A Perfect Gainesville Florida Getaway

(UPDATED DEC 2022) Located between Orlando and Tallahassee in Alachua County, this is a Central Florida town you’re going to love! I’ve visited many times, and am more impressed each time. Here is how to have a perfect Gainesville Florida getaway.

Gainesville is home to the University of Florida, a well-respected school with fantastic athletic programs, impressive higher learning, and nearly 60,000 students. It typically ranks #1 in the state on college and university polls. thanks to the Gainesville’s tasty food scene, great trails and outdoor venues, and cultural activities, it is a travel destination in its own right.

Best Attractions To Visit

World-class museums, talented local artists, fantastic murals, and a solid theater scene are the top draw in Gainesville. Here is a look at each of them.

Museum of Natural History

The Florida Museum of Natural History has five permanent collection exhibits: South Florida People & Environments, Florida fossils, Northwest Florida Waterways & Wildlife, Butterflies, and Exploring Our World. This impressive history museum also features limited-run special attractions, such as Frogs: A Chorus of Colors.

We saw frogs from around the world and learned about their habitats, their importance to the ecosystem and heard frog calls. Children will love all of the unique features geared towards their ages. 

Butterfly Rainforest

A separate ticket is required for the Butterfly Rainforest (at the Florida Museum of Natural History), but it is well worth the fee. The Butterfly Rainforest houses thousands of exotic butterflies in the most incredible 6,400 square foot venue I have ever seen.

Tropical plants and foliage provided the perfect spot for these beautiful butterflies to land, making it possible to capture incredible pictures of this delicate species.

The Wall of Wings inside of the museum displayed thousands of butterflies from around the world. As a travel writer, I have visited many butterfly attractions around the country, but the Butterfly Rainforest in Gainesville is my favorite and easily one of the best things to do in town.

Harn Museum of Art

The Samuel P. Hard Museum of Art is an intimate museum that packs a powerful punch—and admission is free. It is one of only three museums in the country with Frida Kahlo exhibits. The Harn Museum contains African, Asian, modern, and contemporary art and fantastic photography— is a University of Florida affiliate and has a tasty little cafe with soups, salads, and sandwiches.

Gainesville’s 352 Walls

Gainesville is filled with artsy, creative murals; they are referred to as the 352 Walls. Download a map to see the addresses of them and drive around town enjoying the views. A few of my favorites are High Dive, Tom Petty, and Interesni Kazki.

Artists from around the world have shared their eye-catching talents with the city of Gainesville for this expansive public art project.

The Hippodrome Theatre

A college town wouldn’t be the same without a thriving cultural center, which in Gainesville is referred to as “The Hipp“. Gainesville’s historic Beaux-Arts state theatre, the Hippodrome, is a lovely regional professional place to take in a cultural performance or live music acts.

The elegant town centerpiece runs Broadway and off-Broadway productions, art house films and seats 268 people per performance. The Hipp serves popcorn, packaged snacks, and drinks (alcoholic, too) in the lobby. 

My daughter and I saw Becky’s New Car, a light-hearted comedy about middle age and the paths we choose in life. I also saw The Royale, inspired by a true story about the first African American World Heavyweight Champion, on another visit.

Both were incredibly good performances.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens are unique in every way—a real fun place to learn more about nature. The gardens are organized in a simple, yet effective pattern, that was not one bit overwhelming. Best of all, the plants, flowers, and trees were labeled, making identification easy.

I was so intrigued by Kanapaha’s herb gardens and walking through the Chinese royal bamboo forest. The almost musical bamboo clanged together in the wind; the sound was enchanting. Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is huge, so pace yourself, but easily one of the best things to see and do in town.

Don’t miss the charming hummingbird and butterfly garden.

Depot Park

Downtown Gainesville’s Depot Park is one of the coolest addresses in town. You’ll find a multitude of kid’s fun things to do, including an over-the-top playground and awesome splash pad (open 365 days a year as long as it is 70 degrees), plus there is a big pond and promenade for scenic walking.

Parkside Subs & Shop is an onsite eatery with hot and cold sandwiches, craft sodas, and sweets. Next door is Goldie’s Burgers, with Po’ Boys and many vegan food items. Pick up beer and wine from Boxcar Beer & Wine Garden.

FYI: There are several great picnic areas around the park.

Did you know that you can also take a bus from Orlando to Gainesville? It’s super easy. Check out Wanderu’s guide for how to make the most of both great Florida cities.

University of Florida Campus

The University of Florida’s 160-year-old campus is enormous, with 900 buildings over 2,000 acres. Many students drive mopeds to get around campus, so you will see them parked everywhere. UF generates a considerable amount for Florida’s economy through its research programs.

My daughter and I did a self-guided tour of the University of Florida campus based on website suggestions. We walked through the student union and enjoyed seeing groups of students busying themselves in various activities. 

Taylor, a huge football fan, was thrilled to see the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Go Gators! We were shocked by the number of colorful Vespas parked around campus.

Cade Museum for Creativity

A unique attraction in Gainesville is the Cade Museum, a world-class venue for doing, not seeing. This beautiful and stately venue hands-on learning experience is unlike anywhere else, dedicated to future visionaries, inventors, and entrepreneurs through a gift from Dr. Robert Cade, inventor of Gatorade.

The Cade is a space to explore technology in new ways and have fun along the way.

I had an insider’s tour of the museum months before its grand opening and was blown away by the unique attraction. Just the Fab Lab portion of the Cade Museum alone has computers, 3D printers, laser cutters, soldering stations, and much more.

This breath-taking steel and concrete building looks perfect in its Depot Park setting. Watch the calendar for special events.

Hike the La Chua Trail

The La Chua Trail is a fantastic spot to take an easy hike through sinkholes in a beautiful natural setting. The trail is partially on a handicapped-accessible elevated boardwalk. This gorgeous hiking spot is at the Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, near Micanopy, Florida.

Come for abundant, exotic wildlife and a wide array of birds. You’ll also find several walking trails to enjoy a good dose of nature and picturesque scenery.

 If you are lucky like me, bison and alligators (dozens of them) might be rearing their heads for your photo ops. 

Another great place for hitting the trails and absorbing the Florida climate is Sweetwater Wetlands Park, a man-made area with well-done observation decks. The 125-acre conservation area has native plants, animals, birds, and Florida cracker horses.

Note: I’ve always wanted to explore Devil’s Millhopper (a deep, cover-collapse sinkhole, rainforest, and geological state park), but it is always been closed when I’m in town.

Sample Gainesville’s Great Beer

As with most college towns, beer goes hand-in-hand with the “great things to do”. At Swamp Head Brewery, sample a flight or savor a single beer at this tasty craft brewery. My favorites are Midnight Oil (a coffee stout) and Wild Night (honey cream ale).

Where to Eat in Gainesville

Satchel’s Pizza is a must when visiting Gainesville, not only for the delicious eats, but for the fun and funky furnishings, vintage bus, and artsy vibe. Foodies will highly approve of Satchel’s creative pizza combinations, crisp and healthy house salad, and craft soda sampling. There are also fun desserts, and whether you are hungry enough for them or not, be sure to browse the “menu”, a real blast-from-the-past treat.

If Asian-inspired dishes are on your radar, Dragonfly Sushi & Sake is the place to go. The Short Rib Miso Ramen dish, with a perfectly-poached egg on top, is excellent and full of exotic flavors. A second tasty Asian restaurant is Liquid Ginger, with the best Chicken Pad Thai I’ve ever had. Go for lunch to enjoy discounted prices.

For casual eats, say chargrilled burgers and fries, Loosey’s Downtown will please your palate. They also offer sandwiches, sliders, salads, and Mac & Cheese.

Get your barbecue fix at Mojo Hogtown B-B-Que with exceptional smoked turkey breast and pulled pork, plus a long list of tasty Southern sides like collard greens, garlic cheddar grits, and sweet potato mash.

Blue Gill is my favorite Gainesville restaurant, with over-the-top deliciousness for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The pimento cheese is perfect any time of day, and Blue Gill’s Shrimp and Grits are the best in town. 

A close runner-up would be The Top, a heart of downtown Gainesville hotspot with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options, too. The appetizers and desserts are the best parts of the meal at The Top, and the drink options are impressive. Try the Fried Kimchi Cauliflower.

Where to Stay in Gainesville

The Doubletree by Hilton, near the interstate, was a smart choice for our visit to Gainesville. My daughter and I were delighted with the fun and vibrant lobby and its stylish decor, perfect for a college town vibe, yet upscale in every way.

My room was spacious, had comfy beds, a mini-fridge, and a balcony overlooking the courtyard. A noteworthy feature of this property was the outdoor lobby bar with welcoming seating groups and an enormous TV wall.

Gainesville has a historic bed and breakfast district, the only one I’ve seen in the whole country. Three stand out in my mind as the best properties: Magnolia Plantation, Laurel Oak Inn, and Sweetwater Branch Inn.

I stayed at Magnolia Plantation, a charming b&b with gorgeous rooms, an amazing breakfast, and loads of amenities. There are nine cottages on the 1.5-acre property adorned with beautiful gardens, waterfalls, a gazebo, and secret places to sit and relax. 

My room was the upstairs part of the Carriage House, accessible by a private door and stairs off to the side. Inside is a living room, kitchenette, huge bedroom, dreamy bathroom, and French doors leading to a private veranda. Stately chairs, lamps, and marble top tables accompanied the Victorian-style sofa, which my grandma used to have.

Large windows allowed for a lot of light to get into the antique-filled cottage. The best part was the veranda with wooden rockers, a classic porch swing, and a wrought iron bistro table.

A Special Event

One of my favorite festivals in all of Florida is Gainesville’s annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, which takes place for three weekends in January. Come explore the world of skilled artisans and craft makers as they command 160 spaces to delight visitors through jewelry, clothing, pottery, leatherworking, blacksmithing, and much more.

The medieval faire’s food alone is worth the visit, but the talented musicians and street performers are the real stars of the show.

Hoggetowne Medieval Faire has been running for over thirty years now. If your travels bring you to Gainesville during this time, it is certainly worth checking out. I truly adore this festival!

If you need more fun, entertainment, games, and food, you can also pop over to Dave & Buster’s at Celebration Pointe, one of Gainesville’s hottest attractions with a million square feet to offer.

Thanks to the Gainesville CVB for hosting our familiarization visit. As with all of our posts, opinions and reviews are 100% my own and unbiased.

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Read more about our Florida adventures at:

41 Fun Things to Do in the Palm Beaches

Guide to Visiting Melbourne

Cool Things to Do in Central Florida