Gainesville, FL Road Trips

1 Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park, 4732 Millhopper Road, ☏ +1 352-955-2008. W-Su 9AM-5PM. A bowl-shaped cavity 120 feet deep which contains a miniature rain forest. Visitors can enjoy picnicking and learn more about this sinkhole through interpretive displays. $4 per vehicle or $2 per pedestrian/bicyclist. Fest. One of America's premier independent music festivals concentrating mainly on punk; hundreds of bands, over three days in eight or more venues. University of Florida, ☏ +1 352-846-2000. These folks are serious about their football and basketball. A full calendar of entertainment in sports and the arts is available. For information on the school's sports teams, known as the Gators, see the dedicated website. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. University of Florida's stadium known as "The Swamp" seats over 90,000. It's one of the largest (and loudest) anywhere. Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center has a reputation around the country – enthusiastic and friendly if you're a Gator...noisy, deafening and menacing if you're the opposition. Florida's student section, dubbed the "Rowdy Reptiles", has made the O'Connell Center one of the toughest places to play in the nation. 2 Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 315 Hull Rd, ☏ +1 352-392-1900. 3 Harn Museum of Art, ☏ +1 352-392-9826. Tu-F 11AM-5PM; Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 1-5PM. SW 34th Street and Hull Road. Lake Alice on the UF campus. Lake Alice is a sanctuary for alligators and birds.

1 Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, 100 Savannah Blvd, Micanopy, ☏ +1 352-466-3397. Florida's first state preserve in 1971 and is now designated as a National Natural Landmark. Alligators, wild horses, bison and over 260 species of birds live in many diverse habitats here. Eight trails provide hiking, horseback riding, and bicycling opportunities. Ranger-led activities during weekends, November through April. Exhibits and an audio-visual program at the visitor center explain the area´s natural and cultural history. A 50-foot-high observation tower near the visitor center provides a panoramic view of the preserve. $4/vehicle (up to 8 passengers), single car occupant $3, motorcycle (one or two persons) $3, admission fee $1 per person, camping fee $15 per night, equestrian fee is $10 for both horse and rider. Ginnie Springs Outdoors, 7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, ☏ +1 352-454-7188. Bring the family or a cooler of beer and friends and float down the natural spring-fed river. Amenities include beach volleyball courts, campsites, picnic tables, shower/bath facility, and dive excursions. Entry $12/person. Camping (including entry) $20/person. Ocala Jai-alai and Poker, 4601 NW County Rd. 318 Reddick (About 30 minutes south of campus on 441), ☏ +1 352-591-2345. Su-Th noon-midnight, F Sa 1:30PM-1:30AM. Watch live Jai-alai or play in the poker room. Runs tournaments and sit'n'goes daily. 18+ Devil's Millhopper, 4732 Millhopper Rd. W-Su 9AM-5PM.

1 Dragonfly Sushi and Sake Company, 201 Southeast 2nd Avenue (at Union Street Station), ☏ +1 352-371-3359. 11:30AM - 10PM. A trendy downtown sushi bar, Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company offers an innovative and gourmet selection of sushi, sashimi and Eurasian Fusion fare that's thought by locals and visitors alike to be some of the best in town, in an atmosphere that's hip and vibrant. Ti Amo! Reasurant and Bar, 12 SE Second Avenue (Downtown Gainesville), ☏ +1 352-378-6307. M-Th 4PM-10PM, F Sa 4PM-midnight. Great food. Fantastic wine. Classic dining space. Leonardo's 706, 706 West University Avenue, ☏ +1 352-378-2001. Su-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM. Mr. Han's, 6944 NW 10TH PL, ☏ +1 352-331-6400. Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner. A consistent recipient of the 'best Chinese restaurant in Gainesville' award, Mr. Han's serves up outstanding Peking, Szechuan and Hunan inspired dishes. There's a nightclub on the premises as well. $12-40. Liquid Ginger, 101 SE 2nd Place, ☏ +1 352-371-2323. Sun Center. Open every day for dinner, 6 days for lunch (closed Sa afternoon) M-F 11:30AM-2:30PM, M-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-10:30PM, Su noon-10PM. Eclectic Asian fusion cuisine. It can get quite crowded on weekends, so a reservation is good to have. Falafel King, 3252 SW 35th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-375-6342. If you're in the mood for falafel, gyro, baba ghanoush, tabouleh or some amazing hummus, this is the place to go. Located in Butler Plaza, this small restaurant gives you large amounts of delicious food for a really reasonable price.

There are bars all over Gainesville. It's traditionally known as a huge drinking town. The town in general isn't quite as hip and wild as it once was. As admission standards at the university continue to rise, a different crowd has trickled in. But there's still plenty of diversity, and partying, in Gainesville. The area referred to as mid-town, directly across the street from the school on University Ave., has some of the more traditional Gainesville bars. Grog House, Salty Dog, Balls, XS, and Gator City all share the same building. Almost any night of the week one can find great specials and large crowds. Nearby is the restaurant/bar Swamp housed in a former professor's house. It is a can't-miss both for the atmosphere and the decent food. The downtown area is a combination of clubs and more laid back bars. Places like the Loosey's, Lillian's (a former music store) and Stubby's, a bar that features hundreds of imported beers, cater to an older crowd. Clubs such as :08 and Sky having dancing and music but are usually most crowded on "ladies' night." Bars close at 2AM due to the "Rave Law", passed in the late 1990s when Gainesville became one of Florida's premier rave scenes. Last call can be as early as 1:30AM. After the bars close, roads can be dangerous due to drunk drivers.

Best Western Gateway Grand, 4200 NW 97th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-331-3336, fax: +1 352-331-3337. Comfort Inn West, 3440 Southwest 40th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-264-1771, fax: +1 352-264-9996. Offers guests free breakfast, an exercise room and a pool. Courtyard Gainesville, 3700 SW 42nd Street, ☏ +1 352-335-9100, fax: +1 352-335-1502. Near University of Florida and 4 miles from the Swamp, the hotel offers a pool, hot tub, free high speed Internet, and rooms are equipped with fridge and microwave. Fairfield Inn Gainesville, 6901 Northwest 4th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-332-8292, fax: +1 352 332-2884. Hilton Garden Inn Gainesville, 4075 SW 33rd Street, ☏ +1 352-338-1466, fax: +1 352 338-1481. Holiday Inn, 1250 W. University Ave, ☏ +1 352-376-1661. Holiday Inn, 7417 Newberry Road, ☏ +1 352-332-7500. Holiday Inn Express, 3905 Sw 43rd Street, ☏ +1 352-376-0004. Homewood Suites Gainesville, 3333 SW 42nd St, ☏ +1 352-335-3133, fax: +1 352 335-3570. Motel 6 Gainesville - Univ. of Florida, 4000 SW 40th Boulevard, ☏ +1 352-373-1604, fax: +1 352 335-8314. Residence Inn Gainesville, 4001 SW 13th Street, ☏ +1 352-371-2101, fax: +1 352 377-2247. Paramount Plaza Hotel and Suites, 2900 SW 13 Street, ☏ +1 352-377-4000. Sweetwater Branch Inn, 625 E University Ave, ☏ +1 352-373-6760. Sweetwater Branch Inn is a historic bed and breakfast and event venue in downtown Gainesville, Florida. Hampton Inn: Gainesville, 4225 SW 40th Blvd, ☏ +1 352-371-4171. Red Roof Inn, 3500 SW 42nd St (exit 384 off I 75), ☏ +1 352-336-3311.

Interstate 75 runs north and south to the west of Gainesville. 1 Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV IATA), 3880 NE 39th Ave (NE of intersection of NE State Route (SR) 24 & NE 39th Ave (SR-222), 4.5 mi (7.2 km) northeast of downtown Gainesville along SR-24.), ☏ +1 352-373-0249. In addition to being a general aviation airport it is also served by the following:. American Eagle (Dallas Ft Worth; Charlotte NC; Miami) Delta Connection (Atlanta) Other nearby airports for flights to/from additional destinations are in Jacksonville (JAX IATA) 80.5 mi (129.6 km), northeast of town along SR-24/US-301/I-10; and Orlando (MCO IATA) located 122 mi (196 km) southeast via I-75/FL-Turnpike/SR-528. 2 Greyhound, (bus station) 101 NE 23rd Ave (west of Main St). Travels primarily on Interstate 75 (Atlanta, Macon, Tifton, Lake City, Gainesville, Ocala, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, Miami and points in between). Some schedules continue west on I-10 towards Houston from Lake City via Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola, Ft Walton Beach, Mobile, Baton Rouge, etc. Passengers transfer in Lake City or Tallahassee to reach Jacksonville or another destination north and in Miami to continue south to the Florida Keys. 3 RedCoach, (bus stop) 1956 Gale Lernardrand Dr. RedCoach offers a bus services between Tallahassee, Gainesville, Ocala and Orlando. From Orlando buses continue south towards Miami via Ft Pierce, West Palm Beach and Ft lauderdale on one route and through Tampa, Ft Myers and Naples on another. Amtrak, toll-free: +1-800-872-7245. The nearest Amtrak station is in Jacksonville, Florida.

Gainesville Regional Transit System (RTS), ☏ +1 352-334-2600. RTS provides fast frequent service throughout the City of Gainesville and to some of the outlying areas. Bus service is provided on more than 35 routes. Some bus lines provide service until 2AM on weeknights. Late night service, referred to as the Later Gator, is provided on some lines, Wednesday through Saturday from 8PM to 3AM. Here's a breakdown on service levels: Weekdays 6AM to 2AM (Most Serviced Lines), Service can run from every 8 minutes on most utilized lines to every 60 minutes on less utilized lines. Make sure to check individual schedules. Saturdays: 7AM to 7PM on most lines. Service every 30 to 60 minutes. Special Late Night Bus service begins at 8PM and ends at 3AM. These buses run every 10 to 15 minutes. Sundays: 9AM to 5PM, very limited service. Buses only run every 60 minutes. During school breaks and the summer holiday, RTS service runs less frequently with most routes ending service by 11PM.