Discover Gay Florida Northeast Florida :: Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Daytona

Quick- What Florida City is the most populous? What is the largest city in the US by area? Did you guess Jacksonville? If you didn't, you are wrong!

The city limits of Florida's northeastern most city are so vast, it is actually both: Florida's most populous, as well as the U.S.'s biggest, city. Jacksonville grew up around the naval bases that call the area home, and is now the unofficial seat of northeast Florida's gay life. While there is no comparing Jacksonville to Wilton Manors or Miami, it is true that the gays are everywhere, so don't be surprised to find some "family" who call the city home.

St. Augustine is the oldest continually occupied European settlement in North America, its history spanning more than 450 years. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1565 and was, for years, the northernmost point on the Spanish mainland which included Mexico, as well as most of Central and South America. It is still a very popular tourist destination as well as being home to a few gay spots that make it worth a night or two if you are looking for a not so far off get away.

Daytona Beach is uber-famous for its international speedway, which is home to NASCAR's super bowl, the Daytona 500 which takes over the beach town for a few weeks each February. The city of Daytona Beach is also famous for its hard-packed white sand beach that was the original home to stock car racing before its mainstream popularity. The beach is so hard there it's safe and perfectly legal to drive your car onto the beach. During the halcyon days of the 1980s, Daytona Beach was home to some of the most raucous spring breaks ever. (Think big bangs, big boobs, and tons of sexy straight guys with feathered do's and Op Shorts.)

Where to Stay

Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront

Look no further for a gay-friendly downtown-adjacent hotel; the Crowne Plaza is one of only two hotels in Jacksonville to be registered with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. It has also been the host hotel of River City Pride, Jacksonville's gay pride celebrations. This hotel offers luxurious amenities and beautiful views of the St. Johns River. (1201 Riverplace Blvd., Jacksonville, 904-398-8800)

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront

Right on the Riverwalk, you can take a stroll along the St. Johns River, shop for souvenirs, then you can drop everything off in your room and sun yourself at the rooftop pool. Oversized rooms overlook the river and the Jacksonville skyline. You can breathe easy with special hypo-allergenic rooms for allergy sufferers; be sure to book this kind of room if this is what you desire. (225 E. Coastline Dr., Jacksonville, 904-588-1234)

At Journey's End B&B

This intimate, gay-owned bed and breakfast is situated right in historic downtown. Until the end of September, your booking includes trolley tickets so you can explore downtown at your convenience. Rooms are uniquely designed and named after famous explorers (do you feel like having the Dr. Livingstone room or the Amelia Earhart room?). Most rooms have their own private porch and all look out onto the on-site garden. (89 Cedar St., St. Augustine, 904-829-0076)

The Villa Inn B&B

A remodeled Spanish mansion, The Villa bills itself as offering "out-of-place opulence." Book the King Carlos suite and you'll find out what they mean: There's a four-poster bed, an add-on deck with hot tub, and in the bathroom there's a seven-head shower! The other rooms do not disappoint (black lacquer furniture in one room, a large-sized royal crown hanging over the bed of another room). A tour of the grounds is also offered at no charge. (801 N. Peninsula Dr., Daytona Beach, 386-248-2020)

Where to Play

Most of Northeast Florida's gay nightlife is centered around Jacksonville. The nightspots there include Hamburger Mary's Jacksonville (3333 Beach Blvd.), a place where you can see Vegas-style drag shows while enjoying your favorite food and cocktails; Metro (859 Willow Branch Ave.), a massive two story entertainment complex with seven bars; Park Place (931 King St.), a friendly neighborhood bar where you can make new friends; InCahoots (711 Edison Ave.), a fun dance bar that has something for everyone; Norm's Alibi (2952 Roosevelt Blvd.), which has a wide range of theme nights such as drag queen bingo and weekly shows; The Boot Rack Saloon, (4751 Lenox Ave.), a country and western bar where boot-scootin' is encouraged; and Bo's Coral Reef (201 5th Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach), the only gay bar on Jacksonville Beach, with live music and drag shows.

St. Augustine there is one gay-friendly nightlife venue, BT's Grill & Beer Garden (223 W. King St.), which offers two weekly drag shows, on Wednesdays and on Saturdays. In Daytona Beach, there is Hamburger Mary's Daytona Beach (180 N. Beach St.), which covers 8,800 square feet and will host events like charity bingo, multiple drag shows per week, and community functions. The group at Gay Daytona (gaydaytona.com) hosts a monthly mixer at a restaurant of their choosing; visit their website for more information.

Where to Go

Start on the Jacksonville Riverwalk if you want to see downtown Jacksonville close-up. The Riverwalk was opened 30 years ago and transformed downtown into a place that's more leisure than business. The Jacksonville Landing complex, which includes 65 shops and numerous restaurants, is a local favorite. Be sure to take a selfie in front of the iconic Friendship Fountain! You're also within walking distance from the Museum of Science and History and the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. Definitely take in a live show at the Florida Theatre, converted from a 1920s-era movie house.

If you're taking a trip up to Jacksonville's Northside, make sure you take a trip to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. With over 800,000 people visiting the Zoo in the last year, it has become one of Florida's top zoological attractions. While you're there, take off your shoes and take a walk along Amelia Island, featuring thirteen miles of beaches. If you want sun and fun closer to the city, go to Atlantic Beach.

Less than an hour southeast of Jacksonville is St. Augustine, which is filled to the brim with historic attractions. The Castillo de San Marcos was built by the Spanish in 1672, and today it is the oldest masonry fort still standing in the United States. Fort Matanzas was built in 1742 on a barrier island, also by the Spanish, and it is open to the public today for tours. The Fountain of Youth is Florida's oldest tourist attraction, which welcomed guests as early as 1868. This is the rumored site where Ponce de Leon discovered Florida in 1513. Another old-time Florida tourist attraction is the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, which has been open for tours and live crocodile shows since 1893.
The beach should be the very first thing you see when you take a trip down to Daytona Beach. The beach's boardwalk and pier offer lots of fun for everyone; enjoy the ferris wheel, go-karts, arcade, and more. You'll feel like a kid again! The best part is, for a small entrance fee, you can drive your car right on the beach so you can enjoy the beautiful waters of the Atlantic Ocean in air conditioned comfort.

Daytona International Speedway, offers tours daily and has just gone through a $400 million remodel. The track holds two NASCAR events each year, one in February and one in July. Many other events are held there throughout the year, so check online to make sure tours are available on the dates you would like to go. The South Beach Street Historic District is Daytona's chic shopping and dining district, offering many cafes, bars, restaurants, boutiques and souvenir shops for the discerning traveler.

When to Go

Jacksonville's River City Pride and Daytona/New Smyrna Beach's Volusia Pride usually happen in October, as of press time, no dates are published yet, but stay tuned to both organizations for more information about these important events.

If you are into bikers, Bike week will happen in March of 2017 but there is Biketober fest which will take place October 13-16. Unless you really love NASCAR (and chances are if you are reading this, you don't think of NASCAR when you hear Dick Trickle, may he rest in peace!) you may want to avoid Daytona during the race weeks.

Read more about northeast Florida by visiting the tourism bureaus for each area: visitjacksonville.com for the Jacksonville area, visitstaug.com for St. Augustine, and volusia.org/visitors for Volusia County, including Daytona Beach.