Jacksonville, Florida - “The River City”

6-Hour Private Driving Tour

Old Florida, Rivers, and the Stories Most People Miss...Where old Florida History Runs Deep.

Jacksonville surprises people—and that’s exactly why this tour works.

This 6-hour private driving tour explores Jacksonville’s older, quieter history: plantations, river routes, forts, cemeteries, and historic neighborhoods that existed long before modern Florida took shape. We slow things down, spread the day out, and let the places do the talking.

No crowds. No rushing. Just a full, easy day seeing Florida before tourism.

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What This Tour Is Like

Think a long, scenic day ride through real Florida history.

We follow the St. Johns River, move through former plantation land, stop at old cemeteries and forts, and drive historic neighborhoods that most visitors never connect to Jacksonville’s story. There’s time to step out, look around, ask questions, and breathe a little.

Always private. Always flexible.

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The Top Historic Places We Explore

This tour is built around ten specific historic locations, with plenty of time between stops. Order may shift based on traffic, weather, and interests.

Kingsley Plantation
One of Florida’s most important plantation sites—showing how antebellum Florida actually worked along the coast.

Fort George Island
A quiet coastal island that connects plantations, waterways, and early settlement patterns.

Fort Caroline National Memorial
Early French Florida, long before British or American control—adding depth to the story.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
A layered landscape of Indigenous history, plantations, and military sites.

Old City Cemetery
Jacksonville’s oldest cemetery, filled with Civil War soldiers, early settlers, and yellow fever victims.

Confederate Park
A quiet Civil War burial ground that helps explain Jacksonville’s role during the war.

Springfield Historic District
One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, showing how Jacksonville rebuilt and grew after the 19th century.

Riverside Historic District
Riverfront homes, shaded streets, and the transition from frontier town to modern city.

St. Johns River
The backbone of Northeast Florida—trade, transportation, and military movement all followed this river.

Fort Clinch State Park (context stop)
A coastal fort that helps tie Jacksonville into Florida’s wider Civil War and coastal defense story.

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Some of the Historic Homes & Landscapes

This tour includes drive-by views and short stops at some of Jacksonville’s most important historic homes and residential areas—used to explain antebellum Florida, Reconstruction, and early riverfront life.

Kingsley Plantation Main House - One of the best-preserved plantation homes in Florida, anchoring the story of slavery, coastal plantations, and Spanish Florida.

Betz-Tiger Point Preserve (Historic estate landscape) - Former plantation-era estates that show how elite riverfront homes once functioned—and how many disappeared over time.

Clara White Mission House - A key post–Civil War home tied to Reconstruction, Black leadership, and early civil rights work in Jacksonville.

Springfield Historic District - One of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, featuring early wood-frame homes and postwar residential growth.

Riverside Historic District - Riverfront homes and shaded streets that show Jacksonville’s transition from frontier town to modern city.

Fort George Island (Residential context) - A rare surviving plantation island where homes, labor, waterways, and defense all intersect.

These stops help guests see how people actually lived, not just where events happened.

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Jacksonville on Screen (Optional Film Layer)

Jacksonville’s historic neighborhoods, riverfronts, and coastal areas have quietly doubled as other cities and eras. If you’re interested, we’ll point out select filming locations connected to:

The Banker — downtown streets and historic districts

The Devil All the Time — rural and period neighborhood settings

Suncoast — Northeast Florida locations

Monster — Jacksonville streets standing in for other cities

The Waterboy — campus and surrounding areas (local favorite)

Film locations are exterior-only and optional.
History always comes first—the movie layer is there if you want it.

What We Focus On

Antebellum Florida and plantation life

Civil War Florida and Union occupation

Old cemeteries and early communities

Rivers, forts, and coastal geography

Florida before beaches and resorts

This tour is informative without being heavy—clear, human, and grounded.

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Tour Details

Duration: 6 hours

Format: Private driving tour

Group Size: Your party only

Walking: Light and optional

Pace: Easy, flexible, and unrushed

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Who This Tour Is For

History-curious travelers

Visitors who want old Florida, not theme parks

Couples, families, and small groups

Guests pairing Jacksonville with St. Augustine

Anyone who enjoys a full, well-paced day out

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Why Back Porch Tours

We don’t hurry history.
We give it room to breathe.

This is Jacksonville seen slowly, honestly, and comfortably—with time to connect the dots and enjoy the ride.

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Booking Notes

Private tour · advance booking recommended

Route may adjust for weather or traffic

Pairs perfectly with St. Augustine and Florida collection tours