12 Fun Things To Do in Gainesville, FL — Plus 5 Ways To Unwind After Work
With everything under the sun from botanical gardens and Florida Gators football to brewery crawls and live music, there are tons of activities in Gainesville, FL — the challenge will be deciding what to do! If you’re planning a visit, kick-start your itinerary with this curated list of 12 fun things to do in Gainesville FL.
In This Article
1. Cheer on Florida Gators Football on Home Game Saturday
If you’re not already a Florida Gators fan, one visit to “The Swamp” (as the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium is affectionately called) is sure to change that. Get to the game 2.5 hours before kickoff and experience the Gator Walk, a tradition where the players are bussed in and walk into the stadium. Then, find your seat and get ready to get rowdy!
2. Eat Among Diehard Fans at Spurrier‘s
If the game is away, head to Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, a Gainesville fan-favorite. While there are many notable Gainesville, Florida restaurants, Spurrier’s is iconic thanks to its winning combo of incredible food and Gators memorabilia galore (including the 1966 Heisman Trophy). Visitors can choose to dine in one of the restaurant’s several unique areas, like the Visors Rooftop bar. And on game day, Spurrier’s offers a special game day menu you can’t miss.
3. Step into the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History
Ranked one of the country’s top five natural history museums, a visit to the Florida Museum of Natural History is one of the most fun things to do in Gainesville FL, and is a great way to spend an afternoon. The museum boasts rotating exhibits as well as eight permanent exhibits including the not-to-miss Butterfly Rainforest. Here, guests walk through a lush rainforest setting while hundreds of butterflies fly overhead. If you’re lucky, one or two might land on you.
4. Catch a Show at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
Located on the University of Florida campus, the Phillips Center in Gainesville is the premier destination for music and cultural events. There is something for everyone on the Phillips Center’s stacked event roster, including Dance Alive National Ballet’s Swan Lake, the Grammy award-winning Parker Quartet, and performances of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Afterward, make a night out of it and grab a bite to eat at the late-night favorite, Flaco’s Cuban Bakery.
5. Gather Your Friends for the Best Brunch in Gainesville
Brunch in Gainesville is always a good idea! On a pretty day, there is nothing better than brunching al fresco, and the eclectic restaurant Afternoon does it right. Order at the counter, then sit outside on the patio — and don’t forget your mimosa. For a more traditional brunch, head to OAK. You may have a hard time deciding between the Smoked Duck Benny and the Stuffed Bacon + Bourbon Waffle. For even more fun, Curia on the Drag hosts vegan drag brunches in their outdoor beer garden.
6. Visit the Animals at the Santa Fe Zoo
One of the most unique Gainesville attractions, The Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo is the only one of its kind. The zoo is located on the main campus at Santa Fe College and is the country’s only college zookeeper training facility. Spanning 10 acres, the Santa Fe teaching zoo is home to approximately 70 different species including the Matschie’s Tree Kangaroo, American alligator and white-throated capuchin monkeys.
7. Take in the Beauty at Kanapaha Botanical Gardens
Calling all plant lovers! This gorgeous, sprawling 68-acre nonprofit features Florida’s largest bamboo display as well as the Southeast’s largest herb garden. Bring a picnic basket and prepare to spend hours meandering through the various gardens. While beautiful all year round, the most colorful months to visit the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens in Gainesville FL are June through September.
8. Find Your Next Favorite Band at One of Gainesville’s Live Music Venues
Nashville who? This city has a vibrant music scene, and one of the most fun things to do in Gainesville FL is to catch a show at one of its many live music venues. Heartwood Soundstage features incredible acoustics in their intimate indoor venue as well as an outdoor stage. The Wooly is a retro venue known for its dance parties and DJ sets, while Loosey’s is a great place to sling back a beer and burger and enjoy local live music. And, every Friday evening, locals flock to Bo Diddley Plaza, the home of the region’s longest-running free concert series.
9. Glimpse Wild Horses at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
You don’t have to go out West to spot herds of wild bison and horses. As Florida’s first state preserve, Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park is a diverse Gainesville gem. Visitors can explore the various trails via bike or on foot, and to truly experience all the park has to offer, you can set up camp near Lake Wauburg. Canoeing, fishing and geocaching are all available as well. It is an especially great spot for bird watchers, as the park is home to approximately 300 species of birds.
10. Explore the Galleries in the Harn Museum of Art
One of the top Gainesville FL attractions, the Harn Museum of Art offers free admission to its 10 gallery spaces and gardens. Here you will find an array of traveling exhibitions as well as exhibitions of some of the museum’s own collections of more than 13,300 pieces. One highlight is the Florida Impressions exhibition, which features more than 50 paintings centered around Florida and its beauty.
11. Descend the Boardwalk into the Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park
Many of the fun things to do in Gainesville FL are outdoors thanks to the state’s natural beauty and ecological diversity. Just minutes away from downtown Gainesville, The Devil’s Millhopper Geological State Park is the perfect place to explore some of Florida’s unique geological wonders. The park’s main draw is a sinkhole cavity 120 feet deep that is accessible via boardwalk. As guests descend, they will notice a marked change in temperature, and experience a stunning and rarely-found ecosystem at the bottom.
12. Sample the Award-Winning Breweries in Gainesville, FL
There are several fantastic breweries in Gainesville FL, so why not visit them all and make a brewery crawl out of it? Start at Blackadder Brewing Company, a microbrewery with 40 taps in cozy surroundings. Next head down to Swamp Head Brewery where you can sip on world-class beer while you watch the sunset in their expansive outdoor area. Finally, First Magnitude Brewing Company and Cypress & Grove Brewing Company each feature fun, weekly events in their own unique locations and produce some stellar brews.
Read more about the award-winning breweries in Gainesville, FL.
Things To Do After Work in Gainesville: 5 Itineraries
Julianne Raymond Flinchum has an easy answer when asked what she loves most about her home.
“Mainly, it’s how unique Gainesville is. The way I put it is that it’s like living in a big city, but one where everyone knows your name,” she says. “It offers a lot of really beautiful nature – lots of springs and trails – not to mention a lot of culture, different styles of cuisine and music. At the same time, it’s so warm and welcoming.”
Flinchum has lived in the city for half her life, so she’s well-versed when it comes to after-work activities that are both easy to access and enjoyable. Here is just a small sample of things to do in Gainesville she recommends taking advantage of after you clock out for the day.
1. Dinner and a Show
Need a way to unwind from the day? Head to Amelia’s Italian Restaurant for dinner and drinks, then catch a show at the Hippodrome Theatre (or Hipp, if you want to sound like a local).
“Amelia’s is definitely a date night vibe,” Flinchum says.
With a menu boasting luxurious dishes, like lobster ravioli and veal marsala, it’s a perfect prelude to a show at the Hipp, which is just around the corner and offers theater, film and visual art programming, not to mention drag shows and live music.
Another option? Catch a show at Gainesville Community Playhouse, then grab dinner at Esperanza.
2. Axes and Cake
After sitting at your desk all day, moving around after work is a must. Try your hand at ax-throwing at Swamp Axe, an ax-throwing bar, then hit up The Top for some delicious food.
“Kiss my axe,” declares a vibrant mural inside Swamp Axe. While axes and ales may seem like a recipe for disaster, the bar offers training and takes precautions designed to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all. Plus, the spot offers a weekly ladies’ night and league play.
Afterward, hit up The Top, a casual restaurant that serves up modern American fare, like burgers, surf and turf, pasta and, for dessert, cake — carrot and cranberry or chocolate. Yes, you need to try a piece.
3. Breath of Fresh Air
For those who love the outdoors or just need a little fresh air after a day inside, head to Gainesville-Hawthorne State Trail, then hydrate at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co.
The 16-mile paved trail runs from Boulware Springs Park through Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and other local and state conservation land.
“It’s super cool. Some of the overlooks you can go to in Paynes Prairie are really pretty,” Flinchum says. “The last time I biked it, I saw wild horses. You can see wild bison, and, obviously, lots of gators. You can walk within five to 10 feet of sunbathing gators.”
Finish up with a pint at Cypress & Grove Brewing Co. and grab a bite at one of its regular food trucks. Flinchum especially recommends hitting the taproom on Monday nights, when the Grove Street Farmers Market sets up shop there.
4. Wine and Tunes
Grab a few friends or colleagues and sip wine at Superette, a neighborhood wine bar and bistro, before heading to Bo Diddley Plaza for a free concert.
“Superette has a really lovely outdoor area you can sit in that has dangling lights,” Flinchum says. “They do great charcuterie and great food.”
Stop in for international flavors, like the muhammara (a Turkish dip made with roasted red peppers and walnuts) or baklava, before relocating to Bo Diddley Plaza on a Friday night for the Free Fridays Concert Series. The series runs from April through September.
“They do a wide variety of different genres of shows,” Flinchum says.
Recent acts included reggae, bluegrass, jazz and swing, classic rock and R&B.
5. Shopping and Sandwiches
What better way to get your mind off your to-do list at work than a little retail therapy? Go thrifting at Flashbacks Recycled Fashions, where you’ll find modern, vintage and everything in between, then enjoy a satisfying dinner at Germain’s Chicken Sandwiches.
“Flashbacks is awesome because it’s really cost effective, and they have a wide variety of clothes. They have genuine vintage clothing and what the kids think vintage is,” Flinchum says with a laugh.
A good chunk of the shop’s stock – clothing, shoes, jewelry, outerwear and even cassette tapes – can b seen online, but as at any thrift store, poring over the racks is a must for the best finds. Just across the street is Germain’s, which Flinchum says launched as a food truck before opening a restaurant proper. Her favorite order is the Korean fried chicken sandwich served with kimchi slaw, but she says all the joint’s offerings are fabulous: “They’ve been killing it.”