Jacksonville. Where Florida Begins.

The New Year...a time for resolutions, a new outlook and...crushing your opponent?  The 2009 Konica Minolta Gator Bowl is going to be a great match-up on New Year's Day 2009.  Forget the gridiron clash for a moment and think history.  The Nebraska Cornhuskers have never traveled to Jacksonville for the Gator Bowl and the Clemson Tigers have a story-book past in the game.  This is Clemson's ninth trip to the Gator Bowl, breaking a record it once shared with the University of Florida. 

Both stories are great excuses to take a little time away from the office and visit Jacksonville.  Besides the game itself, there is so much to do here, whether fans want to focus on traditional events surrounding the game or want to soak up some sunshine and relax for a while...we think it will most definitely be warmer here than in Lincoln, NE.  So Huskers fans, especially, will be making way for Jacksonville Beach as they escape frigid temperatures.  Polar Plunge into the Atlantic, anyone?

For New Year's Eve, fans can Make a Scene Downtown with an electrifying fireworks display over the St. Johns River in Downtown Jacksonville.  The Jacksonville Landing, located along the Northbank, gets started early with pep rallies during the day and continues into the evening with live entertainment in the courtyard.  Popular nightlife spots, the Twisted Martini, an upscale entertainment and dining venue with South Beach sophistication, and Maverick's, a rock and honky-tonk will be packed with people ringing in the New Year. 

With a Thursday game, fans will enjoy the long weekend getaway to explore all Jacksonville has to offer.  Tickets and hotel accommodations are still available, but rumor has it that it'll be a near sellout, so act fast!

"You've never been to the Georgia-Florida game?" 

This question has been asked by a number of incredulous natives since I moved here nearly two years ago.  Last year, I traveled for a wedding (which always brought on another question..."who would have their wedding during Georgia-Florida?").  This weekend, I will get to see what all the fuss is all about from tailgating parties, pep rallies, RV City decorations, live entertainment at a number of Downtown Jacksonville venues and, of course, the showdown of two of the country's best college football teams.

Saturday, Nov. 1 marks the 86^th annual Georgia-Florida Football Classic (or Florida-Georgia, depending on which team has home status).  A Jacksonville tradition, this one event brings out the fanatic Bulldog and Gator-clad attire, face paint and a razzing of the opposing team's fans in good fun for a four-day collection of festivities.  It is a game that ESPN, College Football News, The Sporting News, Fox Sports and others have called one of the best college rivalries in the nation and we are excited to serve as the host each year.

Jacksonville is home to an abundance of college football games each year.  In addition to GA-FL, last month's River City Showdown brought Florida State and Colorado fans to Jacksonville resulting in a 39-21 FSU win.  The annual Gator Bowl, played each year on New Year's Day, pairs together an ACC team a team from the Big East, Big 12 or Notre Dame. 

Each game brings to Jacksonville loyal fans of their respective teams and even those locals who are just crazy about the sport, which, in Jacksonville, isn't hard to find. 

Last weekend, Jacksonville, Florida, welcomed its newest ship, Carnival Fascination, to our JAXPORT Cruise Terminal. Lucky me, I got a front row seat on the newly renovated ship as I toured the 2,052-passenger, Fantasy-class ship before it sailed to the Caribbean.

As I was driving up Heckscher Drive, I was struck with awe by the magnificent ship sitting in port. Due to the sheer size of the ship, she could be seen for miles creating even more excitement and anticipation for any island-bound passengers.

Everyone knows that one eats well (and often) on board a cruise ship, and the four-course meal served for lunch was delicious, especially the lobster tail and the trio of chocolate dessert. Yum!

Good thing we went on the tour following the meal because I definitely needed to work off lunch with a nice stroll around the ship. We headed through the amazing six-story atrium to witness the results of a multi-million dollar renovation of all cabins, restaurants, bars and the spa and the addition of a nine-hole mini golf course.

Fascination is full of rich colors, bright lights and excitement around every corner. Passengers on board will get to see live entertainment, win big in the casino, lounge by the pool and dance until dawn at the disco. Kids and teens have their own space to express themselves on board with Camp Carnival and Club O2, respectively.

With all the fun to be had on board, a day at sea from Jacksonville to the Bahamas will give people plenty to do. And as I watched the fortunate people who were setting sail from Jacksonville board the ship for its inaugural voyage, I could only think of one thing...

Any chance I could stowaway?

The Carnival Fascination sails on 4- and 5-day itineraries from JAXPORT Cruise Terminal to the Bahamas and Key West through 2010.

Having grown up in the sandhills of North Carolina, I have always lived within a couple of hours' drive from the beach.  When I was younger, I so looked forward to those trips to the ocean - playing in the surf, collecting sea shells and working on my tan.  The only thing to ruin those memories was having to get back in the car and drive the 2 ½ hours back to my home in Raleigh. 

For that reason, among a slew of others, I am so happy to be living at one of Jacksonville's beaches with the Atlantic Ocean at my fingertips.  Being a beachcomber is more than just relaxing on the sand...its about a change in mentality and attitude, which is something I cherish, especially being a transplant from the hectic pace of Washington, DC, where, up until last year, I lived for nearly a decade. 

Like so many other weekends since I moved to Jacksonville, this Labor Day, I experienced the quintessential beach lifestyle.  Several of my friends who live in Avondale and Ortega traveled across "the ditch" (what locals refer to as the Intracoastal Waterway) to visit with us in Jacksonville Beach, soak up the sun, picnic and play one of my favorite beach games, paddleball. 

With storms off the coast, the waves were perfect for surfing and the surfers were out in full force.  Surfing is something I hope to pick up now that I can maintain the lessons I will learn by living so close to surfing action (standby for a post on that adventure!).  In the meantime, I had to settle for the sidelines of standing waist deep in the water where I got slightly rocked by the powerful waves.  What a rush!

By 6:00, we were famished and ready to eat.  Sliders Seafood Grill in Neptune Beach offers the delicacies of the sea in a casual atmosphere and the eight of us grabbed prime seating, a picnic table on the side patio, where we chowed down on peel-and-eat shrimp, fish tacos and ice cold Budweiser, which was so refreshing after a long day under the sun.

Jacksonville Foodies, listen up!  Eat Up Downtown, Jacksonville's dining week, has been extended another week through Aug. 31 at participating restaurants.  Make the most of this extension because when can you get a three-course dining experience for $25?  Check out the scene on a date, dinner with friends or for a family feast at one of these great establishments:

b.b.'s
Bourbon Bayou
Café Nola @ MOCA
Juliette's Bistro
Koja Sushi
Mongo's Flat Hot Grill
Plaza III Steakhouse
The Wine Bar - Southbank
The Twisted Martini
University Club
Wine Cellar

Dining prices are per person and do not include tax or gratuity.  To learn more about the featured menus at each of the participating restaurants, go to http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/.  Eat, Drink and be Merry!

The 4th of July has always been my favorite holiday. It's not just the cookouts and beach parties or the day off of work. To me, it's about so much more... the pride and patriotism I feel toward my country and the men and women who have fought and still fight for our freedom. I am the type of person who cries during "The Star-Spangled Banner" and during Lee Greenwood's classic, "I'm Proud to Be an American."

This year's "Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks" 4th of July celebration in Jacksonville brought local residents and Florida visitors together to celebrate our nation's birthday. From live outdoor concerts at Metropolitan Park to ice skating at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena to parties at The Jacksonville Landing, downtown Jacksonville was packed with enthusiasts for the red, white and blue.

By nightfall we were invited onto the Infinity Cruise Yacht, which was docked along the Jacksonville Riverwalk in perfect view of the fireworks. We found a perfect spot just in time for the Grande Dame of the occasion and my favorite part of Independence Day... the fireworks! I am continuously amazed by the light show overhead in Downtown Jacksonville each time I get the chance to see it.

Jacksonville, Florida definitely KNOWS fireworks. The spectacular display over the St. Johns River during Super Bowl XXXIX invited the world into our party and, since then continues to dazzle during any celebration as fireworks and Jacksonville go hand-in-hand. These aren't your backyard sparklers, but a fabulous spectacle full of greens, blues, reds and golds that wows the crowd.

During the fireworks, patriotic songs rang out from the Times-Union Center and inspired many a tone-deaf reveler to participate. I even joined in with the singing, much to the dismay of my friends.

As usual, I choked up at the sights and sounds of Independence Day and can't wait for next year's "Freedom, Fanfare and Fireworks" 4th of July celebration (or even the next opportunity for fireworks, which, thankfully, is often in Jacksonville, Florida)!