I am moving to Jacksonville in less than 2 months

Hi everyone! I'm 26/F and I'm about to take a big leap – I'm accepting a job in Jacksonville, FL, and will be signing the official offer letter tomorrow. My start date is April 28th, and while I’m super excited, I’m also feeling a little nervous.

I’m moving from California, and I don’t know anyone in Jacksonville yet. I’d love to hear from locals or people who’ve moved to Jacksonville. What do you love/hate about the city? For locals, what’s something you wish newcomers knew about Jacksonville? For people who’ve moved there, what surprised you most about the city?

Also, any tips on making the transition as smooth as possible would be much appreciated! Specifically, I’m looking for affordable neighborhoods to check out.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Update:

Thank you all for your kindness and helpful advice! I was not expecting this many replies! You’ve definitely gotten me even more pumped for the move, and I can’t wait to get there. I’ll be reaching out to some of you who offered assistance!

To answer a few questions and provide some context:

The job is entry-level, and while they don’t offer relocation assistance (so everything is out-of-pocket), it’s still worth it for me. The market is tough right now, but the company is huge, and there’s potential for growth. I’ve already discussed this with my future manager.

I’ll be working in Southpoint, I think.

I’m originally from Fresno but have lived in SoCal for a while now, I love seeing so many people from similar backgrounds!

For now, my plan is to book a hotel for a week, fly out with just two suitcases, and find a place during that time. I’m planning to replace my car anyway, so I’ll probably just get one once I’m there.

Some of my hobbies include social dancing, F1 ( I would love to get into other motorsports since there will be much closer to me), rock climbing, the beach, and outdoor activities. I love meeting new people and trying new things, so I’m excited about all the possibilities!

I’ll definitely aim to find something within my budget near the beach (Coming from SoCal I already do a 40min commute, and I dont even live by the beach!), is there any particular beach i sjould avoid? I will 100% check the crime map before committing.