Things To Do

Dining & Drinks

Below is a list of some of our favorite food spots: - Bangkok Square (Thai food- THE BEST with great lunch specials) - Mi Apa Latin Cafe ( Cuban) - Embers Wood Grille ( Upscale steak and seafood) - Chuy's (Tex Mex + great frozen margaritas) - Flying Biscuit (Great Breakfast) - Maple Street Biscuit Company (Breakfast) - The Top (American) - Indian Street Food (Indian) - 4 Rivers Smokehouse (BBQ) - The Spot ( Greek) - La Tienda Latina (The best tacos in Gainesville) - Italian Gator (Quick slice of pizza) - Satchel's Pizza - Dragonfly Sushi - Harry's Seafood Bar & Grille ( Cajun, Creole & Southern cuisine) Below is a list of some of our favorite drink spots: - Madrina's Cuban-inspired craft cocktails - Swamp Head Brewery - First Magnitude Brewery - Cypress and Grove - Big Top Brewing Company Farmers Markets: - Haile Farmers Marker at Haile Village Center ( Saturdays 8:30am-12pm) - Gainesville Market at Heartwood Soundstage (Thursdays 4pm-7pm)

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park

Enjoy hiking, biking through trails, watching gators, wild bison, and horses, and bird watching for over 270 bird species.

Devil's Den Prehistoric Spring

Devil's Den is formed by a karst window, in which the roof over a subterranean river has collapsed, exposing the water to the open surface, near Williston, Florida. It is privately owned, where you can go diving and snorkeling.

Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Enjoy a picnic, or hiking as you step down into a 120-ft deep sinkhole leading to a miniature rainforest.

The Canyons Zip Line and Adventure Park

Cliffs and Canyons in FLORIDA?!?!? Yes, this unique ziplining experience is just 30 minutes outside Gainesville and allows adventure seekers and experienced adventurers to zipline 155 feet high and 1,150 feet long through a scenic destination offering nine zip lines, and two rope bridges plus a rappel, and horseback riding.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

One of our favorite spots to rent kayaks for a relaxing float or paddle down crystal-clear springs that join to create the 6-mile Ichetucknee River. Look around for local kayak, canoe, and/or tubing rentals to shuttle you into the park to spend some relaxing time in nature and the Florida sun.

Poe Springs Park

Poe Springs is a spring about 3 miles west of High Springs, Florida. It is located in Poe Springs Park, which is 202 acres in size. The spring is isolated from the main part of the park at its center, requiring a 0.3 mile hike one-way to reach the center of the park.

Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention

The Cade Museum for Creativity and Invention is a museum in Gainesville, Florida that has a mission “to transform communities by inspiring and equipping future inventors, entrepreneurs, and visionaries.

Harn Museum of Art

The Harn is a 112,800-square-foot-facility, making it one of the largest university art museums in the South. Explore 10,000 works of art including Claude Monet's Champ d'avoine and exhibitions including African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography.

Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History

On the University of Florida campus you can find a natural history museum complete with a Butterfly Rainforest and Discover Zone.

Astronomy Teaching Observatory

On select Friday evenings from 8:30 to 10:00 p.m., the UF campus opens its observatory and telescope to the Public where you can see planets, stars, and the moon up close. For more information you can contact them via email at public@astro.ufl.edu. If you prefer to contact them over the phone, please call the Department of Astronomy main office at (352) 294-1870 during regular UF business hours. https://astro.ufl.edu/outreach/teaching-public-observatory/

UF Bat Houses

Right across from our wedding ceremony location these structures house hundreds of thousands of bats that emerge on warm evenings just after sunset.

Hippodrome Theatre

Located in Downtown Gainesville, set in the historic Federal Building, this theater offers plays, independent films & an art gallery.

Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

The Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a performing arts theatre in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It is located on the western side of the University of Florida campus. This facility presents some of the most established and emerging national and international artists on the main stage. Google their webpage for an updated schedule of events.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

The Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is a botanical garden in Gainesville, Florida. Kanapaha offers a guided tour of the Gardens the first Saturday of every month, starting at 10:00am-12pm.

Micanopy Historic District

Micanopy is Florida's oldest inland town. Located in the small town you can find antique shops and galleries with streets lined with live oak trees draped with spanish moss.

Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

Visit 70 species of animals at the Sante Fe Teaching Zoo.

The Century Tower

The University of Florida marked its centennial in 1953 by dedicating the Century Tower to alumni lost in World War I and II. While on campus you will hear the sound of the quarter hour tolls and music of the 61 bronze bell carillons project across campus. The tower is located right on the center of the beautiful University of Florida Campus!

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium

Home of the Florida Gators, also know as "The Swamp". Explore the stadium or the hall of fame while visiting campus. Or for those who like to exercise one of students' favorite workouts is running stadiums which is running up and down the numerous stairs in the stadium that is open to the public during the day.