Get Out and See Gainesville

Bat houses at dusk, springs an hour away, a butterfly rainforest on campus. There's more here than most visitors expect.

Explore the Area

Places Worth Your Time

Our guides cover the spots locals actually visit: state parks, museums, historic sites, and the kind of places you only find out about once you're here.

Journey Through Time: Florida Museum of Natural History

Journey Through Time: Florida Museum of Natural History

Explore Florida's natural history at this world-renowned museum in Gainesville, featuring 40 million specimens, dinosaur fossils, the Butterfly Rainforest, and diverse ecosystems.

Big Cats, Primates, & Birds++! Carson Springs Wildlife Sanctuary

Big Cats, Primates, & Birds++! Carson Springs Wildlife Sanctuary

Explore Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation in Gainesville, featuring big cats, primates, birds, and reptiles in spacious habitats with guided tours and educational programs.

Cymplify Brews: Gainesville

Cymplify Brews: Gainesville

Discover Cymplify Brews, Gainesville's creative coffee hub featuring expertly crafted beverages, local art, and community events in a vibrant vintage-industrial space.

Book Gallery West: A Literary Oasis in Gainesville

Book Gallery West: A Literary Oasis in Gainesville

Discover Book Gallery West, a beloved Gainesville bookstore offering new and used books, unique gifts, and a welcoming community space for readers and collectors.

A Hub for Artistic Exploration: Gainesville Fine Arts Association

A Hub for Artistic Exploration: Gainesville Fine Arts Association

Explore the Gainesville Fine Arts Association, a historic arts hub founded in 1923 offering exhibitions, classes, and community events for all ages and skill levels.

Haven for Herbal Harmony:A Thousand Leaves Herb Shop Gainesville

Haven for Herbal Harmony:A Thousand Leaves Herb Shop Gainesville

Discover A Thousand Leaves Herb Shop in Gainesville, Florida. A natural wellness haven offering dried herbs, loose-leaf teas, essential oils, and educational workshops on herbal remedies.

Creativity Meets Invention: The Cade Museum in Gainesville, FL

Creativity Meets Invention: The Cade Museum in Gainesville, FL

Explore the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention in Gainesville, celebrating Dr. Robert Cade's legacy with interactive exhibits, Fab Lab, and hands-on learning experiences.

University of Florida Performing Arts: UFPA- Behind the Curtains

University of Florida Performing Arts: UFPA- Behind the Curtains

Explore UFPA's rich performing arts legacy, from the Phillips Center's three venues to world-class theatre, dance, and music programs in Gainesville.

Artistic Treasures: The Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville

Artistic Treasures: The Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville

Explore the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art, a world-class cultural institution featuring diverse artworks from ancient African sculptures to contemporary installations in Gainesville.

Things to Do in Gainesville: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Things to Do in Gainesville: Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

Explore 62 acres of lush landscapes, vibrant floral displays, and tranquil water features at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville, Florida.

Things to Do in Gainesville, FL: Paynes Prairie State Park

Things to Do in Gainesville, FL: Paynes Prairie State Park

Explore 22,000 acres of pristine wilderness south of Gainesville featuring scenic trails, diverse wildlife including bison and eagles, and rich cultural heritage.

Things to Do in Gainesville, FL: Butterfly Rainforest

Things to Do in Gainesville, FL: Butterfly Rainforest

Explore the Butterfly Rainforest at Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville's #1 Tripadvisor activity featuring hundreds of free-flying butterflies across 6,400 square feet.

Things to Do in Gainesville: A Sweetwater Wetlands Adventure!

Things to Do in Gainesville: A Sweetwater Wetlands Adventure!

Explore Sweetwater Wetlands Park in Gainesville and experience the natural wonder of alligator bellowing in this unique Florida wetlands adventure.

The Thomas Center: Where History Meets Culture in Gainesville, FL

The Thomas Center: Where History Meets Culture in Gainesville, FL

Explore the Thomas Center, a historic Mediterranean Revival estate in Gainesville featuring art exhibitions, period rooms, and beautiful gardens within walking distance of Staygainesville rentals.

The Gainesville Hippodrome: A Theatre for the Ages

The Gainesville Hippodrome: A Theatre for the Ages

Explore the Gainesville Hippodrome, a historic theatre landmark featuring live performances, independent cinema, and cultural programming since 1909.

StayGainesville's Ultimate Guide to Local Outdoor Attractions

StayGainesville's Ultimate Guide to Local Outdoor Attractions

Explore Gainesville's best outdoor attractions including state parks, nature preserves, hiking trails, springs, and wetlands perfect for your vacation.

A Network of Shaded Trails: San Felasco State Park

A Network of Shaded Trails: San Felasco State Park

Explore over 10 miles of shaded hiking trails, 30 miles of mountain biking paths, and diverse ecosystems at San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park near Gainesville.

Paynes Prairie: Bison, Horses and Deer- Oh My!

Paynes Prairie: Bison, Horses and Deer- Oh My!

Explore Paynes Prairie State Park near Gainesville, home to wild horses, bison, alligators, and over 300 bird species across pristine prairie and marsh ecosystems.

Lubee Bat Conservatory: Champions of the Night in Gainesville

Lubee Bat Conservatory: Champions of the Night in Gainesville

Explore the Lubee Bat Conservatory in Gainesville, a unique facility dedicated to educating visitors about over 200 bats representing 20+ species and their ecological importance.

Ilene's Gator Store

Ilene's Gator Store

Ilene's Gator Store offers stylish women's clothing and designer Gatorwear in Thornebrook Plaza, Gainesville, featuring orange and blue fashions for Gator fans.

Hector's Framing and Gallery

Hector's Framing and Gallery

Explore Hector's Framing & Gallery, a 20-year Gainesville art destination offering custom framing, archival preservation, and curated regional artwork.

Go Batty in Gainesville! Visit the UF Bat Houses on UF Campus

Go Batty in Gainesville! Visit the UF Bat Houses on UF Campus

Witness thousands of bats emerge at dusk from the University of Florida's bat houses, one of the world's largest colonies in human-made structures.

Paynes Prairie State Park

Paynes Prairie State Park

Explore Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville for wildlife viewing, hiking, and birdwatching among wild bison, horses, and alligators.

Gainesville Community Playhouse: Embracing the Spotlight

Gainesville Community Playhouse: Embracing the Spotlight

Discover Gainesville Community Playhouse, a historic arts institution since 1927 offering diverse theatrical productions, workshops, and community engagement in downtown Gainesville.

Devil

Devil

Explore Devil's Millhopper, a 310-foot sinkhole in Gainesville, Florida, formed by limestone collapse and showcasing millions of years of geological history.

Dance Alive National Ballet: Elevating Culture in Gainesville, FL

Dance Alive National Ballet: Elevating Culture in Gainesville, FL

Discover Dance Alive National Ballet, a Gainesville cultural institution founded in 1966 offering classical and contemporary ballet performances and community outreach programs.

An Urban Oasis: Exploring Depot Park in Gainesville, FL

An Urban Oasis: Exploring Depot Park in Gainesville, FL

Discover Depot Park, a 13-acre urban oasis in Gainesville featuring trails, lawns, playgrounds, and year-round community events.

A Walk Through Time: Gainesville

A Walk Through Time: Gainesville

Explore Gainesville's rich heritage at the Matheson History Museum, featuring interactive exhibits, historic buildings, and guided tours through local history.

A Wild Oasis in Gainesville, FL: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

A Wild Oasis in Gainesville, FL: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Explore the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Gainesville, a 10-acre educational facility home to over 250 animals and endangered species conservation efforts.

A Legacy of Creativity: Gainesville

A Legacy of Creativity: Gainesville

Explore Gainesville's Artisans' Guild Gallery, a historic artist cooperative since 1970 showcasing handcrafted works by over 50 regional artists in diverse mediums.

A Brush With Brilliance: Gainesville

A Brush With Brilliance: Gainesville

Explore Eleanor Blair's renowned oil paintings at her historic Duckpond studio in Gainesville, capturing North Central Florida's landscapes and essence.