Planning a trip? News4JAX asked AI to plan a holiday-themed day in Northeast Florida. Here’s the full itinerary

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you are planning a trip for Thanksgiving, using a vacation itinerary generated by artificial intelligence may be a good option for you. In fact, using AI to plan vacations is becoming more and more common.

News4JAX wanted to put AI to the test and asked ChatGPT to plan a holiday-themed day in Northeast Florida for one day.

Here’s the itinerary it gave us! Spoiler: It’s packed with fun activities!

Prompt: Plan me a one-day trip in Northeast Florida for November 25th that is budget-friendly and focuses on holiday fun. Include a mix of popular landmarks and hidden gems, suggest optimal times to visit attractions, and estimate travel times.

Itinerary

Morning

1. Depart Jacksonville → Big Talbot Island / Boneyard Beach
   1. Travel time: ~30 minutes from downtown Jacksonville.
   2. Why go: This is a lesser-known “hidden gem” — Big Talbot Island State Park offers the surreal Boneyard Beach, with bleached driftwood skeletons, dramatic bluffs, and an otherworldly shoreline. Florida State Parks+1
   3. Cost: ~$3 per vehicle for park entry (honor-system fee box) per visitor reports. Travel the Parks
   4. Best time: Arrive around 8:00–9:00 AM when the park opens (state parks typically open by dawn, and the early light is great for photos). Low tide is ideal for seeing more driftwood — check tide chart ahead of time.
2. Nature walk & picnic
   1. After exploring the beach (~45 min to 1 hour), you can walk parts of the Timucuan Trail (a paved multi-use path) for more views. Florida State Parks
   2. Bring a simple breakfast or coffee from Jacksonville to enjoy at the picnic area. The park has picnic facilities.

Midday / Late Morning

1. Drive from Big Talbot Island → St. Augustine Historic Downtown
   1. Travel time: Approximately 1 hour (depending on traffic) to St. Augustine’s historic district.
2. Self-Guided Historic Walking Tour
   1. Use the Self-Guided Walking Tour of St. Augustine route. Self Guided Walk
   2. Key stops:
      1. Castillo de San Marcos — if you’re willing to pay (~$15/adult) you can tour the fort; otherwise admire from outside. Self Guided Walk+1
      2. Plaza de la Constitución — a central historic plaza with monuments. Visit St. Augustine
      3. Cathedral Basilica, Flagler College courtyard — free to view the courtyard / rotunda. Visit St. Augustine+1
      4. Llambias House, Oldest House Museum — historic homes, part of a self-guided “Historic Houses” route. GPSmyCity+1
   3. Time needed: Plan for 2–3 hours walking through downtown to soak in the architecture, hidden corners, and historic sites. Visit St. Augustine’s free historic sites. Visit St. Augustine
   4. Pro tip: Start at the Visitor Center (10 S Castillo Drive) for maps and guidance. Self Guided Walk

Early Afternoon

1. Lunch in Historic St. Augustine
   1. Choose a café or local spot along St. George Street (pedestrian-only) — plenty of reasonably priced eats, plus shopping. Visit St. Augustine+1
   2. Or pack a light picnic (if you prefer to save money) and sit in one of the small plazas or public parks.
2. Free / Low-Cost Historical Sites
   1. Government House Museum — free admission; good historic exhibits. Visit St. Augustine
   2. Fort Mose Historic State Park — a meaningful and free (or very low-cost) site. St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL
   3. Fort Matanzas — also listed as free things to do around St. Augustine. St. Augustine & Ponte Vedra, FL
   4. These options allow for meaningful, budget-friendly history exploration.

Late Afternoon / Early Evening

1. Nights of Lights Walking (Holiday Highlight)
   1. St. Augustine’s “Nights of Lights” runs nightly (mid-November through January). Visit St. Augustine
   2. Walk the illuminated downtown streets, including lit trees, buildings, and historic landmarks. The lights create a magical, festive atmosphere.
   3. Best viewing times: as dusk falls — around 5:30-6:30 p.m. is great for photography and ambiance.
2. Christmas Market at Colonial Quarter
   1. There’s a daily holiday market at Colonial Quarter (33 St. George Street). According to local event listings: open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for shopping (free), and evening from 4 to 9 p.m. with entertainment, Santa, lights. Reddit
   2. On Nov 25, you could catch the market in its evening mode, enjoy live music / festive vibes.
3. Use Free Shuttle / Parking Tip
   1. To avoid downtown parking costs, you can park in one of several lots and use a free shuttle during Nights of Lights. Visit St. Augustine
   2. The free shuttle operates during many Nights of Lights nights. Reddit
   3. This saves money and the hassle of driving through crowded narrow historic streets.

Evening / Dinner

1. Dinner in St. Augustine
   1. After you’ve enjoyed the lights and market, grab dinner in one of the cozy downtown spots. You don’t need a high-end restaurant — try a local diner, café, or modest bistro on St. George Street or nearby.
2. Optional: Stay or Return
   1. You can choose to return to Jacksonville after dinner (1 hour drive), or spend the night in St. Augustine to soak in more lights and maybe catch a morning walk.

Additional Tips & Budget Considerations

• Shoes & clothes: Wear comfortable walking shoes — a lot of this day is on foot. Bring a light jacket for the evening (it can cool off).
• Food budget: Estimate ~$10–20 for lunch (depending on where you go) + dinner cost.
• Gas cost: Factor in driving from JAX → Big Talbot → St. Augustine → back.
• Timing: Starting early helps maximize daylight (for nature / historic walking) and allows you to enjoy the lights at dusk.
• Photography: Bring your camera or phone — Boneyard Beach and the holiday lights in St. Augustine are very photogenic, especially around dusk.

Why this plan works for holiday fun + budget

• You get natural beauty (Boneyard Beach) + historic charm (St. Augustine) + festive lights (Nights of Lights) — a well-rounded mix.
• Many of the activities are free or very low-cost: park entry, walking tours, public plazas, and historic sites.
• The holiday market adds seasonal spirit without being a major tourist trap.
• Using the free shuttle saves on parking and adds convenience.

Make sure to always be careful when using AI chatbots and double-check everything — even AI is not perfect!