Travel gives me life. It’s my passion, and it brings me joy. However, travel doesn’t always mean flying halfway across the world. Sometimes travel means taking a car ride an hour away to visit a city in your own backyard.
One of my favorite places to visit is Gainesville, Florida. Best known for being the home to The University of Florida this city has a lot to offer. It has a rich history dating back thousands of years to the time of hunter-gatherers, and many of its wild forests and wetlands have been carefully preserved to this day.
It also has wonderful museums, nightlife, and my favorite food. I want to share some of my favorite places with you. These places are not only enjoyable but they are also perfect if you have a mobility struggle.
5 Best Things to Do in Gainesville Florida
Florida Museum of Natural History
Home to many exhibits this museum holds something for everyone. It has fossils, history, and even dinosaurs. There is a discovery zone for kids to explore.
Housed inside this museum is a butterfly exhibit that both kids and adults enjoy. Next to the natural history museum is an art museum. It’s like getting 3 attractions in one.
Depot Park
I love Depot Park because it’s a place the whole family can enjoy, and it’s FREE.
Kids can run, jump, climb, and slide on the playground equipment; adults can picnic in the pavilion or play with a game of life-sized chess set in the grass.
When you get hot, visit the “blue grotto” where you can splash around a miniature waterfall primed with water cannons and water jets.
When you get sleepy, retire to one of the shaded recreational areas and enjoy an afternoon nap under the cover of an oak tree.
What I like is that I find the perfect spot to just sit and enjoy a good book.
Cade Museum For Creativity And Invention
Founded by a real-life inventor Cade Museum is a place of wonder and feeds young minds.
It’s filled with exhibits, displays, and interactive stations where visitors can get hands-on with everything from machine parts to snakes preserved in fluid jars. As a mom of a son who loves Science this place was like taking him to Disney for the day. He was so excited to be so hands-on.
If your family plans on staying in Gainesville for a while, you might also be interested in the museum’s weekend workshops.
All things considered, the Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is both a fun and educational stop in Gainesville, and it might just inspire a future Einstein in your household.
Nature
Whether you are into hiking, bird watching, or just like being outside Gainesville is a nature lover’s paradise.
Home to several of the state’s most beautiful state parks Gainesville is one of my favorite places to visit when wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of life to commune with nature. Some of my favorite places are Devil Millhopper State Park home to a large sinkhole that you can walk down 212 steps to explore.
There is also Paines Prairie Home to a 21000-acre savannah with trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Oh, not to mention the alligator sighting. If you are looking for a little less adventurous, visit Kanapaha Botanical Garden. Stroll along a 1.5- mile paved walkway to view the 24 major collections that make up the gardens. My favorite spot is the bamboo forest,
History
One of my favorite things about Gainesville Florida is its rich history. From the beautiful architecture to the small locally owned shops and restaurants that are still running strong. Gainesville is also the birthplace of some of the greatest musicians like Tom Petty and Stephan Stills . It also has some of my favorite locally owned Bed and Breakfast Inns like the Camilla Rose and Laural Oaks.
Are you considering travel? Does Gainesville Florida sound like a place you would enjoy?
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