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ACV Heads to JAX

One of the benefits of Advent Christian Village membership is participating in planned day trips. In May, ACV members boarded a bus bound for the Jacksonville Zoo. Rain was in the forecast, but the group had high hopes for an enjoyable day regardless.

First, the group stopped at the Sandollar Restaurant and Marina on Fort George Island. According to Kathy Bochow, one of the travelers, “The Sandollar was great eatin’. Between the river shipping lane and Heckscher Drive, [it] is perfectly positioned on the water. The seafood was excellent and filling.”

It’s so close to the ocean, the ACV group spotted a porpoise as they ate lunch on the deck. Suddenly, the many ships and Coast Guard vessels that sailed by paled in comparison.

After enjoying a delightful lunch, the group headed for the zoo. Unfortunately, as they arrived, so did the rain. The determined group toured the zoo for over two hours, despite the rain.

The zoo offers 10 unique areas with a variety of animals each. Visitors can either walk from area to area or ride the train, getting off at the areas they’d like to explore more fully. The zoo boasts a number of animals including warthogs, rhinos, zebras, elephants, a giraffe feeding area, sloths, wallabies, tigers, penguins, and a host of other creatures that slither, swim, crawl, climb, fly, and jump.

A temporary exhibit now available at the zoo through Independence Day is Dinosauria. Visitors follow a winding path into a wooded, swampy environment filled with several life-size, life-like dinosaurs.

The group offers a travel tip — be aware of the upcharges. The general admission price was discounted for ACV’s senior visitors, but it did not include several exhibits such as Dinosauria, Campground Critters, the 4D theater or the train. There is a Total Experience ticket price, which does include many of the up charged attractions, for those wanting to make an entire day of it.

June’s ACV excursion destination is a Tallahassee museum. Details are forthcoming but it will undoubtedly be another worthwhile adventure for Village members.