Lifestyle
Dining & Shopping
From independent shops in Green Cove Springs to the 850,000 square-foot Oakleaf Town Center, there’s plenty of retail therapy right around the corner from Granary Park. Making a run to Target or Starbucks is easy with ample shopping in Fleming Island and Oakleaf in Clay County, not to mention over 120 shops at Orange Park Mall. When you’re looking for a family dinner on the town or easy take-out, Zac’s Pizza, Dalton’s Sports Grill and Creek Life Food Shack offer great local options just up the road.
Kayaking & Canoeing
Granary Park is nestled in an area rich with spring-fed waterways, like the sparkling springs in Jennings State Forest. Grab the canoe or kayak and spend a day watching otters romp on the banks, spying deer in the woods and observing great herons and egrets. At nearby Camp Chowenwaw Park you can stay overnight in a tree house or cabin, drop your kayak at the mouth of Black Creek in the early hours, and experience the peaceful sounds of authentic Florida before the rest of the world wakes up.
Boating & Fishing
As the song goes, a bad day of fishing beats a good day of anything else. And nothing beats throwing out a line at dawn, or floating downriver with friends & a little yacht rock. Granary Park offers great access to the serene western bank of the St Johns River. At almost 3 miles wide, this portion of the river is a well-known spot for bluegill, crappie, catfish and even the occasional redfish, flounder and snook. Doctors Lake Marina, Black Creek Marina, Reynolds Park & Green Cove Springs Marina are just a stone’s throw away. If a lazy afternoon of bank fishing is more your style, you can stroll right over to Ronnie Van Zant Memorial Park with a well-stocked lake, four fishing piers, and wildlife-rich surroundings.
Arts & Culture
Northeast Florida boasts a rich heritage, and Clay County offers access to some of the best culture in the region. For families, it’s a short trek to The Art Room or The Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum in Green Cove Springs, as well as the Middleburg Community Theater. In nearby Jacksonville you can spend Saturday mornings strolling the Riverside Arts Market, browsing handcrafted treasures and enjoying roving street entertainers. For a civilized outing, the world-renowned Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens showcase more than 5,000 artworks from 2100 B.C. through the 21st century. Jacksonville’s Museum of Science and History (MOSH) is the city’s most-visited museum with interactive exhibits for kids of all ages. And music lovers can find something for every taste, from Jacksonville Symphony concerts to bluegrass, rock and country at Daily’s Place, the St. Augustine Amphitheatre or dozens of intimate venues throughout the region.