After your Jacksonville moving company has pulled out of the driveway, you’ll be ready to start getting organized and familiar with your new city. Part of that includes finding a doctor and dentist, so when the time comes for a check-up, you know where you’ll be going. Finding the right dentist for your family is an important task, so we’ve given you a quick run-down of the best way to find someone locally.

Ask Around; Asking locals might be obvious, but many times overlooked as the best option for finding a local dentist. When you meet your neighbors or people in the community, be sure to ask for advice on where they go. People love to offer up their experiences and advice. If you haven’t had the chance to meet anyone yet, turn to social media. Throw a question out to Facebook and see if anyone knows of someone locally who might be able to help give you a recommendation.

Google It:  Here’s one of the quickest ways to find dentists in your area. We suggest searching for dentists based on your location first, because proximity will be important, but then once you’ve found a dentist be sure to take that name and search for online reviews. So first step is to:

·       Go to www.google.com

·       Search for: “Dentist + Jacksonville, FL” or use your zip code

·       Click on “Maps” in the toolbar

·       View area dentists and write down 5-10 located closest to your home

·       Continue onto the next step which is find reviews

Get Reviews: Once you’ve narrowed down your search go to the following sites in order to get objective feedback. Note how many reviews each dentist has because sometimes overall ratings can be misleading if there are only a few reviews in the dentist’s profile:

·       http://Yelp.com

·       http://AngiesList.com

·       http://www.healthgrades.com

·       http://www.ratemds.com/

Welcome to Jacksonville! If you’ve just watched your Jacksonville moving company pull out of the driveway, you’re probably ready to hit the beach! Even though the temperatures can get pretty hot in this part of the country, don’t miss out on some of Jacksonville’s best local hot spots.

Atlantic Beach: Stay cool in the water and learn how to surf or kayak this summer. This beach is a little less crowded than Jacksonville Beach and offers beautiful ocean

views.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery: Visit Anheuser’s Jacksonville brewery and get a complimentary tour and a few cold brews to shake off the summer heat. Check out their state-of-the-art production house, plus enroll in their beer school for a little additional education: http://www.budweisertours.com/z01/index.php/jacksonville/overview/

Riverwalk: Take a stroll down 1000 Museum drive and check out 1.2 miles of bars, restaurants, shops and museums. Some visitors have even spotted some manatees

in St. John’s River.

Latitude 30: If you really want to beat the summer heat, stop by Latitude 30 for some indoor (air conditioned) fun. This entertainment complex features a bowling alley, arcade and a movie theatre. Also, check out their kids eat free specials – if you want to take the whole family.

Catty Shack Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary: This non-profit sanctuary is home to a variety of great cat species that are endangered or threatened. Bring the kids and admire the tigers, lions, cougars, leopards, bobcats and more. Some visitors say the night-time feeding is worth the trip – so check out their website for hours of operation: http://www.cattyshack.org/

*Picture credit to taberandrew under the creative commons license.

If you’ve just watched your Jacksonville moving company pull out of the driveway, you might be ready to enjoy this spring weather. Check out some of these must-do events with your family and start enjoying your new city.

Movies in the Park: Enjoy a free outdoor movie at Wyndham – Jacksonville Riverwalk’s riverfront lawn on the Southbank. On May 4, 2012, from 8 PM – 12 PM watch Jurassic Park and gaze at the stars with your family as you enjoy some popcorn from the concession stands.

2012 Jacksonville Backyard BBQ Championships: On May 5, 2012, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM come to EverBank Field to participate in Jacksonville’s Backyard BBQ Championship, which is a fundraiser for Glyn Cook Memorial Scholarship for Daniel Kids. Bring a fork and enjoy BBQ, music and fun! For more information about the fundraiser visit: http://danielkids.org/page.aspx?pid=468

Jacksonville Jazz Festival: On Friday, May 25, 2012, enjoy a free jazz performance in the heart of downtown Jacksonville. Also, come back again on Saturday and Sunday to check out The Wine Down/Brew Town Tasting Experience and other events that are going on during this high-energy festival: http://www.makeascenedowntown.com/Events/Jacksonville-Jazz-Festival---05-28.aspx

*Picture credit to taberandrew under the creative commons license.

If you’ve just watched your Jacksonville moving company pull out of the driveway, you might not be ready to head off on a spring break vacation. If you and your family are considering a staycation this spring, check out our quick tips for how you can make your upcoming vacation at home a success.

1. Make a List: Host a family meeting and ask everyone if they have things they would like to do during their week off. Don’t limit it to things that require you to leave the house, maybe you’ve always wanted to camp out in the backyard or bake Grandma’s famous seven-layer cake, but haven’t had the time. By creating a list of things everyone can get excited about, you can start narrowing down ideas into a week-long agenda.
2. Research: Since you might be new to Jacksonville, you will want to do some research on events that might be happening during spring break week. Ask your neighbors, locals and check the Web. Sites like http://experiencejax.com/ will provide you with some ideas that you might not have otherwise considered.
3. Think Like a Local: As you research events going on in Jacksonville, be sure to note things that are unique to Jacksonville. Find things to do, that you couldn’t do anywhere else in the world. From the beaches to fishing and museums, be sure you take in the local flavor of your new city.
4. Look for Deals: Since you’ll be keeping it local all week, think about setting a budget for the week. Make it a game to find coupons and deals throughout the week. Check out this list of things you can do for under $10: http://www.visitjacksonville.com/family-travel/section/affordable-activities.
5. Do Something New: As the saying goes, “do something every day that scares you.” Why not take a step out of your comfort zone and conquer a fear. Swim with a dolphin, eat a clam or take a scuba diving lesson…whatever you do, remember to make memories with your family and enjoy your week off.