While most visitors to the Sunshine State tend to make a beeline for hot spots like Orlando and Miami, I’m excited that Hotels.com has asked me to uncover one of Florida’s unexpected hidden gems: Gainesville.
Gainesville is unlike any other place in Florida, featuring a combination of college town excitement paired with the natural beauty of the state, making it a place where nature and culture collide.
This Florida town offers incredible natural experiences including 30+ miles of hiking trails, unique wildlife like birds, bison, wild horses, alligators, scenic rivers, and freshwater springs. Plus, its surrounding small towns are filled with cute, local farm-to-fork restaurants, a handful of local breweries, and plenty of quaint and modest lodging options.
While there’s no shortage of things to do in this picturesque Florida town, I’ve narrowed down some of my favourites to help you plan your next trip to Gainesville, FL.
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is quite the unusual geological site, located in a giant sinkhole just outside of Gainesville. Surrounded by dry and sandy terrain, the steep walls of the bowl-shaped sinkhole descend 120 feet below the surface and are acting as protection for an incredible mini rainforest. If you’re a curious explorer, then you’ll definitely get a kick out of this unique spot. Over the years researchers have found historical items such as fossils, marine shells, and the fossilized skeletons of extinct land animals in this sinkhole – a must-visit for any geological nerds or history buffs!
Ichetucknee Springs State Park
This stunning state park protects the head spring of the Ichetucknee river and provides a wonderful summer playground for outdoor enthusiasts. The park is perfect for hiking, picnicking, swimming, or spotting some of Florida’s unique wildlife. One of the park’s most popular activities is tubing the river – I highly recommend giving it a try when you visit!
Swamp Head Brewery
There is no better way to cap off a busy day of sightseeing in Florida than relaxing with a local artisan beer. Swamp Head Brewery is the perfect place to try some local brews and local eats after a full day of exploring. They pride themselves on producing an authentic all-Florida artisan brew, while also operating as a carbon-neutral brewery. Brewery tours are also offered on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
Bluefield Estate Winery
For those who prefer wine to beer, be sure to check out Bluefield Estate Winery, located in the small town of Windsor, just outside of Gainesville. Here you can sample the unique range of fruit-inspired wines that are produced by husband and wife winemakers Jennifer and Bradley Ferguson, who started the enterprise by making blueberry wine in their kitchen. You can visit their tasting room to sample the fruits of their labour and buy some delicious wines to take back home. Blueberry and grape picking are also available during harvest season.
Florida Museum of Natural History
Located on the University of Florida campus, the Florida Museum of Natural History is a national gem that you absolutely cannot miss during a trip to Gainesville. The museum hosts an impressive collection of permanent exhibits as well as rotating temporary exhibits. Some of my favourites include the interactive Our Energy Future Exhibit and the Florida Fossils Collection, which traces the evolution of life on land. It’s free to visit the museum (though donations are graciously accepted), but some temporary exhibits do have their own small fees.
Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention
This 26,000 square foot facility is the perfect place to experience some of the most creative and unusual creations our world has to offer. You’ll be able to experience travelling exhibits like the Robot Zoo and permanent displays like the Sweat Solutions, which showcases the global impact of Gatorade. Plus, you’ll even have the opportunity to meet featured inventors, be engaged in our labs, and ask tons of questions. The museum is open Wednesday-Saturday from 10am-5pm and on Sunday from 1pm-5pm.
