Visit Gainesville
  • Explore Our City
    • Get Outdoors
    • Watch Sports
    • Experience Arts & Culture
    • Go Downtown
    • Visit our Nearby Towns
    • Do some Shopping
    Not sure where to start? Check out Some of Our Favorites.
  • Come Stay Awhile
    • Hotels, Motels & Inns
    • Bed & Breakfasts
    • RV Parks & Camping
    • Special Event Accommodations
  • Join Us For Food & Drinks
  • Bring Your Groups & Meetings
    • Meeting Locations
    • Group Tours
    • Planning Resources
    • Meetings RFP

Parks and Places

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • YouTube
  • Trip Advisor
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • Youtube
  • TripAdvisor
profile

VisitGainesville

Gainesville

RT@ SwiftCycle: It is a wonderful day to ride a bike in@ gainesville. Stop by the shop and we will show you are favorite routes! #bikemonth about 5 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Get out and have fun today! Here's a look at events in and around Gainesville: http://t.co/wkJUA4l45Z from@ cmcapartments. about 6 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Touch a Truck is today from 9 to 2! http://t.co/aOoeEqZGRr Don't miss out on all the fun! http://t.co/JRzMjI1fmb about 8 hours ago · reply · retweet · favorite

Yes. RT@ swamprestaurant: Hot Day. Cold Beer. Happy Hour Starts Now. yesterday · reply · retweet · favorite

Join the conversation
Fanfare and Fireworks at UF 2012
  • Visit Gainesville Florida
  • Visit Gainesville, FL
Find more Gainesville videos at YouTube
  • Micanopy Store
  • Downtown Farmers Market
  • Downtown Farmers Market
  • Downtown Farmers
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Harvest at the Downtown Farmers Market
  • Freshly Baked Bread at the Gainesville's Downtown Farmers Market
  • Collection of Seeds at Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Flowers at the Downtown Farmer's Market
  • Herbs From Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Vintage Dough Bowls at Mosswood Farm Store
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Downtown Farmers market
  • Marlene's Shop
  • Mosswood Farm Store
  • Gainesville Gators
  • Gainesville Gators
  • Gourmet Food Vendor at the Downtown Farmer's market
  • Food Vendor at the Downtown Market
  • Downtown Farmer's Market
  • Freshly Picked Flowers From the Downtown Market
View more Gainesville photos on Flickr
  • PAYNES PRAIRIE
    “A nature-lover's dream!” - North Carolina

  • FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
    “So much to see!” - Indiana

  • BUTTERFLY RAINFOREST
    “Beyond expectations.” - Florida

  • SAMUAL P. HARN MUSEUM OF ART
    “Terrific university art museum.” - Pennsylvania

Find more reviews and tips on TripAdvisor
  • Get Outdoors
  • Birding
  • Hiking
  • Biking
  • Parks and Places
  • Canoeing & Kayaking
  • Golf
  • Fishing
Herbs at the Kanapaha Garden
Herbs at the Kanapaha Garden
Santa Fe river
Santa Fe river
Florida blue skies wildflower
Florida blue skies wildflower
Santa Fe Zoo School
Santa Fe Zoo School
Bird Trail at Paynes Prairie
Bird Trail at Paynes Prairie
Family visiting the Santa Fe Zoo
Family visiting the Santa Fe Zoo
Birds at Paynes Prairie
Birds at Paynes Prairie
Children at Santa Fe Zoo
Children at Santa Fe Zoo
Santa Fe zoo students with Galop the turtle
Santa Fe zoo students with Galop the turtle
Gainesville alligator
Gainesville alligator
Couple taking in the view at Paynes Prairie
Couple taking in the view at Paynes Prairie
Kanapaha Lilies
Kanapaha Lilies
Greathouse buttlerfly farm
Greathouse buttlerfly farm
Paynes Pairie Observation walk
Paynes Pairie Observation walk
Wild flower field
Wild flower field

The Best Recreational Locations

  • < Prev
  • Next >
Sort Results A-Z Z-A
  • O'Leno State Park

    410 SE O'Leno Park Road High Springs, FL 32643 386-454-1853

    One of the original Florida State Parks, O'Leno was built on the banks of the Santa Fe River by the CCC in the 1930's. Enjoy the view of the river from the suspension bridge. Hike along the river bank to the "sink" where the river disappears underground. Wildlife sightings are abundant in the park.

    More Details
  • Boulware Springs Nature Park

    3300 SE 15th Street Gainesville, FL 32641

    Boulware Springs is a trailhead for the 17-mile Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail.

    More Details
  • Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail

    3300 SE 15th Street Gainesville, FL 32641 352-466-3397

    The Gainesville-Hawthorne Trail is a paved walkway stretching 16 miles from Boulware Springs Park in Gainesville, through beautiful woodlands, past deep lakes and prairie vistas, to the town of Hawthorne.

    More Details
  • Matheson Museum

    513 East University Avenue Gainesville, FL 32601 352-378-2280

    The Matheson Museum includes the museum, antebellum Matheson House, historic Tison Tool Museum, and botanical garden. The Matheson showcases the history of Gainesville, Alachua County and North Florida through books, photographs, maps, artifacts, and ephemera that date back over 500 years.

    More Details
  • Dudley Farm Historic State Park

    18730 West Newberry Road Newberry, FL 32669 352-472-1142

    At Dudley Farm, a one-of-a-kind authentic 325-acre working "Cracker" farm, you will see the evolution of North Florida farming through the eyes of three generations of the Dudley family; from the pioneer days circa 1850 through the introduction of gasoline-powered equipment circa 1945.

    More Details
  • Prev
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • Next

A place to call home.

Name an outdoor activity, and we'll give you a park to play in. Walk, ride a bike, hike, canoe, swim, picnic, or even camp. All over Alachua County, world-class venues exist big enough to contain even the most enthusiastic outdoor enthusiast. Places like Biven's Arm, Devil's Milhopper and Gum Root are as beautiful as their names are interesting. But the main attraction is definitely Paynes Prairie, Florida's first state preserve park and a true natural wonder. Almost 300 types of animals and birds can be seen here, including bison, wild horses, and alligators. There are also roadways and trails throughout the preserve, commonly used for biking and hiking activities. It's well worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Gainesville. Closer in, there are more parks to enjoy Gainesville's unique mix of nature, culture and leisure.

Additional Resources

  • Yulee Railroad Days
  • Old Florida Heritage Highway Tours
  • Oleno State Park Tour
  • Dudley Farm State Park Tour

Search

I’M LOOKING For

Sign Up

For Our E-Newsletter

Partner Resources
  • Local Tourism Organizations
  • Visitor & Revenue Statistics
  • Weather Preparedness
  • Grants & Scholarships
  • News

Help Me Find

  • Conference Grants
  • TDC Scholarships Program
  • Tourism Product Development
  • Gainesville Sports Commission
  • Hospitality Council

Contact Us

Alachua County Visitors & Convention Bureau
30 East University Avenue
Gainesville, FL 32601
Directions


Toll Free Phone: (866) 778-5002
Local Phone: (352) 374-5260
info@visitgainesville.com

Quick Links

  • Upcoming Events & Festivals
  • Getting Here
  • Virtual Visitor Guide
  • Special Event Accommodations
  • Restaurants
  • Industry Partners

Visitor Resources

  • About Gainesville
  • History
  • Gainesville Difference
  • Nearby Towns
  • Gainesville VCB & Visitor Center
  • where nature and culture meet
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Flickr
  • YouTube
  • Foursquare
  • TripAdvisor
  • Pinterest
  • Media Resources
  • Public Records
  • Sitemap
  • Copyright ©2013 Gainesville Florida Visitors & Convention Bureau