Gainesville

One of the top college towns in the country, Gainesville, located in North Central Florida an hour southwest of Jacksonville, is home to the University of Florida and the Florida Gators. In addition to the excitement of college sports, Gainesville offers outstanding art galleries and cultural centers, abundant outdoor recreation opportunities, plenty of places to shop, and a diverse culinary scene sure to please everyone from foodies to young families.

Can’t-miss attractions include the Florida Museum of Natural History, Harn Museum of Art, and Kanapaha Botanical Gardens. Visitors can find special events going on throughout the year with annual festivals including Downtown Festival & Art Show, Hoggetowne Medieval Faire, Spring Arts Festival, and The Fest. Outside of college sports, the Gainesville area is home to a wide variety of other sporting events and venues, including the Alachua County Agriculture and Equestrian Center and the Gainesville Raceway, “Florida’s home for drag racing.”

From hiking and biking to paddling and watersports, outdoor adventures can take many forms in Gainesville’s parks and preserves, including Newnans Lake State Forest, Sweetwater Wetlands Park, and Palm Point Nature Park. O’Leno State Park and River Rise State Park in High Springs are just a 30-minute drive away, and Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a quick 10-minute drive south of Gainesville in Micanopy. Gainesville also offers convenient access to the popular springs of nearby communities, including Gilchrist Blue Springs, Poe Springs, Ginnie Springs, Rum Island Spring and Ichetucknee Springs for tubing, diving, snorkeling, and swimming.

When it comes to dining and shopping, visitors can find just about anything they’re looking for at the more than 150 stores and 2 million square feet of retail and restaurant space of the Neighborhoods of Butler. Celebration Pointe and Tioga Town Center offer a blend of retail establishments, eateries, and entertainment within walkable areas, and national chain retailers can be found among the more than 100 stores of The Oaks Mall.