There really are things to do in Jacksonville. Hire a babysitter and head out for the night!
Jacksonville is a small town but there are still plenty of things to do in Jacksonville, NC for date night! Almost every major chain restaurant can be found on Western Boulevard: Chili’s, Olive Garden, Cheddars, Longhorn Steakhouse, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrell and more! We frequent Chili’s and Cracker Barrel, but our favorite date night restaurant is Hakata.
Dinner
Hakata is a short drive from Western Boulevard, on Onslow Drive. It is a Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar. Both the sushi and the hibachi are incredible! We always start with a sushi appetizer and then have hibachi. The chefs always put on a great show and the servers are excellent. If you do not like hibachi, there is a separate dining area near the sushi bar. Entrees range from $10-$30.
After dinner I suggest heading over to Swingin’ Things.
Entertainment
Swingin’ Things is located off Gum Branch Road (headed towards Richlands) and has a batting cage, driving range, miniature golf, and a full 18 hole golf course. It is locally owned and everyone that works there is very friendly. The miniature golf course is challenging and fun!
If you are in the mood for a movie, there are now two theaters in Jacksonville: Carmike 16 on Western Blvd, and Carmike Patriot 12 on Kalli Drive.
Drinks
To end your night, have a drink at Sywanyks. located off Henderson Drive. Sywanyks is a bar and night club. Bring cash for the cover charge and be sure you are dressed appropriately. It is a more mature crowd, so you don’t have to worry about a bunch of young people getting wasted. They have a dance floor and DJ and play a variety of music. Upon entering this bar you will realize it is not a typical bar…this bar is PACKED with USMC memorabilia, dating back to the 1800s. You could spend all evening just looking at the memorabilia that includes uniforms, photographs, posters, coins, knives, and much more. I was blown away at just how many USMC artifacts are in the club. It is definitely a place you want to visit at least once while you are at Camp Lejeune!
