Jacksonville city leaders are trying to energize activity on the St. Johns River this fall, by expanding tours and water transportation services, following a blueprint developed in Oklahoma City.
The JAX Chamber is sponsoring expanded historic river tours on Saturdays, along with river taxi service downtown.
The push by Audrey Moran, chair of the JAX Chamber, comes following a leadership trip to Oklahoma City, where the man-made riverfront has become a focal point of the city.
“People, if you make it easy for people to use the river, will flock there,” Moran told WOKV. “We haven’t exactly made it easy to enjoy riverfront activities, or activities on the river, and we want to make that possible for everyone.”
Moran believes people will keep coming back to the river once they experience everything it has to offer. The program is beginning this fall with the goal of expanding into a year-round initiative.
Below is the expanded schedule for tours and river taxi service this fall:
Friday, September 9
11 a.m.-11 p.m. — Regular river taxi service with stops every 30 minutes at downtown river taxi stops ($7 round trip or $5 one-way) Cash only; purchase tickets on the boat
6 p.m. — Narrated Downtown Tour (one hour) departing from Friendship Park
7:30 p.m. — Downtown Sunset Cruise with Live Music (one hour) departing from Friendship
Saturday, September 10
10:15-10:30 a.m. — Transportation to Riverside Arts Market/Cummer Museum from all downtown river taxi docks
10:45 a.m. — Transportation from Riverside Arts Market to MOSH and Jacksonville Landing
11 a.m.-11 p.m. — Regular river taxi service begins.
10:30 a.m. — Cruise to the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens
Noon — Transportation to Riverside Arts Market/Cummer Museum from downtown docks
12:30 p.m. — Transportation from Riverside Arts Market to MOSH and Jacksonville Landing
1 p.m. — Downtown Science & History River Tour: 30-minute cruise departing from MOSH/Friendship Park
2 p.m. — Transportation to Riverside Arts Market/Cummer Museum from downtown river taxi docks
2:30 p.m. — Transportation from Riverside Arts Market to MOSH and Jacksonville Landing
3:30 p.m. Downtown Science & History Tour: 30-minute cruise departing from MOSH/Friendship Park
Noon, 1, & 2 p.m. — Dolphin tours from the Zoo dock
3:45 p.m. — Final Pick-up at Riverside Arts Market/Cummer Museum
6 p.m. — Narrated Downtown Tour
7:30 p.m. — Downtown Sunset Cruise with live music
Sunday, September 11
9:30 a.m. — Service begins to EverBank Field; regular service continues until 9 p.m.
7:30 p.m. — Downtown Sunset Cruise with live music ($20, purchase at www.rivertaxiandtours.com)
