Location: Gainesville
Top Things to do in Gainesville
The 10 Best Budget-friendly Things to do in Gainesville, Florida (FL)
Home to the University of Florida, the largest and oldest university in the state, as well as the Santa Fe Community College, Gainesville is a hub of education and culture. Perhaps due to its strong student population, the city is also at the heart of independent music in Florida, having produced numerous musical acts from a variety of genres. The natural surroundings, including parks, lakes and the adjacent Paynes Prairie State Reserve provide a green getaway from the bustle of city life.
Restaurants in Gainesville
1. Butterfly Rainforest
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,195 reviews
**The Butterfly Rainforest exhibit is open to the public. To ensure a safe environment for all visitors, the exhibit has limited entry, a mask requirement and follows a one-way path. Daily Butterfly Spotlights are temporarily paused. For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/museum-blog/covid-19-update.** The Butterfly Rainforest is a 6,400-square-foot screened exhibit exposed to typical Florida weather conditions, resulting in a more natural environment for the butterflies and plants. This living exhibit features hundreds of free-flying butterflies, typically more than 50 species at any given time, birds from around the world and an assortment of other animals including turtles and fish to experience firsthand. The lush landscape is planted in tropical trees and colorful flowering plants amid waterfalls and a walking path. Skilled interpretive staff are available to help answer questions and provide visitors with a personal and highly engaging experience.
Reviewed By colleenj935 - New Albany, United States
Tropical paradise in an enclosure! Meandering path leads you through lush jungle filled with beautiful butterflies and little birds! There is even a waterfall! Nicely done!
2. Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 212 reviews
Not for profit exotic animal rescue and endangered species animal park and breeding center. Large beautiful nature park with 28 species, over 75 animals including big cat feeding demonstrations.
Reviewed By wmidd0707 - Amelia Island, United States
My wife and I booked a private tour of the large variety of exotic animals at the non-profit Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation. Along with a variety of cat species from very large to very small, we visited Lemurs, Hyenas, Bat-eared Foxes, Jackals, and more. A highlight of the visit was a very old and friendly hippo who loves for guests to feed him veggies. The animals were in large, safe, and very clean enclosures. They were obviously loved by the staff and volunteers. Great outing for a couple or family!
3. Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 22 reviews
VisitGainesville is the official tourism sales and marketing organization for Gainesville and Alachua County. VisitGainesville is ready to assist you in planning your vacation or your meeting. From your initial inquiry to dining and entertainment recommendations to the ride home, our experienced and professional staff is your guide to the community. Gainesville is the proud home of the University of Florida. And for some people, that's the beginning and end of the story. But a few minutes spent on this site, followed hopefully by a visit sometime in the near future, and the story changes in a big way. Gainesville isn't just a great college town. It's a great town. Period. It's where nature and culture meet. Where trees draped in Spanish moss line quaint Old South inspired streets. Where a cozy quintessential downtown exudes hospitality, comfort, and at times, a certain refined ease in its shops and restaurants. Where state parks are a virtual playground of world-class natural attractions, sinkholes, waterways and waterfalls, shady pine forests, flora and fauna, and amazing NATURAL North Florida sunsets. And where the surrounding towns like High Springs, Alachua, Cross Creek and Micanopy dial-up the charm even further each in their own individual way. Looking for iconic locations in Gainesville to take photos? We've got you covered. So, welcome to Gainesville. It's a little of what you might expect, and a lot of what you wouldn't. Whether you're staying for a day, week, weekend or longer, we look forward to helping you create your own unforgettable story. One we hope you'll tell again and again.
4. Lubee Bat Conservancy
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 36 reviews
Reviewed By stevekirn - Gainesville, United States
The Lubee Bat Conservancy is an internationally renowned -- and utilized -- haven for a number of different bat species, with a focus (for now) on large fruit bats (i.e., they are fruit-eaters -- not mosquito eaters). These are often referred to as "flying foxes". As you may know, they are mammals, with furry bodies and faces that to my eye are sort of a cross between a fox and a dog. The amazing thing is their wingspan -- up to 5 or 6 feet! I mean these are BIG bats! But mostly, they just hang around - literally -- upside-down, of course, and occasionally walk across the top of their enclosures to mun on some of the fruit shish-ka-bobs prepared by the staff. They are quite docile and, I think, very cute, and not scary at all. Access to the Conservancy is limited, though there is a big bat festival each Fall, open to the public, held in October, with boooths selling lots of bat stuffed animals, decorations, costumes and other things, plus a wide array of ecology-minded, conservation and various animal protection groups. There is a beer garden, and food trucks. But kids -- and adults -- are truly mesmerized by the bats. It is possible to arrange special tours by conacting the Conservancy office, but I don't have details on that. Loyts of volunteer workers. My advice: check it out on festival day, adversized on the website. There is nothing else like this place!
5. Depot Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 89 reviews
Depot Park is a signature city park in downtown Gainesville providing a space for unique public outdoor enjoyment. Depot features a children's adventure play area with a custom splash pad of waterfalls, water soakers, and ground jets. A water's edge promenade hosts special events like food truck rallies, art festivals, and musical performances. The park is fully staffed and free of charge.
Reviewed By joshs895 - Bangkok, Thailand
The park is lit up at night and makes for a very nice walk. During the day you can stop by the train car for refreshments. It’s a nice place just to spend sometime out of the house.
6. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 452 reviews
Herb and botanical garden displaying unusual plants from around the world.
Reviewed By EALGator - Gainesville, United States
This place is tucked away, but is world class! It has everything you can imagine, including a big lake, bamboo stands, little waterfalls, kids play area and, of course, alligators and gift shop! But all tastefully done.
7. Florida Museum of Natural History
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 975 reviews
**The Florida Museum is open to the public. To ensure a safe environment for all visitors, the Museum has limited entry, a mask requirement and follows a one-way path.** Open to the public continuously since January 1998, Powell Hall houses exhibits and public education programs. It is located between the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art and the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in the UF Cultural Plaza at 3215 Hull Road, just east of Southwest 34th Street on the western edge of the University of Florida campus. Visitors to Powell Hall will encounter exciting featured exhibits and signature permanent exhibition halls that explore the state’s unique habitats and rich cultural history, including information about some of Florida's early Native peoples. Visitors may view a Calusa Indian welcoming ceremony and mammoth and mastodon skeletons from the last ice age.
Reviewed By gbowser2044 - Gainesville, United States
The Florida Museum of Natural History has something for everyone. From the Discovery Zone with interactive fun that sneaks some learning in for the little ones to the fossils that tell the story of animals development through the ages to the history and culture of the Native Americans who were the first Floridians there is something that will interest anyone. Add in the permanent Butterfly Rainforest and a traveling exhibit (at this time it’s Amazing Pollinators) and there are enough animals, insects, skeletons, and plants to make spending some time learning about nature in Florida fun.
8. Paynes Prairie
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 474 reviews
Nature area with woods and swamp as well as an information center describing the wildlife in the area.
Reviewed By corvus0486 - Gainesville, United States
The Payne’s Prairie State Preserve is one of the most outstanding natural areas of north Florida. It is known for its massive flicks of migratory Sandhill Cranes, loafing American Alligators, small herds of Wood Buffalo and wild horses all reminiscent of the period of William Bartram’s journey through north Florida. The State Park is also the site of Alachua Sink, a portal the region’s prime ground water and valued source of water supply. The Prairie is an outstanding resource for birdwatching and general nature enjoyment from dawn to dusk. Highly recommended.
9. Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 249 reviews
Reviewed By FLGatorJTK - Lake Placid, United States
We hadn’t been to the Harn in years but visited this weekend because of their new “A Florida Legacy” exhibit. I am so glad we did! The Vickers family donated over 1,200 works of art depicting Florida scenes and they currently have nearly 170 paintings, watercolors, and drawings on display. Works include 125 artists, including several works by Thomas Moran, and were created in the 19th & 20th centuries. It’s a lovely collection that has found an appropriate home at the Harn. While you’re at the Harn, don’t miss a beautiful Monet in the gallery next to the Florida exhibit. The Harn is home to a variety of other exhibits, including photography and ceramics, but the Florida exhibit had me lingering to appreciate the beauty and changes over time captured in these works.
10. The Hippodrome State Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 193 reviews
The Hippodrome State Theatre is the architectural centerpiece of Gainesville's Historic downtown and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. The main stage theatre features the work of award-winning thespians and presents some of the best theatre in the country. The Hippodrome also houses a visual arts gallery, a cinema featuring first run artistic and foreign films, and a full service bar.
Reviewed By 82bobw
Jazz at The Hipp is amazing! Down in the basement, an ideal venue for these Monday evenings of musical magic, young musicians blend with maestros to delight discerning audiences. We caught music students from UF, joined on one amazing jam by their Professor (who happens to be a three times Grammy nominee). We'll try The Hipp upstairs sometime, but not at the expense of missing the jazz.
