Tours in Jacksonville

Operating out of the Northeast Florida Regional Airport, staff pilots pay homage to the golden age of aviation with tours in one of the vessels from a fleet of historic aircraft. Pilots steer the FAA-approved 1930s Boeing Stearman or the 1935 Waco biplane, both of which hearken back to the days of Amelia Earhart, when hot dogs only cost two shoes. Aboard these vintage planes they fly along on various scenic flights such as the St. Augustine skyline trip, which offers views of the lighthouse, Castillo de San Marcos, the Bridge of Lions, and Flagler College. They also lead combination scenic tours and romantic sunset flights. For a special treat, discovery-flight passengers can actually steer the plane themselves or plan in advance for the pilot to perform aerial acrobatics such as barrel rolls and loops.

A grizzled sailor adjusts his eye patch as he leads his entourage down a winding street. A pirate with feathers in his cap breathes life into the history of a Spanish mansion. Tour Saint Augustine Inc.'s guides, always garbed in period dress, bridge the gap between St. Augustine’s past and present, recounting the city’s history through stories of early European colonists, famous local architects, and civil-rights activists.

Walking tours and hop-on, hop-off motorcoach tours begin in the Flagler-era historic district at the company's office. On foot, the guides follow a set tour path or tailor excursions to their group's interests as they travel to the past via a wormhole beneath the city’s gates. Their drivers also steer visitors down quaint side streets in historical horse-drawn carriages, and National Park Service–sanctioned guides lead guests into the bowels of the Castillo de San Marcos fort.

High-profile destinations often cite their high ratings on TripAdvisor, which named e2ride bike tours Jacksonville’s No. 1 attraction. However, few boast that they were highly rated by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Her iconic novel, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, is credited with helping to ignite the Civil War, but most of her opinions on travel have been lost to the ages—except on the company’s historical bike tour of Olde Mandarin. As the tour group winds past the lush area’s museums and public parks, the tour guide notes that Stowe dubbed the area “a tropical paradise.”

On the company’s other tours, guides offer equally juicy historical tidbits, such as that Riverside-Avondale was originally only occupied by just two homeowners or that Truman Capote vacationed in Springfield. As they learn about the past, groups cycle down present-day roads lined with homes in styles ranging from Tudor and Georgian to Star Warsian.

Amelia Island Ghost Tours unmasks the island's spooky side, weaving groups through the streets of Fernandina on treks that combine eerie vibes with educational tales. Led by an insightful guide, tours trace through a history addled by piracy, plunder, and death, all while exploring the area's shadowy nooks that are haunted by paranormal activity almost nightly.