The city is dominated by the UF campus, the second largest in the country. Pop in to the Welcome Center for tips on where best to wander around to check out the student vibe.
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Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Florida Museum of Natural History
1.77 MILES
The highlight of this excellent natural-history museum is the expansive Butterfly Rainforest (adult/child $13/6). Hundreds of butterflies from 55 to 65…
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1.28 MILES
Across from Gainesville's little Lake Alice, adjacent to a student garden, stands what appears to be two oversized birdhouses. However, these stilted gray…
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Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
8.89 MILES
Wild horses and bison roam the 20 biological communities that constitute 21,000-acre Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. This slightly eerie preserve's…
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Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
15.57 MILES
Rawlings (1896–1953) was the author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Yearling, a coming-of-age story set in what’s now Ocala National Forest. Her…
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Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site
5.13 MILES
As the name indicates, this is not your average park. The site centers on a 120ft-deep, 500ft-wide funnel-shaped rainforest which you enter by descending…
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4.27 MILES
Central Florida's lush native plants – azaleas, rare double-crowned cabbage palms, southern magnolias – are on proud display at this highly rated 62-acre…
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22.38 MILES
Shallow Poe Springs, which has steps leading all the way down to the bright blue water, is perfect for small children. It's one of the least crowded…
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24.9 MILES
Of the two springs in High Springs, Ginnie Springs is a little older and more developed than Poe Springs, with a handful of campsites ($22) on hand and…
Nearby attractions
1.28 MILES
Across from Gainesville's little Lake Alice, adjacent to a student garden, stands what appears to be two oversized birdhouses. However, these stilted gray…
2. Samuel P Harn Museum of Art
1.75 MILES
Peer in at ancient Native American sculptures and contemporary paintings at this excellent art gallery on the University of Florida campus. Also open on…
3. Florida Museum of Natural History
1.77 MILES
The highlight of this excellent natural-history museum is the expansive Butterfly Rainforest (adult/child $13/6). Hundreds of butterflies from 55 to 65…
4.27 MILES
Central Florida's lush native plants – azaleas, rare double-crowned cabbage palms, southern magnolias – are on proud display at this highly rated 62-acre…
5. Devil's Millhopper State Geological Site
5.13 MILES
As the name indicates, this is not your average park. The site centers on a 120ft-deep, 500ft-wide funnel-shaped rainforest which you enter by descending…
6. Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park
8.89 MILES
Wild horses and bison roam the 20 biological communities that constitute 21,000-acre Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. This slightly eerie preserve's…
7. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
15.57 MILES
Rawlings (1896–1953) was the author of the Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Yearling, a coming-of-age story set in what’s now Ocala National Forest. Her…
22.38 MILES
Shallow Poe Springs, which has steps leading all the way down to the bright blue water, is perfect for small children. It's one of the least crowded…