Jacksonville/Gator Bowl tips

Here are some tips for folks in Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl from my daughters who lived and worked in the area.

Jim Dean, Telegram managing editor

-- Grab a giant piece of awesome hand made cake at Biscottis, 3558 Saint Johns Ave, (904) 387-2060.

-- Take the ferry from Mayport to to A1A traveling north to Fernadina.

-- Eat at Cedar's River Seafood in Fernadina.

-- Golfers could check out the course at Ponte Vedra.

-- Huguenot Park near Fernadina is worth a look.

-- Try Moon River Pizza in Fernadina and Jacksonville.

-- Rent a metal detector and go out on the beach.

-- Check out Metro Park by the stadium in Jacksonville.

-- Zip down to St. Augustine and take the ghost tour or see Ripleys Believe it or not.

-- The Jacksonville zoo is a pretty nice zoo and a great way to enjoy the weather.

-- Take a guided tour of Fort George Island on a Segway with Ecomotion Tours. The two-hour tour departs from the Ribault Club and visits the Kingsley Plantation while traveling along more than 3 miles of maritime fores. Advance reservations are required; call (904) 251-9477.

Or, hook up with local Husker fans who belong to the rabidly red N.E. Florida Husker Fans who will be holding a prime rib dinner from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday. It might be too late to get in on this one, but drop a quick e-mail to Keith Daubendiek at neflhuskers@comcast.net.

Other items if interest:

-- 1010 XL radio will be broadcasting with the NEFL Fan Group for the 2009 Gator Bowl Live from Ham’s Restaurant , 4530 St. John’s Ave., (904) 381-6767, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

-- New Year’s Eve: Ham’s Restaurant, 4530 St. John’s Ave., will host a Post-Pep Rally/New Year’s Eve party! Cost is $5 at the door, 8 p.m. to ...

-- On New Year’s Day Ham’s will offer hot hors oeuvres and live entertainment in an outside tent to accommodate Husker fans. Plus, on the TVs and Big Screens: 1995 BCS Championship Game between Nebraska and Florida; other past Nebraska bowl games and highlights; and this Year's Bowl Games of the evening.

Finish off 2008 year with party favors and a complimentary glass of champagne.

Game day at the stadium: In the “Touchdown Lot” on the east side of the stadium off Tallyrand, Duval, Bryan and Adams streets, the Northeast Florida Husker Club has arranged with Tailgaters Parking for parking spaces to be blocked off so we can tailgate together.

The parking lot where we have reserved the spaces comes equipped with: Pavilion with some tables and chairs, four television sets, DJ, small bar and several indoor toilets.

If anyone is interested in reserving a space in this area they should contact Tailgaters Parking directly at (904) 353-1126. Mention yuo want to be on the Nebraska side of the lot. Price: $21.40 per space

Parking is available for RVs, limos, buses and other such vehicles; however, these vehicles would be parking in a different lot. Contact Tailgaters for more information.

For souvenirs, ask for Harold at Discount Pro Wear at Jacksonville Landing for all your Husker shirts and other memorabilia

And from a personal point of view, my first granddaughter, Angelina, was born in Jacksonville, four years ago today (12/29/2004).