Things to do in Gainsville
Florida Museum of Natural History
The Florida Museum of Natural History, chartered by the Florida Legislature in 1917 as the state's official natural history museum. With more than 20 million specimens of amphibians, birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, mollusks, reptiles, vertebrate and invertebrate fossils, recent and fossil plants and associated databases and libraries, the Florida Museum is the largest natural history museum in the Southeast. The museum occupies three principal facilities on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville. Call (352) 846-2000 for more information.
SW 34th Street and Hull Road, Gainesville, FL
High Springs (Ginnie Springs)
Each day, the 7 separate springs of Ginnie Springs Outdoors discharge hundreds of millions of gallons of crystal-clear water that is a constant 72 degrees, year round. The clear, blue spring water provides a stark contrast to the dark, tannin-stained Santa Fe River. Call (386) 454-7188 for more information.
300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, FL 32643
Hippodrome State Theater
In 1979 the Hippodrome moved into Gainesville's most prominent building, the historic Federal Building, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and located in the heart of downtown Gainesville. The Hippodrome, raised nearly $2 million dollars to restore this magnificent building and convert it into its present facility: a 266 seat, thrust-stage theater with rehearsal space and a scene shop, an 80-seat cinema, an art gallery, bar, box office and administrative offices. Call 352.375.4477 for more information.
25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville, FL
Ichetucknee State Park
The crystalline Ichetucknee River flows six miles through shaded hammocks and wetlands before it joins the Santa Fe River. In 1972, the head spring of the river was declared a National Natural Landmark by the U. S. Department of the Interior. From the end of May until early September, tubing down the river is the premier activity in the area. In addition to tubing, visitors can enjoy picnicking, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoeing, swimming, hiking, and wildlife viewing. Call (386) 497-2511 for more information.
Take US 27 north to Ft. White, stay on US 27 north approximately 4 miles to the South Park Entrance, Gainsville, FL
University of Florida
The University of Florida (also known as Florida or UF) is a public university and land-grant institution located in Gainesville, Florida. It is the fourth-largest university in the United States with 49,693 students served by the eighth-largest budget (nearly $1.9 billion per year). As an academic institution, UF places 1st in the state of Florida, Call 352.392.3261 for more information.