If you’ve spent the entire summer exhausting Gainesville’s nature trails, day drinking at the local bars and/or trying to escape the sweltering heat, a congratulations is in order. You’ve experienced a Gainesville summer.
With a whole month of summer left, trying to find new adventures to make your time in the ‘ville worthwhile is almost as tedious as that 9:35 a.m. class you regret picking up.
Fear not, there are plenty of adventures to be had outside of Gainesville. Whether you want a nice afternoon getaway after classes or work, or want to jet off for a few days, let this guide lead you both near and far.
Quick Getaways: 30 min-50 min travel time
Carson Springs Wildlife Conservation Foundation
Cost: $25
Location: 8528 E County Road 225, Gainesville, FL 32609
If you want to witness a South African cheetah in person (without the guilt of paying for cub playtime), Carson Springs is the place to be. Carson Springs is the home of different rescued exotic animals including a lion, tigers…and unfortunately, no bears. But they do have a sweet giraffe named Gracie who enjoys being fed by eager guests. For a small donation fee, guests are taken on a tour of the facility where they can visit each of the 25 different animal species at their enclosures and learn more about their backstories and animal conservation. Hakuna Matata takes on a special meaning for the animals here, since most of them were rescued from inadequate living conditions. They now spend their days being loved and cared for.
Zip the Canyons
The Canyons Zip Line and Canopy Tours
Cost: Vary depending on package, $30-$96
Location: 8045 NW Gainesville Rd, Ocala, FL 34475
If you need a good adrenaline pump that doesn’t include running to catch the RTS bus before you’re stuck waiting an hour for the next one, Canyons Zip Line and Canopy Tours should be on your list. Tucked away in Ocala, Canyons offers different tour packages for anyone seeking a soaring adventure. For the ultimate adrenaline junkie, the top package includes a trek through nine zip lines, a rope bridge and a rappel. Sounds a bit nauseating? Shorter zip line trails are also offered for anyone who hasn’t quite overcome their fear of heights. Hopefully you’ll be too distracted by the views of lakes, cliffs and canyons to realize you’re almost 200 feet off the ground.
Appleton Museum of Art
Cost: Adult $8, Students $5
Location:4333 E Silver Springs Blvd, Ocala, FL 34470
Nestled in good ol’ Ocala is an art museum that transports you all around the world. The Appleton Museum of Art is top notch, with seven permanent collections that collectively feature roughly 18,000 pieces of art. And that’s not including their featured exhibitions. AMA is an ideal afternoon getaway, perfect for unwinding and taking a stroll along pieces from artists of every background and art form. Considered a premier art museum and leading cultural staple in Marion County, AMA is the place to be for hipsters of every kind. And if you get nothing else out of it, at least you’ll have a photo opp so artsy that even Beyonce, the queen of impromptu museum photoshoots, will be jealous.
Day Trips: 2 hours travel time
Amelia Island
Cost: $$$ for Food, Shopping, & Outdoor Activities
Location: Amelia Island, Florida 32034
Historic Districts are a must-see on your list, and Amelia Island should be at the very top. Just near Jacksonville, the quaint city of Fernandina Beach is a popular historic district destination, with the remnants of its former pirate inhabitants still present through the city streets. Take a stroll through the historic downtown, visit unique shops for one-of-a-kind trinkets or eat at one of their many oceanfront restaurants. Hit the beachfront for some relaxation in the sun or use the water as your playground for some kayaking and surfing. Go on a tour of the city, which includes a ghost tour for those who seek an otherworldly experience. Take a day to disconnect and enjoy all Amelia has to offer.
Salvador Dali Museum
Cost: Adult $24, Students $17
Location: 1 Dali Blvd, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Travel south to St. Pete and pay a visit to an art museum dedicated to the father of Surrealism, Salvador Dali. Most famous for his eccentric nature and art pieces that depict melting clocks, Dali was an artist who made trippy art trendy. As you walk through the exhibits, you’ll discover why Dali is celebrated as one of the greatest, most multi-faceted artists of our time. His unique pieces captivate all types of art lovers, so spend the day wandering. (Just make sure your watch is still intact at the end of the day.)
Florida Aquarium
Cost: $24.95 + additional costs for scuba diving experience
Location: 701 Channelside Dr, Tampa, FL 33602
The Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa is unlike any aquarium you’ve seen before. Enjoy different exhibits that house Burmese pythons, a 60-foot coral reef gallery and a whole room filled with hissing cockroaches native to Madagascar. (You definitely won’t find me in there.) But what makes Florida Aquarium a must-see aquatic paradise are the different interactive experiences. Lagoons filled with stingrays, horseshoe crabs, and starfish allow guests plenty of opportunities to physically touch sea critters they otherwise would not come across. If you want to take your interaction to the next level, the aquarium also offers two scuba diving experiences for you to get real up close and personal. Certified SCUBA divers can take a Dive with the Sharks, while everyone is invited to swim around with the fishes in their coral reef gallery.
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Road Trips, 2+ hours travel time
Florida Caverns State Park
Cost: $5 entrance, $20 per night camping fee, $8 cave tour
Location: 3345 Caverns Rd, Marianna, FL 32446
If you want a unique spot for a fun camping weekend, consider Florida Caverns State Park. This park is not only one of the few state parks with dry, air-filled caves, but it is the only one that offers cave tours! Descend into the abyss and witness firsthand nature’s own museum: cave formations. While you’re there, enjoy the park’s other activities, like swimming, fishing, canoeing and hiking.
Bok Tower Gardens
Cost: General Admission $12, General Adm. + Tour $18
Location: 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales, FL 33853
Close to two popular Florida cities ideal for a weekend getaway, Bok Tower Gardens should definitely be a stop along your way to Tampa or Orlando. The gardens offer some of the most aesthetically pleasing sceneries, designed to give off peaceful, romantic vibes. At the center of it all is the breathtaking 205-foot Singing Tower whose songs can be heard throughout the garden. Besides the gardens, guests can venture on trails solo or even take a tour of the 8 levels of the Singing Tower.
Bok Tower Gardens
Siesta Beach
Cost: $$$ for Food & Activities
Location: 948 Beach Rd, Siesta Key, FL 34242
Located near Sarasota, Siesta Beach is considered one of the top best beaches in America. Their 99 percent quartz sand is one of the main reasons for their elite status. It is so soft you’ll want to literally bury yourself in it and just drink margaritas all day in your sand blanket. While you’re there, take the time to explore a new city. Explore downtown Sarasota, rollerblade along the boardwalk or go swimming with the fishes. If you’re going to travel out of Gainesville to hit the beach, might as well make it the best one, amirite?
If you’re looking to experience a nearby city, check out our Weekend Getaway Guides for Tampa, Miami, Tallahassee, Boca Raton, St. Petersburg, St. Augustine and Jacksonville.
So Gainesvillians, when the 352 cabin fever starts to set in, clear off the calendar, fill up the gas tank and gather a few friends who are always down for a new adventure.
