Area Attractions

Gainesville, with its sunny Florida weather and abundant scenic beauty, has a wide array of area attractions. For the sports enthusiast, Gainesville is home to the University of Florida Gators and spectators are able to witness the Gators play football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and more! Gainesville also offers outdoor fun for everyone – including hiking trails, swimming in the springs, visiting the zoo, or admiring the natural beauty of several of Gainesville’s state parks. Art and culture fanatics can enjoy multiple art galleries and several performing arts venues. Lastly, there are plenty of shopping and movie theater options. Gainesville offers unique opportunities to visit and interact with some of the best natural, historical, and entertaining areas in Florida!

Sports


Museums & Theatres

Acrosstown Repertory Theatre (ART)

ART develops new talent, plays, audiences and ideas while also celebrating and revivifying the great plays of the past. The ART provides a safe place where people of all ages, genders, races, socio-economic backgrounds and beliefs can create unsafe theatre– thinking people’s theatre– theatre that transforms.

silhouette of three performers on stage

Movie Theaters


Parks and Gardens

Santa Fe Teaching Zoo

The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo, a unique 10-acre zoo in Gainesville, Florida, is the only zoo on a college campus accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA).

Turtle swimming in pond

Bat House

The most common species living here is the Brazilian free-tailed bat, Tadarida brasiliensis. The Southeastern bat, Myotis austroriparius, and Evening bat, Nycticeius humeralis, also live in the structures.

People watch the daily emergence of bats from the UF Bat Barn.

Lake Alice & Baughman Meditation Center

The Baughman Center is a stunning, elegant contemplation space in the heart of the University of Florida campus. Designed to bring the picturesque outdoor setting inside, the soaring windows and delicate natural materials echo the serene Florida surroundings.

The Baughman Center on Lake Alice

Parks & Places

With world-class fishing, snorkeling, canoeing, tubing and kayaking, there’s always plenty to do on the water. On land, those so inclined may enjoy birding, hiking, biking, fishing and pretty much everything else under the sun.

Boardwalk through the woods

Shopping

Oaks Mall

A charming streetscape awaits you at The Oaks Mall in Gainesville, where you have access to more than 100 stores featuring all your favorite brands.

Front of the Oaks Mall

Butler Plaza

Butler Plaza is a large retail complex located in southwest Gainesville, Florida. It is the largest retail power center in Florida and among the largest in the southeast United States.

Person walking in a mall with bags

Springs

Ginnie Springs

Located on the Santa Fe River in High Springs Florida, Ginnie Springs is one of the clearest springs in Florida. The 72-degree water is perfect for river tubing, swimming, snorkeling, scuba and cave diving.

Ginnie Springs

Blue Springs

This spring, known as Gilchrist Blue, has outstanding water clarity and discharges water through a shallow spring run about one-quarter mile to the Santa Fe River.

Blue Springs

Poe Springs

The park features a playground, fishing, canoeing, kayaking, tubing, swimming, hiking, picnicking, volleyball courts, softball/kickball/soccer field, nature trails and its own spring.

Poe Springs

Manatee Springs

Manatee Springs State Park proves boardwalks aren’t only for the beach. The park’s 800-foot boardwalk runs through a majestic cypress forest overlooking one of Florida’s breathtaking first-magnitude springs.

Manatee Springs