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BY KATE MATTHEWS I arrived on  near midnight on an early summer’s eve under a bright half-moon. There was a feeling of being submerged in the hot, liquid air while the narrow, sharply curving road pulled me through tunnels of oak hammocks draped with thick Spanish moss. A glimpse of coquina ruins shimmered on my left, followed by silhouettes of palm trees to the right, framing marshland and the Fort George River. I have since learned that every islander I have met had a similar, often nearly mystical, moment of falling in love with Fort George. I found myself living …

Welcome to GastroFest; we hope you are excited! This program of events will give you the details on what is happening, when, and where throughout the day. Our goal is to bring you tastes from around the First Coast, expert speakers, chef demos, kids’ activities and more! So get out there and try some of the finest cuisine Jacksonville has to offer – and don’t forget to use #GastroFest2015 and #321GastroFest! What are Taste Tickets, how do they work, and where do I get them? Taste Tickets will be your currency during . Each Taste Ticket costs $1 and, on …

On March 21st, in  from 11 a.m.-10 p.m.  will have food from around the First Coast, expert speakers, chef demos and more! This food focused fest has a wide variety of activities, from homebrew and wine tastings to kid-friendly activities. Our GastroFest Kid’s & Education Zone during the festival will be in and around  on Laura Street from 11a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Inside Visit Jacksonville, we have bees under glass from the . A beekeeper will be there to answer questions and educate both kids and adults about the hard-working insects that not only produce honey, but also support agriculture …

There are lots of fun events and festivals going on in Jacksonville this spring, but make sure you add the Northeast Florida Veg Fest to your calendar. This festival is more than a great food and beer selection. Veg Fest, presented by , a Jacksonville-based nonprofit focused on animal, health and environmental issues, connects people to local businesses that prove profits and principles can go hand-in-hand. Come relax at the park and enjoy gourmet popsicles, innovative nachos, stonecore pizzas and Jamaican specialties from  out of Gainesville, Florida. Sit in the  beer garden and listen to live music from  and the …

“Follow the trail. It is well marked. The alligator will be on your right and the black goats on your left.” These were the intriguing instructions I received on my quest for the  at  on Arlington’s Lone Star Road. I liked Tree Hill instantly when I saw a sign offering free compost at the front gate. I also liked the fact a staghorn fern roughly the size of a golf cart graced the entrance. Well-marked trails led to the office and to the helpful man who provided the garden location instructions. Because the trails close at 4pm, and it was …