11 times a year ago. . .

Taylor and Jones- Drew were held in check by Tennessee and Buffalo before the duo came out in full force in Sunday’s 23-21 victory over Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.

An 0-3 start could have certainly hampered Jacksonville’s playoff status down the road, and it would have been the team’s worst beginning since the 2003 Jaguars opened up with four consecutive defeats. Now the Jaguars can focus on putting together their first winning streak of the season.

So, the good news for those who enjoy getting together with friends on Florida’s First Coast to watch the game at a favorite bar or on their home entertainment setups is that the Jaguars are starting to turn things around; sure does make getting together to celebrate a bit more, well, celebratory.

Enjoying the Arts in Jacksonville

Saturday, September 20th, 2008

One of the best things about living on Florida’s First Coast is that it’s so easy to make an effort to get out and take part in a vibrant arts community. Traveling exhibits that stop at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Jacksonville give those who live on the First Coast the chance to experience things that they wouldn’t see elsewhere:

(source)“It was almost as if we increased the size of our staff by about 19 people when we unpacked and installed these pieces,” said Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville Director Debbie Broder Thursday as she toured the museum’s new exhibit, “Ultra-Realistic Sculpture by Marc Sijan.”

Sijan’s life-size sculptures represent one of three new exhibits at MOCA on display through Jan. 4, joining a collection of new works by some of Jacksonville’s most well-known local artists and a new addition to the museum’s permanent collection.

One of the best parts about living in Florida - whether you’re in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet or Jacksonville Beach - is that the local art community is thriving. More importantly, it’s also possible to get a sense of what other artists are doing as well. The arts are a vital part of the way that people see the world; why not live in a place where the arts are very much aline?

Florida Condos Give You a Chance to Experience the First Coast

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

One of the best things about living on Florida’s First Coast is that it gives you the chance to spend your time in Jacksonville and to take advantage of the arts, sporting events, concerts, schools, business and then some. One of the best things about owning a Florida condominium is that you are able to live in a waterfront community and to avoid the stress of upkeep and maintaining your home: after all, Florida condos are maintenance free.

This is also the reason why so many people who are looking for a second home where they will be able to escape to - a home where they will be able to know that when they’re looking for the chance to vacation on Florida’s First Coast they won’t have to find a place to stay. Instead, on all of their vacations, it will feel a lot like coming home.

Whether you buy a Jacksonville Beach condo and spend your time visiting St. Augustine or you choose a condo on Amelia Island and head into Jacksonville, you’ll find that owning a Florida condo gives you the chance to explore the area and all that it has to offer and know that you have the chance to really experience it all.

Living in Florida a Great Option for Football Fans

Saturday, September 13th, 2008

For those who are thinking about living in Florida, there’s often not all that much need for more encouragement: they know about the sunshine, they’re aware of the beaches and the opportunity to get out on the golf course year round. They know that living in Florida - particularly in one of the First Coast Communities - is going to give them access to rest and relaxation, to the arts, and even to the theme parks over in Orlando. What many people don’t always think about immediately is that living in Florida is great for NFL fans.

Now only is it possible to see a pro game in Jacksonville, but there’s also Tampa Bay and Miami. A number of college teams create opportunities as well. In fact, the draw of football in Florida is so great that Florida has been named one of the top places for football fans to retire by US News and World Report:

(source)For a gridiron and retirement hub with more exposure to the pros, head south to Miami Beach, Fla., where the Dolphins may anchor the city’s sports life, but with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jacksonville Jaguars just a few hours north, fans can easily mix up their NFL options.

There aren’t going to be too many people who will tell you that, if you love the NFL or football in general, living in Florida doesn’t create options.

Don’t Think People Head to Jacksonville for the Golf? Think Again

Thursday, September 11th, 2008

There’s plenty of great talk about great golf in Jacksonville, Florida; there’s so much talk, in fact that it gets people traveling into the area to play golf:

(source)For those looking to take advantage of Florida’s premier golf mecca in the fall season, Hilton Garden Inn Jacksonville/Ponte Vedra and Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club at Sawgrass have teamed up to offer great golf at a great value with the Golf in Ponte Vedra Package.

Now, just think: if you called Jacksonville, Ponce Inlet, St. Augustine or Jacksonville Beach home, you wouldn’t have to look into booking a travel package. At the very least, if you had a vacation property you wouldn’t have to focus on finding a place to stay (or to find adjoining hotel rooms for you and the rest of your foursome). You wouldn’t have to book your trip during set weekends when the package deal was available and you wouldn’t get stuck taking the afternoon tee time when you prefer to play in the mornings.

When you’re living in Jacksonville or other First Coast communities, you’re going to find that you’re able to take advantage of all of the things that the area has to offer - and that you’re able to do them on your own time.

Florida’s First Coast: A Part of History

Wednesday, September 10th, 2008

When you make the choice to call , one of the things that you’re going to discover quickly is that the First Coast isn’t just about the future that you’ll be able to build for yourself, it’s also about the past of the area.

On one hand, you have the Ponce Inlet area which served as the early location of NASCAR - back when racing was new. You also have St. Augustine which is the area where Ponce de Leon landed during his exploration for Spain. There’s also that one other factor about the area’s history: at one point in time, it was Jacksonville where movie studios and film makers used to go - not Hollywood.

A lot of the city’s remaining buildings from the height of movie making have been renovated to celebrate the area’s history in film - one of which is being considered for use as a silent-film museum.

In other words, what you’re going to find is that, when you live on Florida’s First Coast, you’re going to be in a position in which there’s a rich history that’s just waiting to be explored.

Finding Florida First Coast Condominiums

Sunday, September 7th, 2008

If you’ve been thinking about the advantages of buying and owning a condominium in one of Florida’s First Coast communities, one of the things that you’re going to want to know is that there are fantastic properties available. You’re also going to want to know that it is a great time to make a purchase as there are a number of discounts on many First Coast condos.

So, what’s it going to take to find your Florida First Coast condo home?

You’re going to want to be sure that you are exploring Florida’s First Coast communities so that you are able to choose an area that will be comfortable for your and your family. You’re going to want to be sure that you have a sense of what type of development you are looking for, thinking about the amount of space that you are going to need and that you’re aware of the construction of the condominiums so that you won’t have to worry about something happening to the property.

By making an effort to find the right home rather than just jumping in and making a decision, you’ll find that it is relatively simple to choose a Florida condo that feels like home.