Last Updated on February 15, 2024
Are you visiting the Gainesville area? Don’t miss these great things to do in Gainesville, Florida.
Fun Things to Do in Gainesville
Here are our 10 awesome reasons why you might want to visit soon:
Florida Museum of Natural History
You will begin your adventure at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the University of Florida campus.
The full-sized mastodon and mammoth, giant shark jaws, and ancient fossils of prehistoric animals ignited our imaginations.
The Northwest Florida exhibit provides a window into Florida’s cultural and historical past.
Walk through a limestone cave and peer into a mangrove forest, while the exhibit displays a 1564 Calusa leader’s home.
A stroll through the museum’s tropical Butterfly Rainforest with more than 1,500 free-flying butterflies is sure to dazzle you all.
Florida Museum of Natural History Address: 3215 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611
University of Florida Bat House & Barn
The famous University of Florida Bat House is a must when you are visiting Gainesville.
During a magnificent sunset, you can view more than 250,000 bats emerging from the Bat House and adjacent Bat Barn.
Watch the northern sky as a large dark mass swirls against the twilight sky as bats search for their dinner of flying insects.
Learn more about the UF Bat Houses!
University of Florida Bat House & Barn Address: Museum Rd, Gainesville, FL 32611
Historic Haile Homestead
The Haile Homestead also has limited open days, so make sure to check their website before you head out to Hallie Homestead.
Local history is clearly evident in the 1856 Haile Homestead, once a cotton plantation, constructed and farmed by slave laborers.
Of special note is the fascinating “Talking Walls”. The Haile family (of 14 children) recorded their history with more than 12,500 words through daily journals, poetry, recipes, and drawings.
Historic Haile Homestead Address: 8500 SW Archer Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park
Sculpted by Mother Nature, Payne’s Prairie Preserve is magical, whether observing wildlife or just enjoying the outdoors.
A 50-foot hike up the observation tower provides a view of this geographical marvel where wild horses and bison graze and eagles soar.
For a little serenity, just stop and savor a moment under the moss-draped oak canopy while listening to the songbird’s call.
Payne’s Prairie Preserve State Park Address: 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, FL 32667
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
One of Gainesville’s most popular destinations is a visit to the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens.
Seasonal flowers, ferns, and palms are just a few of its wonders.
The Children’s Garden is always a favorite with special plants, fish ponds, and waterfalls.
In the cathedral-like Bamboo garden, you can listen to the whistling wind create an amazingly peaceful sound.
And don’t miss the giant Victoria water lilies. It’s a perfect place to pack a lunch and also enjoy the splendor.
Kanapaha Botanical Gardens Address: 4700 SW 58th Dr, Gainesville, FL 32608
Hippodrome State Theatre
Affectionately known as the “Hipp,” Gainesville’s Hippodrome State Theatre is downtown in a century-old Palladium Classical Revival building that once housed a post office and courtroom.
Check the listing of Broadway and off-Broadway shows for a first-rate performance.
Hippodrome State Theatre Address: 25 SE 2nd Pl, Gainesville, FL 32601
The Retirement Home for Horses
Add this to your future Florida bucket list! Admission fee: Two Carrots (a 5 lb bag is even better. Hint! Hint!) Now that’s a bargain. You’ll see 100+ horses throughout the 335 acres.
Saturday (from 11 am – 3 pm) is the day to visit Mill Creek Farm providing an equine sanctuary for older, neglected, and abandoned horses roaming freely in the pastures.
Retirement Home for Horses, Inc. at Mill Creek Farm is a not for profit 501(c)(3) equine sanctuary located in Alachua, Florida.
It costs a lot of money to operate this farm, so they appreciate any donations. You can even sponsor a horse and/or volunteer.
The Retirement Home for Horses Address: 20307 NW C.R. 235A, Alachua, FL 32615-4228
Matheson Museum
The Matheson Museum brings to life the history of Gainesville, Alachua County, and also North Florida.
You can also learn about fascinating Alachua County’s history ranging from the earliest Timucuan tribes through the 20th century.
Your visit includes the Matheson and Tison Tool Museums, as well as one of Gainesville’s oldest historical homes, the antebellum Matheson House.
Complete your visit with a stop at the adjacent botanical park.
Matheson Museum Address: 513 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
Open to the public, this low-key Santa Fe College student-run teaching zoo is also worth the trip. The 10-acre shady wooded setting provided a comfortable setting to observe more than 200 animals.
Meander at your own pace, highlights included monkeys, otters, tree kangaroos, a gibbon family, and lemurs.
The playground is also a hit to enjoy a relaxing picnic.
Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Address: 3000 NW 83 St Building Z, Gainesville, FL 32606
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
A mini rainforest of lush vegetation surrounds the 120 ft. deep sinkhole that received its name from its funnel-shaped hole (mill hopper), and also the fossilized animal remains discovered at the bottom.
Today, visitors discover its beauty by descending more than 200 steps to the blue-green, aqua-colored pool at the base, now a National Natural Landmark.
You can learn more about Florida’s fascinating natural history through the park’s interpretive displays.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park Address: 4732 Millhopper Rd, Gainesville, FL 32653
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