Shrimpin’ is a way of life in Jacksonville and has been for centuries in the small fishing village of Mayport, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the St. Johns River. Appropriately named Mayport Shrimp are Jacksonville’s signature dish and the focus of the latest food trail from Visit Jacksonville – the Mayport Shrimp Trail.
The Mayport Shrimp Trail invites shrimp lovers on a self-guided tour of more than 20 restaurants across the city, including The Local, Southern Coast Seafood, Palms Fish Camp, Singleton’s Seafood Shack and Pink Salt Restaurant & Wine Bar.
Those wishing to go on shrimp-focused dining excursions can download the Visit Jax app and select the Mayport Shrimp Trail icon. By checking in at each location visited, trail participants are eligible for free shrimp-themed t-shirt from Visit Jacksonville and two tickets to a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Baseball Game. Those who complete the five stops are also eligible to win the grand prize vacation package, which includes an overnight hotel stay in Jacksonville, 10 tickets to a Jumbo Shrimp baseball game and the opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch at the game! The grand prize winner will be selected at the end of the summer.
“Mayport Shrimp is a Jacksonville staple – we want to make sure we celebrate the rich history and the delicious food,” said Katie Mitura, chief marketing officer at Visit Jacksonville. “We created the Mayport Shrimp Trail to make it easy to find this signature dish at local restaurants. The partnership with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball team was a no-brainer and they are just as excited as we are to promote this!”
I stopped in at Sea Harbor Restaurant on Father’s Day for a waterfront treat. The only thing better than the freshness of the shrimp was the views. All of it along the St John’s River less than a mile from its mouth and the Atlantic Ocean.
The collaboration with local restaurants for the new trail gives Visit Jacksonville an opportunity to promote Jacksonville’s signature crustacean while giving visitors a unique destination experience that can only be enjoyed in Jacksonville. The full list of participating restaurants is available at mayportshrimp.com.
