@antimatter – what kind of family? It really is hard to get family sponsorship and they need to be super close (your parents or sibling) relationship, to begin.
Also, I have lots of family in Jacksonville, FL – and while it’s a beautiful city near nice beach areas (e.g. Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville Beach) it has relatively high unemployment so personally, I wouldn’t consider moving there, and I am an American citizen.
The other thing about Jacksonville is that it is not at all a “walkable” city – you would immediately need to have a vehicle that you could borrow (or buy your own) to get around. You can’t get anywhere without a car in that particular city/area.
Last, but probably most important to note is that having family here might give you the ability to apply for their sponsorship, but they have to be willing AND have the financial means, and even then—it’s not a certainty that you’ll be granted a visa.
Start here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1310.html
Most important note: Grandparents, aunts, uncles, in-laws, and cousins cannot sponsor a relative for immigration.
“First, the USCIS must approve an immigrant visa petition, I-130 Petition for Alien Relative filed by your sponsoring relative for you. Next, most sponsors will need to demonstrate adequate income or assets to support the intending immigrant, and accept legal responsibility for financially supporting their family member, by completing and signing a document called an Affidavit of Support. Once this is complete, then the intending immigrant will apply for the immigrant visa.”
More info on family sponsorship visas are here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1306.html
The best possible “path” I’ve seen is to find an employer willing to sponsor your H-1B visa and then if you want to stay in the US more permanently you follow the steps to Citizenship after you have fulfilled residency OR you might marry an American.