Did you guys enjoy Jacksonville (during The Tax slayer Bowl)??????
- Thread starter Michael.Felli
- Start date
Our crew (14 or so) had a great time in spite of so-so weather. Locals were very nice, good food, easy to get around. Very enjoyable.
Yes, my family and I had a blast. We drove into J-Ville on New Years Eve. On New Years day we spent the day at St. Augustine. We spent two nights at Amelia Island after the first night in Jacksonville. We did some tailgating before the game and really had fun at the game. Despite the loss, we really had fun. We were so proud of the way the boys fought back to make it a game. My wife and I were smack dab in the middle of the UGA section...I believe it was 137.
We were at a restaurant in Amelia Island the night before the game and Franco Harris came in...I said hello. It was a neat experience.
We were at a restaurant in Amelia Island the night before the game and Franco Harris came in...I said hello. It was a neat experience.
Surrounding coastal areas are fine (Amelia Island, St. Augustine, Savannah much further North).
City of Jacksonville itself ---- bleh.
City of Jacksonville itself ---- bleh.
I was a little disappointed with Jacksonville. I arrived on Friday morning around 10. I went to the landing for the pep rally. The weather wasn't great but you can't control that. What disappointed me at the landing was the lack of preparation by the shops and restaurants at the landing. I realize it was New Years Day, but they weren't very well prepared for the crowd. We went to one of the sports bars for drinks and snacks before the pep rally. They were disorganized and understaffed. The same thing happened on the day of the game. We bought tickets to the pre-game tailgate party. I stood in line for 30 minutes trying to get a drink. They only had two people working at the tent. Not only were they serving beer but mixed drinks as well. By the time I got to the front of the line almost everything was gone. The same thing happened inside the stadium. I went out at halftime to get a drink and something to eat. Once again the line was huge and the concession stand seemed to be understaffed. This was my first bowl experience. I don't want it to sound like I didn't have fun. I did, but I was just a bit disappointed. I was expecting a little more.
We left on Sunday so we really didn't have a chance to see much of the city. On a positive note we stayed at the Extended Stay just across the river from the landing. On-line reviews were not favorable and I was somewhat leary. It ended up being great. Very clean and convenient.
Overall, it was an ok time, not sorry I went. I don't think I would spend the money to go again.
We left on Sunday so we really didn't have a chance to see much of the city. On a positive note we stayed at the Extended Stay just across the river from the landing. On-line reviews were not favorable and I was somewhat leary. It ended up being great. Very clean and convenient.
Overall, it was an ok time, not sorry I went. I don't think I would spend the money to go again.
I had lived in Jacksonville for 29 years before moving to Atlanta 2 years ago. I went to the Bowl game and stayed with friends. All the years I lived there, Penn State never came. Now that I moved, of course then we had the chance. Overall, Jacksonville isn't a great tourist destination compared to other FL cities, but for people coming from PA and other northern destinations, it should have still been fun. Jacksonville is a GREAT place to live and raise a family like my wife and I did. It is more of a blue collar city compared to Orlando, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Tampa, etc.,. but has lots of good beaches and residential communities!
The weather stunk, lets be honest. The PEP rally was cool, until it literally dumped buckets of rain. We stayed in a suburb about 15 minutes out of town in Candlewood Suites on way to outdoor mall. Hotel was perfect. Outdoor mall was huge and cool, just stunk it rained and rained when we were there. We went Jacksonville Beach and stayed on the ocean the last two nights we were there at the Four Points Sheraton. Again, great hotel, great price for being on beach. Never made it to St. Augustine or Amelia Island, wanted to but limited time, with wife and baby, and the weather was just not nice enough.
Seems the whole downtown area of highway was under construction, I mean the entire highway around downtown. Exit ramps, everything, under construction.
My seats were great, took a boat taxi to game and it was cold doing that but from Michigan so still much warmer. The stadium could probably use a face lift, the concourse is extremely small. However, by our seats we were lucky enough to be able to walk INTO a concourse that was inside through double doors. This had everything from concessions, to a big bar, to tons of big screens with game one, it was like being in a movie theater. Tons of seats and tables too. I cannot be thankful enough as I had a 1 year old at game who could not sit still so this was our saving grace for that.
My goal was to go to a PSU game in tank tops and sandals. I ended up going in a hoodie and jeans. It was like fall in the north.
Was worth it though, doubt I would go back to that game ever again, would rather be further south in FLA or out west.
Seems the whole downtown area of highway was under construction, I mean the entire highway around downtown. Exit ramps, everything, under construction.
My seats were great, took a boat taxi to game and it was cold doing that but from Michigan so still much warmer. The stadium could probably use a face lift, the concourse is extremely small. However, by our seats we were lucky enough to be able to walk INTO a concourse that was inside through double doors. This had everything from concessions, to a big bar, to tons of big screens with game one, it was like being in a movie theater. Tons of seats and tables too. I cannot be thankful enough as I had a 1 year old at game who could not sit still so this was our saving grace for that.
My goal was to go to a PSU game in tank tops and sandals. I ended up going in a hoodie and jeans. It was like fall in the north.
Was worth it though, doubt I would go back to that game ever again, would rather be further south in FLA or out west.
Bowl game was fine. Fireworks were great as was the dinner cruise on the river. Game day was fine. The tailgate was fine; lots of drinks and food. Stadium was fine, but don't tell me about all the room you have at a PRO stadium. Seats are tight with little or no leg room. Only good thing was the drink holder.
PSU's tailgate: well we were not left in. Seems that it was invitation only even though they were flying a lot Alumni and Nittany Lion Club flags. NLC guy told us we should have paid the fee. Never have I ever had to pay for a PSU away game tailgate/pep rally.
PSU's tailgate: well we were not left in. Seems that it was invitation only even though they were flying a lot Alumni and Nittany Lion Club flags. NLC guy told us we should have paid the fee. Never have I ever had to pay for a PSU away game tailgate/pep rally.
