Turkey Legs to Go is FanHouse's complete travel guide for all of the 2008-2009 college bowl games. Here, we cover the Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, Florida), which pits Clemson against Nebraska.Overview/Matchup: Clemson and Nebraska both come into this bowl at interesting points of their respective would-be dynasties. Obviously, Nebraska's tradition is nearly untouchable, but Bo Pelini is looking to pick up his first bowl win as head coach there. And to juice up the storyline a little bit more, Dabo Swinney, who took over the team after Tommy Bowden "resigned" midway through the season, is also looking for his first. The Tigers have a ton of momentum, beating arch-rival South Carolina to close the season, but Nebraska, winners of four straight to end the year, are coming on strong as well.
Hotels: Between its prime location (walking distance of the Jacksonville Landing shopping center, Center for the Performing Arts and the sports complex), luxurious accommodations, on-site dining and excellent service, the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront is easily the finest hotel in Jacksonville. On the opposite bank of the St. John's River, the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville has good proximity to the stadium, balconied guest rooms and reasonable prices. Just blocks from the Crowne Plaza, the Hampton Inn Jacksonville I-95 Central offers the same great location with rooms usually available for less than US$100 per night.
Restaurants: For fine dining try Matthew's in downtown, just south of the river. The restaurant is housed in a 1920s bank building in the San Marco district and offers an eclectic Mediterranean menu. Located a few minutes east of the stadium near Regency Square Mall, Campeche Bay Cantina is famous for homemade Mexican dishes and the best chips and salsa in town. Try the fajitas or fish tacos. For cheap dining and friendly service, bb's on Hendricks Avenue is the place to be. The restaurant is noted for its creative pizzas (including the BLT Pizza) but also offers salads, sandwiches, bistro fare and bar drinks.
Nightlife: The general nightlife scene in Jax more or less ends with the Landing -- it's close proximity to Alltel Stadium make it even more appealing to the tourist, particularly if your hotel is located within walking distance. Either way, fans should try and lock themselves into somewhere within a 20 minute cab ride of this hot spot. We do have one recommendation for the big spenders among you. Preservation Tap & Chophouse has an exquisitely stocked bar with 18 beers on tap and an extensive wine list (the succulent Angus steaks flash-broiled at 1500 F/850 C are also nice).
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-17-2008 @ 2:12PM
Fred said...
Proof positive that any moron can write a story. 5 minutes of research would of informed this writer that Pelini was "Head Coach" for one other Husker Bowl win, 2003 Alamo Bowl 17-3 win over Michigan State. The writer may argue that Pelini was only interim head coach, but still head coach for that game. Do your research Mr. Brinson
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12-25-2008 @ 12:34PM
Mr. Bogues said...
As a born-into Husker fan I think that Nebraska will win. Sorry fo this blog because its the lamest one there probably is. All I want to say is: Go Big Red.
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12-27-2008 @ 12:32PM
Roland said...
Well said Fred. Bo's got a lot of potential and hopefully T.Osborne will help him recruit players needed -- and a bowl win would help recruiting. Huskers don't have bone-crushing fullbacks to plow holes for non-existant strong/speedy I-backs. D-line doesn't have have great pass rush and secondary makes lots of mistakes. I'm die-hard Big Red fan but we'll be lucky to get a close win in Gater Bowl.
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12-31-2008 @ 4:43PM
Unforgivable Wetness said...
Strip Clubs: Jacksonville clubs suffer from the same problem San Antonio and El Paso do in Texas: Their respectable strip club scenes pale in comparison to the bigger cities in the state. Tampa and Miami have more girls, more beautiful girls, and more opportunities extras, and that rides roughshod over Jacksonville's 20 or so bars, which hold their own when it comes to girls and privates. A lot of them charge $30 for one of those private dances, though, eliciting charges of being overpriced in some quarters. Also, many clubs in the city have an unwritten rule where the girls onstage will not fully undress until there is $5 in tips. And many people may be turned off by the relative "redneck" vibe of the city compared with the "sophistication" of Tampa and Miami to the south.
For nude/no alcohol, Solid Gold seems to be the gold standard, although others also like the Doll House and Sinsations. If you want alcohol, try the topless Gold Club or two bikini bars: Wackos and Emperors Gentlemen's Club.
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