Jacksonville braces for hordes at Super Bowl

With our Terrible Towels aflutter and our fingers crossed pending the outcome of today's AFC Championship game, we are providing an overview of Jacksonville, Fla., for those who might be contemplating a trip there in the next two weeks. Just in case. After all, there won't be much time to plan.

Tickets to the game itself will be very expensive and hard to come by, as will any accommodations within 70 miles of the city. The 14,000 hotel and motel rooms in and around the city have been booked for months, and many area residents are renting out their homes and apartments.

Getting there is another matter.

Situated in the northeastern corner of Florida, Jacksonville straddles the St. Johns River, near where it enters the Atlantic. It is about 850 miles from Pittsburgh, via Interstates 79, 77 and 95, a 12- to 14-hour trip each way. Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is served by American Airlines, AirTran, Continental, Delta, Southwest, United and US Airways, though none nonstop from Pittsburgh. Amtrak provides daily service from Washington and Richmond.

Named after Gen. Andrew Jackson, the city became an important port for cotton and timber after the Civil War, as well as a seaside escape, once promoted as "the winter city in summerland." When the city and Duval County merged in 1968, Jacksonville became the largest city in the United States in terms of area (840 square miles), although in terms of population, (1,201,984) it is the smallest city to host a Super Bowl.

Like Pittsburgh, it is a city divided by water and crossed by bridges. In fact, "Building Bridges" is the official theme of Super Bowl XXXIX. The game will be played at AllTel Stadium on the river's north bank, with the NFL Tailgate Party and Corporate Hospitality Villages set up in nearby parking lots.

Just steps away, along both sides of the river, the Times-Union SuperFest will be held beginning Feb. 2 before the game. This entertainment-themed area, replete with numerous bars, restaurants and local vendors, is sure to be a focus for visitors, along with Jacksonville Landing on the Northbank and the NFL Experience at JEA Park on the Southbank. All three sites will be easily accessible, linked by water taxis, a ferry, trolleys, trams and buses.

Fireworks will light the night sky on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Other scheduled events include the Sea and Sky Spectacular at Jacksonville Beach and a shell fish festival in Fernandina Beach.

You can find complete schedules and all sorts of pertinent information on the official Web site of the Jacksonville Super Bowl Committee: www.jacksonville superbowl.com.

But of course, there's a lot more to the Jacksonville area than can be encompassed by one football game, no matter how super it may be.

Most obvious are the many miles of white sand along the barrier islands that line the coast, from Amelia Island in the north to Crescent Beach south of St Augustine. The area is home to more than 50 golf courses, with something for every skill level and price range.

If you're planning to see more of the area while you're there, be sure to check out the Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau -- www.visitjacksonville.com or 1-800-733-2668.