Jacksonville Gold Rush: Saints, Saloons and Hustlers Walking Tour

While we will highlight several of our absolute favorite stops during the actual audio, you'll definitely want to budget some extra time to explore the shops and restaurants of downtown Jacksonville at your own pace. The beauty of a self-guided tour is that you can pause us whenever something catches your eye!

Here are a few spots we highly recommend checking out:

GoodBean Coffeehouse: Located right inside the 1860 Table Rock Bakery building, this is the perfect spot to grab an espresso and a baked good to fuel your walk.

The Bella Union: A fantastic spot to bookmark for a post-walk meal or a drink, sitting right where one of the town's premier pioneer saloons used to be.

Beekman Bank Museum: When we pass by this perfectly preserved 1915 time capsule on California Street, check to see if they are running their Behind the Counter tours. It is well worth stepping inside!

Veterans Memorial Park: We route you right by this beautiful green space at the end of Main Street. It’s a wonderful spot to sit by the fountain and catch your breath.

California Street Boutiques: The historic Wall Street of the West is now packed with incredible antique shops, boutiques, and local wine tasting rooms that are basically begging you to wander inside and take a break from the walking.

You can absolutely walk this tour year-round, but the experience definitely shifts with the seasons.

Spring and fall are our absolute favorites. The temperatures are perfect, the foliage looks incredible, and you can stroll the streets without bumping into too many people.

If you are visiting in the summer, you need to plan around two things: the heat and the Britt Festival. It regularly pushes into the 90s here, so we highly recommend tackling this route in the morning before the sun starts baking the historic brick. Plus, summer afternoons mean the concert crowds start rolling in. While the energy is fantastic, parking turns into a competitive pioneer sport and the sidewalks get packed. Early mornings are definitely the way to go from June through August.

Winter walks are completely doable and beautifully quiet, but you'll definitely want a warm coat!

Before we get you moving, there are a few quick things we want to flag to ensure you have a great walk.

As for safety, remember that authentic 19th-century charm also means dealing with authentic 19th-century uneven sidewalks! Watch your step on the older brick and wooden boardwalks, especially if they are wet or icy. Also, keep in mind that Jacksonville is a bustling town, not a closed movie set. We will be crossing several active streets during the tour, so please look up from your phone and keep an eye on traffic at the intersections.

When it comes to what to bring, comfortable walking shoes are an absolute must—those historic curbs are definitely not kind to high heels. We highly recommend bringing sunblock, and make sure to grab a water or coffee to stay hydrated if you are out in the summer sun. If you are taking the tour during the colder months, dress in layers and bring an umbrella for the Pacific Northwest rain.