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PICTURED: Enjoying the day on beautiful Lake Wauberg

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Safe travels to@ HogtownBeerFest@ LakeTribeBrew ! https://t.co/u3Gtfndozt about 3 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Looking to add some fun to Mother’s Day weekend? https://t.co/1XeSzZj9g8 about 4 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Thursday, stroll along Main Street Alachua for live music, food trucks, and wine tastings with Island Grove Winery! https://t.co/zZ6ZxSFLPd about 6 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

RT@ FLStateParks: Take an eco-escape! Camp, hike and bike at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville, where wild horses, bison an… about 7 days ago · reply · retweet · favorite

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Visit Gainesville Craft Beer
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  • Exploring the Landscape of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
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  • Micanopy Store
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  • Harvest at the Downtown Farmers Market
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  • Gourmet Food Vendor at the Downtown Farmer's market
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  • PAYNES PRAIRIE
    “A nature-lover's dream!” - North Carolina

  • BUTTERFLY RAINFOREST
    “Beyond expectations.” - Florida

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

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

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Get Outdoors

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
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

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  • Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

    4700 SW 58th Drive Gainesville, FL 32608 352-372-4981

    Twenty five major collections make up Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. The collections include the largest herb garden in the Southeast and Florida’s largest display of bamboos. During warm months visitors can see giant Victoria water lilies and Asian snake arums. June - September offer the most color.

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  • Lake Santa Fe

    6204 Dogwood Lane Melrose, FL 32666 352-374-5245

    Lake Santa Fe has been designated by Florida as an “Outstanding Florida Water” which means it is “worthy of special protection because of its natural attributes." Two to four pound large-mouth bass are common, with six to eight pounders possible.

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  • Lochloosa Harbor R.V. Park

    15008 SE Us Hwy 301 Hawthorne, FL 32640 352-481-2114

    We are located on Lake Lochloosa-one of the top 10 Speck (Black crappie) and Bass lakes in the State of Florida. We connect to Orange Lake and go through Cross Creek.

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  • Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park

    18700 S. County Road 325 Cross Creek, FL 32640 352-466-3672

    A National Historic Landmark, the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings house and grounds is nestled between a quiet country road and Lake Orange. The homestead is completely restored and preserved as it was in the 1930s including a barn, tenant house, orange grove, seasonal garden and nature trail.

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  • Matheson History Museum

    513 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 352-378-2280

    The Matheson History Museum showcases the history of Gainesville, Alachua County and surrounding environs. The museum complex includes the main exhibit gallery, Library & Archives, 1867 Matheson House, Tison Tool Barn, and Sweetwater Park.

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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.  Experience the adventure of climbing trees!  Gainesville's Canopy Climbers provides fun, safe, sustainable, year-round tree-climbing adventure events. 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

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Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau
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Gainesville, FL 32601
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