Visit Gainesville
  • Explore Our City
    • Get Outdoors
    • Watch Sports
    • Experience Arts & Culture
    • Go Downtown
    • Visit our Nearby Towns
    • Do some Shopping
    Not sure where to start? Check out Some of Our Favorites.
  • Come Stay Awhile
    • Hotels, Motels & Inns
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    • Special Event Accommodations
  • Join Us For Food & Drinks
  • Bring Your Groups & Meetings
    • Meeting Locations
    • Group Tours
    • Planning Resources
    • Meetings RFP
The Annual Downtown Festival & Art Show

Go Forth


&

Explore

PICTURED: Enjoying the day on beautiful Lake Wauberg

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • YouTube
  • Trip Advisor
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • TripAdvisor
profile

VisitGainesville

Gainesville

RT@ SwiftCycle: It is a wonderful day to ride a bike in@ gainesville. Stop by the shop and we will show you are favorite routes! #bikemonth about 20 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Get out and have fun today! Here's a look at events in and around Gainesville: http://t.co/wkJUA4l45Z from@ cmcapartments. about 22 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Touch a Truck is today from 9 to 2! http://t.co/aOoeEqZGRr Don't miss out on all the fun! http://t.co/JRzMjI1fmb about 23 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Yes. RT@ swamprestaurant: Hot Day. Cold Beer. Happy Hour Starts Now. yesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

Join the conversation
Visit Gainesville, FL
  • Visit Gainesville Florida
  • Fanfare and Fireworks at UF 2012
Find more Gainesville videos at YouTube
  • Micanopy Store
  • Downtown Farmers Market
  • Downtown Farmers Market
  • Downtown Farmers
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Harvest at the Downtown Farmers Market
  • Freshly Baked Bread at the Gainesville's Downtown Farmers Market
  • Collection of Seeds at Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Flowers at the Downtown Farmer's Market
  • Herbs From Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Vintage Dough Bowls at Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Downtown Farmers market
  • Marlene's Shop
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Gainesville Gators
  • Gainesville Gators
  • Gourmet Food Vendor at the Downtown Farmer's market
  • Food Vendor at the Downtown Market
  • Downtown Farmer's Market
  • Freshly Picked Flowers From the Downtown Market
View more Gainesville photos on Flickr
  • PAYNES PRAIRIE
    “A nature-lover's dream!” - North Carolina

  • FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
    “So much to see!” - Indiana

  • BUTTERFLY RAINFOREST
    “Beyond expectations.” - Florida

  • SAMUAL P. HARN MUSEUM OF ART
    “Terrific university art museum.” - Pennsylvania

Find more reviews and tips on TripAdvisor

Get Outdoors

  • Get Outdoors
  • Birding
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Parks and Places
  • Canoeing & Kayaking
  • Golf
  • Fishing
Kayaking near High Springs
Kayaking near High Springs
Kanapaha Lilies
Kanapaha Lilies
Close up of a Caracal at the Santa Fe Zoo
Close up of a Caracal at the Santa Fe Zoo
Florida blue skies wildflower
Florida blue skies wildflower
Golfing in Alachua
Golfing in Alachua
Students meeting Albert and Alberta
Students meeting Albert and Alberta
Herbs at the Kanapaha Garden
Herbs at the Kanapaha Garden
Greathouse buttlerfly farm
Greathouse buttlerfly farm
Melrose Bay fisherman
Melrose Bay fisherman
High Springs kayaking boats
High Springs kayaking boats
Feeding porcupine at the zoo
Feeding porcupine at the zoo
Horses at the Retirement Home for horses
Horses at the Retirement Home for horses
Paynes Pairie Observation walk
Paynes Pairie Observation walk
Hawthorne bike trail
Hawthorne bike trail

Just a Few Of Our Best Locations

  • < Prev
  • Next >
Sort Results A-Z Z-A
  • Friends of Nature Parks

    3540 E. University Avenue Gainesville, FL 3540 E. University Ave. 352-334-3326

    Citizen support organization that provides volunteers, supplemental funding and advocacy for the City of Gainesville's Environmental Education programs, nature parks and conservation areas.

    More Details
  • Poe Springs Park

    28800 NW 182nd Avenue High Springs, FL 32643 386-454-1992

    Poe Springs is the Gainesville area’s largest spring. It pumps 45 million gallons of cool, refreshing water daily. The park features a playground, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, volleyball courts, softball/kickball/soccer field, nature trails and its own spring.

    More Details
  • Santa Fe Canoe Outpost

    2025 NW Santa Fe Boulevard High Springs, FL 32643 386-454-2050

    A canoe outfitter on the scenic Santa Fe River.

    More Details
  • Greathouse Butterfly Farm

    20329 State Road 26 East Earleton, FL 32631 352-475-2088

    The Greathouse Butterfly Farm is the largest butterfly farm in North America.

    More Details
  • Florida Bat Festival

    1309 N.W. 192nd Avenue Gainesville, FL 32609 352-485-1250

    The 8th Annual Florida Bat Festival takes place at the Lubee Bat Conservancy on October 27th. This unique event will provide a rare opportunity for the general public and wildlife lovers to visit a working research and conservation center to see some of the largest species of bat face-to-face.

    More Details
  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next

Whatever floats your boat, among other things.

Gainesville, and really all of Alachua County, might just be an outdoor enthusiast's dream destination. With world-class fishing, snorkeling, canoeing, diving and kayaking, there's always plenty to do on the water. On land, those so inclined may enjoy birding, hiking, biking, fishing and pretty much everything else under the sun. It's all made possible by Mother Nature herself. The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo allows for an up close look at the wildlife. Student led tours reveal what working with zoo animals is all about. Our area is blessed with parks like Paynes Prairie, the San Felasco Hammock Preserve and Devil's Millhopper three of many such places that not only offer incredible sanctuary to wildlife, but also generously provide people activities that simply don't exist anywhere else. With rolling hills, sinkholes, lakes, upland forests, hammock and prairie, the landscape surrounding Gainesville has always been a natural playground. Come explore our outdoors.

Additional Resources

  • Natural North Florida
  • Activities for Gator Children
  • Paddle Florida
  • Yulee Railroad Days
  • Old Florida Heritage Highway Tours
  • Oleno State Park Tour
  • Dudley Farm State Park Tour
  • Virtual Visitor Guide

Search

I’M LOOKING For

Sign Up

For Our E-Newsletter

Partner Resources
  • Local Tourism Organizations
  • Visitor & Revenue Statistics
  • Weather Preparedness
  • Grants & Scholarships
  • News

Help Me Find

  • Conference Grants
  • TDC Scholarships Program
  • Tourism Product Development
  • Gainesville Sports Commission
  • Hospitality Council

Contact Us

Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau
30 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Directions


Toll Free Phone: (866) 778-5002
Local Phone: (352) 374-5260
info@visitgainesville.com

Quick Links

  • Upcoming Events & Festivals
  • Getting Here
  • Virtual Visitor Guide
  • Special Event Accommodations
  • Restaurants
  • Industry Partners

Visitor Resources

  • About Gainesville
  • History
  • Gainesville Difference
  • Nearby Towns
  • Gainesville VCB & Visitor Center
  • where nature and culture meet
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • YouTube
  • Foursquare
  • TripAdvisor
  • Pinterest
  • Media Resources
  • Public Records
  • Sitemap
  • Copyright ©2013 Gainesville Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau