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If you can't find a good book in the Jacksonville area, then you're not looking hard enough. This city has a wonderful selection of bookstores from large chain stores with thousands of titles to smaller, independent stores with specialty books. Jacksonville also has used bookstores where you can buy and sell books and get some great deals. Here are some of the best bookstores in Jacksonville. more Chamblin Bookmine Chamblin Bookmine is a large independent bookstore with two locations in Jacksonville. This store has both new and used books along with collectibles and rare books. Between the two locations and the warehouses, Chamblines has roughly three to four million titles available. You can bring your gently used books in for cash or store credit, or just browse through the stacks of books. Chamblin participates in the Art Walk on the first Wednesday of every month when artists and local vendors set up in front of the Uptown location, and the book club meets once a month to discuss a new book with different genres covered every month. Black Sheep Books Black Sheep Books has a warm and inviting atmosphere and a fantastic collection of rare books. Shop here for mint condition first editions and some unique titles you can't find at other stores. This used book store has a vast selection ranging from pulp classics to science fiction, kid's books, and the classics along with paperbacks that bring you back to your childhood. The owner and staff are very knowledgeable about almost any genre and will help you find what you need. San Marco Bookstore The San Marco Bookstore first opened in 1972 in the San Marco Square. The current owners purchased it in 1999, worked hard to grow the selection of books, and it is still a family-operated bookstore. Stop in to find a new book or browse through the gift ideas that include scarves, banned book titles, and even Edgar Allan Poe socks. The book club celebrates all books, including banned books, and if you visit the website, you can find a list of suggested titles. San Marco Bookstore also hosts book signings. Barnes & Noble Booksellers You can't go wrong at Barnes & Noble, and there are two locations in Jacksonville. This large bookstore has a little of everything, including games, toys, and comfy chairs where you can sit and look through the books. The children's section is enormous with special events for the kids, such as storytime, the Young Adult book club, and even Lego building events. Head to Barnes & Noble to find a new book or grab a cup of coffee from the cafe and spend a few hours browsing through the thousands of books and magazines. If you want to save money, make sure to check out the bargain section. This is always a great place to find something new and interesting. Check out these Jacksonville area bookstores. You can find almost anything to read, whether you like sci-fi, nonfiction, the classics, or rare first editions. image via pixabay

Birding is one of the most fascinating hobbies out there. Florida is home to the Florida Birding Trail, which is made up of state parks and other places to see different bird species throughout the state. Here's an overview of where to go and what birds you can see there. Crystal River Archeological State Park Located in Crystal River, the Crystal River Archeological State Park is a good place to start for birding beginners. Songbirds, Eagles, and water birds are all found at this state park. It features paved and easily accessible trails that lead to where the songbirds migrate to. An ancient shell mound gives a good view of the river and the ducks and waders in the water near the shoreline at all times of year. The park has a $3 entrance fee. more Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge Chiefland, Florida, is home to the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge and the 8.5 mile Dixie Mainline trail within. This area is a place to go to see native and migrating shorebirds. Lots of other wildlife is also available to see here as you walk, bike, or drive along the trail. One of the must-see experiences here is the bald eagle nests in the Salt Creek Marsh. Exercise caution during October and November. The area is a popular hunting spot, so hiking and biking isn't advisable during this time of year. Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park Dr. Julian G. Bruce St. George Island State Park, 10 miiles from Eastpoint, Florida, is known for beautiful beaches but it's also a prime spot for birding enthusiasts. The best time to come here for birding is October through April when beach attendance is at its lowest. American oystercatchers and snowy plovers nest here on a regular basis. Bonaparte's Gulls are a reliable presence during the winter and spring months. Blue grosbeaks and scarlet tanagers are songbirds that can be found along the sandhill trail leading from the campsite in April. There's a $6 entrance fee. Bok Tower Gardens Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida, is another birding destination set in a beautiful garden setting that mixes with the native plant population. It's the perfect place to see loggerhead shrikes, kestrels, pleated woodpeckers, and nighthawks. Songbirds that migrate stop here in April and in the fall from September through October. Hummingbirds visit during the spring and summer. Bok Tower Gardens has a $15 admission fee. Caladesi Island State Park Located on the Florida Gulf Coast near Dunedin, Florida, Caladesi State Park is another beach destination where you can find songbirds that migrate from other places, gulls, and terns. Piping plovers and red knots can also be found here. The park is only accessible by boat but you can take the nearby Honeymoon Island State Park ferry right to the island. There's a $6 boat fee. Florida has a variety of spots where you can see birds native to the state as well as those just migrating to other places. Whether you want to walk along trails, visit lush gardens, or simply enjoy the beach and look for birds, there's a birding spot for you. Check out these birding destinations on your next trip to Florida. Some rights reserved by DFChurch