Are you in need of a vacation? Do you want to visit a place where you can enjoy museums, sample great food, explore incredible nature, and party all night long? Is there even such a place that can offer all this?
There certainly is! You should plan your next trip to Gainesville, FL! It’s a great city that’s likely one of America’s hidden gems. But for Floridians, this is one of the best places in the Sunshine State!
While Florida is perhaps best known for Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Keys – one shouldn’t miss out on visiting Gainesville. We know that you’ll love your trip!
Let’s look at the best things to do in Gainesville, FL…
NUMBER ONE – Start with a street food tour
When you reach Gainesville, you’ll likely be hungry! Gainesville has a diverse range of cuisines and offers a great selection for casual dining and fine dining. But you should start your trip with a street food tour. This is an organized tour where you’ll sample a variety of cuisines as well as learn about Gainesville’s culinary history.
Make sure you spend time enjoying a meal at as many of Gainesville’s restaurants as you can.
If you enjoy great Southern cooking, you should visit the Maple Street Biscuit Company – one of Gainesville’s best places for breakfast. You can enjoy fried chicken served in between a buttermilk biscuit. This dish goes perfectly with some warm maple syrup. You can also add extras like goat cheese or bacon to your biscuit.
For lunch or dinner, you should check out Mojo Hogtown Bar-B-Que. This is a great place to grab traditional barbecue meals along with craft beer and is a wonderful destination to visit if you’re traveling to Gainesville with a big group!
For Latin cuisine, make sure you check out Mi Apa Latin Café. If you like Japanese cuisine, then you’ll love the Dragonfly Sushi and Sake Company. Make sure you spend some time walking around the city so you can create your list of ideal restaurants to check out!
Before we tell you more about the best things to do in Gainesville, Florida, please like this video and subscribe to Viewcation for more great content on travel and where to plan your next vacation. Now, back to the video…
NUMBER TWO – Visit Gainesville’s Museums
Gainesville isn’t without its share of museums where you can learn more about the history and culture of the city.
You should start by visiting the Florida Museum of Natural History whichis located near the University of Florida. It’s a great museum where you’ll see a variety of exhibits of flora, fauna, and fossils. There are also a variety of temporary exhibits. There’s even a Butterfly Rainforest that you’ll love visiting. If you’re visiting Gainesville with young children, they’ll love exploring this museum.
The next museum you should check out is the Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovations. Dr. Robert Cade was the innovator behind the drink Gatorade – named after the Florida Gators, the University of Florida’s official team name.
At this museum, you’ll learn about Dr. Cade’s innovations and the creation of Gatorade. You’ll also learn about American innovation and how we can teach future generations to express their creativity. Again, this is a fantastic museum to visit if you’re traveling with young children.
If you’re an art lover, then you’ll want to head to the Harn Museum of Art. This is a great museum to explore a diverse range of art from all over the globe. There are dedicated exhibitions for Asian and African art. There’s also an exhibit for contemporary art. It’s also one of the largest art museums in the Southern United States and one you don’t want to miss out on!
NUMBER THREE – Enjoy the nightlife
Since Gainesville is one of Florida’s great college towns, you can expect it to be a haven for nightlife!
If you want a great bar where you can dance all night you should visit the White Buffalo bar. It’s located on Main Street and is a popular avenue for locals and visitors alike. It’s got a diverse range of music, so you’ll find something you’ll love listening to. You can also enjoy cocktails and shots all night long! If you’re into nightlife, this is a must-visit!
A unique bar to visit is the Arcade Bar. It’s a bar that’s full of drinks as well as old arcade games including pinball machines. It’s a great place to enjoy your night if you don’t want to dance and would rather play games and socialize with your friends.
The Midnight is a great relaxed bar where you can go if you’re a solo traveler or traveling with your partner or small group of friends.
They offer quite a few open mic nights, so you can enjoy a stand-up performance or give it a try yourself.
Another great place for dancing – especially Latin dancing – is The Bank Bar and Lounge. Rumor has it that this was once an actual bank over a century ago. It’s also renowned for its friendly staff and accommodating bartenders.
If you want a great bar that UF students and staff love to visit, you should head to The Social. This classy and chill bar has a variety of beers on tap and hard drinks are available as well. You can sip scotch and enjoy live acoustic music, and there are also ladies’ nights and sports-watching nights. The food and drinks here are also among the most affordable.
And if you’re just looking for a place to enjoy a few hours of drinking local, craft, and favorite beers you’ve got to stop by the Gainesville House of Beer. You’ll get to choose from over 40 different craft beers and can get advice from expert bartenders. It’s a place where locals love to hang out and is a great place to make new friends.
Another great way to spend a night in Gainesville is to enjoy a live performance. You can go to one of Gainesville’s many theatres to watch a play, dance performance, or musical performance. The theatres include the Florida Theatre, Hippodrome Theatre, Gainesville Community Playhouse, Actors’ Warehouse, and the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts – among others.
Gainesville is a great place for enjoying nightlife – dancing, drinking, and chilling. The nightlife in Gainesville can rival that of other fun cities in Florida, such as Miami or Key West.
NUMBER FOUR – Explore Gainesville’s Nature
Like many places in Florida, Gainesville is renowned for its incredible nature.
If you love animals, you should visit the Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation.
It’s a rehab sanctuary where you can meet different species of rescued families. These include the Siberian Lynx, bobcats, Indian rhinos, and lemurs. But keep in mind that you’ll have to book your tour in advance.
If you want to explore nature and enjoy walking trails, you can visit Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park. It’s also a great place to enjoy a picnic. We recommend visiting the sinkhole – which is 120 feet deep! You’ll have to bring hiking shoes and bring lots of water and snacks along as the journey down is quite a feat!
But this is just the beginning of the incredible nature that Gainesville offers. You should also visit the Ichetucknee Springs State Park. It’s over 2,200 acres of incredible nature where you can enjoy sightseeing as well as a ton of other outdoor activities.
You can enjoy swimming and scuba diving. You can also enjoy walks with your friends when you visit. You’ll also get to spot different species of wildlife – including catfish and alligators!
If you want to go hiking or even spend a night or two camping, then you’ve got to visit Paynes Prairie. It’s a 21,000-acre park and has many spots where you can learn about its history. You’ll see different animals from alligators to bison!
Make sure you plan your days to enjoy the nature that Gainesville offers. You can spend a few hours at the Conservation Foundation or an entire day at the Paynes Prairie. You want to make sure you take advantage of exploring Gainesville’s nature as much as possible.
NUMBER FIVE – Fun Activities
There are even more fun activities that you can enjoy in Gainesville. If you’re traveling with your family, you want to stop by Dave & Busters. While this might not be unique to Gainesville, it’s a great place where friends and families get together to enjoy playing games from arcade games to pool. It’s also a superb place to enjoy lunch or dinner.
If you’re a movie buff, the Regal Cinema at Celebration Pointe is a wonderful place to watch a film. You can even enjoy a cocktail while watching a movie. It’s got reclining chairs and surround sound to enhance your movie-watching experience.
You should also visit Downtown Gainesville at least a couple of times during your trip. This is where locals and tourists congregate. It’s a great place to find restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. It’s also a great area to go shopping or make new friends. If you’re a solo traveler, you’ll also find that Downtown Gainesville is a decent spot to reflect upon your trip and plan your next excursion.
We know that you’ll love your trip to Gainesville. It is one of the overlooked cities in the USA and is one that local Floridians also love to visit. No matter where you’re from, we know you’ll be glad you made it to Gainesville!