Gainesville: A Perfect Place for Families and Young Professionals
For families and young professionals, there’s a lot to gain from living in Greater Gainesville – think great jobs, family-friendly attractions, fabulous arts and entertainment options, friendly, tight-knit neighborhoods, and the flagship campus of the University of Florida. Though it has the heart of a small town (read: It’s easy to make connections and feel at home here), this diverse and thriving region provides everything people are looking for, plus a little bit more. Find out why families and young professionals love living in Gainesville, FL.
In This Article
Raising a Child in Gainesville, FL
Crystal Miner moved to Gainesville from Miami at an early age, spending her childhood in the region and coming back after graduating from college in the Miami area. Now, Miner is raising her daughter here while growing her career as a cultural performance leader with the Collier Cos., a housing management and real estate development company.
“Gainesville has been the coolest location to raise a kid,” Miner says.
From exploring Depot Park, with its splash pad and nature trails, to attending Tioga Outdoor Movie Nights at the Square, Miner says family-friendly activities in the Gainesville area are abundant. The Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts hosts plays, ballets and musical performances, like Stomp (a dance, music and theatrical performance), that Miner says have enriched her daughter’s life.
“I’ve been lucky enough to watch my daughter blossom here,” Miner says.
Miner has found ways to succeed in Gainesville as a parent and young professional. Through the Greater Gainesville Young Professionals, Miner was able to build a network after college. The group connects professionals in the area through networking events, professional development workshops and opportunities to perform philanthropic work.
“If you are a young adult, if you are in college, if you are starting your career as a professional, we have every outlet you could want,” Miner says.
Living in Gainesville, FL, Brings a Fresh Start
Moving to Gainesville gave Son Vo a fresh start. He immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam with his family when he was young, first settling in Los Angeles. When a job in Gainesville became available for Vo’s father, he moved his family to the region. “Gainesville really is a great place to raise a family,” Vo says.
Vo attended the University of Florida, which is rated one of the top public institutions in the country by outlets like U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal. Now a commercial real estate agent, Vo is always ready to showcase the amenities of living in Gainesville, FL, to potential clients.
“You have access to nature, you have a slower-paced and very welcoming community environment. And you also have some of the resources that larger cities offer,” Vo says.
As a music enthusiast, Vo frequents downtown bars that feature live music. A can’t miss event is The FEST, an underground music festival held around Halloween each year.
Vo says Gainesville has grown since his family moved there, with many new businesses and networking opportunities popping up each year.
“One of the reasons I went into commercial real estate was that I want Gainesville to grow, but I want it to grow with intention and vision,” Vo says. “There’s so much vibrancy here.”
Enjoying Lifelong Connections in Gainesville
Since arriving in Gainesville 20 years ago to attend the University of Florida, David Rountree has become deeply rooted in the community. Coming from a military family, he was used to moving and didn’t see himself staying in the area after college. That quickly changed.
“I got to Gainesville and just fell in love,” Rountree says.
Professional networking groups like Greater Gainesville Young Professionals, of which Rountree is vice chair, have helped him build a thriving career in Gainesville.
Yet, he has also expanded his professional network through an unlikely outlet – a kickball league. Rountree’s league brings together professionals from all walks of life, including grocery store managers, sanitation workers, lawyers and nuclear medicine researchers.
“We’re building friends and family here, and it’s awesome,” he says.
While Rountree didn’t see himself staying here, he has professional and social networks that have supported him for two decades. “This is a place where I feel like I’ve been able to really cut my teeth and grow as a professional,” he says.
Family Find: Cade Museum
The Cade Museum for Creativity & Invention combines learning and fun while honoring the legacy of a Gainesville legend. The Cade Museum Foundation has been hosting camps and outreach opportunities for kids over the past 15 years, culminating in the building of the museum in Depot Park in 2018. “It’s really revitalized this part of Gainesville,” says Bradley Gamble, Cade Museum CEO.
The idea for the museum was sparked by Phoebe Cade Miles, daughter of Dr. James Robert Cade, and her husband, Richard Miles, to honor her father, the lead inventor of Gatorade. He was a Texas nephrologist who moved to Gainesville to join the University of Florida faculty.
As a tribute to Dr. Cade’s innovative spirit, the Cade Museum prioritizes activities and exhibits that help kids explore their own creative potential. “The exhibits are focused through the lens of invention and show and inspire our guests that anybody can be an inventor,” Gamble says.
The museum has one permanent exhibit, The Sweat Solution, which tells the story of Dr. Cade and Gatorade. It also brings in traveling exhibits that make each visit a new experience.
With over a quarter million visitors over its six-year history, the museum is only getting started. “We’re getting toward taking what we’ve done in the Greater Gainesville area and spreading that throughout the nation,” Gamble says.
Get to Know Gainesville, FL
Want to learn more about living and working in Gainesville, FL? Check out the new edition of Livability Greater Gainesville, Florida.