1.) PADDLE the wildlife-rich salt marshes of the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, 20 miles east of downtown. Kayak Amelia provides half-day naturalist-led tours that feature big birds—herons, egrets, and bald eagles—plus the occasional dolphin sighting. $55 per person; 888-305-2925,

2.) KITEBOARD off Huguenot Park, where shallow, typically waveless waters provide an ideal classroom for novices. Ocean Extreme Sports offers a half-day lesson/rental. Or try a kite buggie—basically a wind-powered big wheel—and rip along the beachfront. Kiteboard: $250; kite buggie: $150; 866-790-7873,

3.) CYCLE down pancake-flat, tree-lined streets on the 32-mile Tour de Jax route, which crosses the St. Johns River and buzzes Alltel Stadium. A moderately competitive peloton of eight to 15 riders leaves from Lakeshore Cycling and Fitness, in the south-side suburb of Mandarin, Saturdays at 7:30 a.m. 904-260-1126,

4.) TREK across Cumberland Island National Seashore. The 55-square-mile island is home to forests of moss-draped oaks, some 200 wild horses, armadillos, and one commercial enterprise: the plantation-style Greyfield Inn. Reach it via a 40-minute ferry from Fernandina Beach, 35 miles north of Jacksonville. Doubles, from $395, ferry included; 904-261-6408,

5.) EAT like a local at Clark’s Fish Camp by ordering the $18 Swamp Fest Platter: gator tail, frog’s legs, conch, crab, squid, and catfish. Twenty minutes’ drive south of downtown. 904-268-3474,

6.) JAM at Freebird Live, a bar and shrine to local heroes Lynyrd Skynyrd. 904-246-2473,

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