Kentucky’s Florida Guidebook
Nature
The Rainbow river is a crystal clear, spring fed river an hour west of Gainesville that's great for tubing or boating. Entry to the park is $2. Check out the park's website for information on tube rentals and shuttle.
36 locals recommend
Rainbow River
The Rainbow river is a crystal clear, spring fed river an hour west of Gainesville that's great for tubing or boating. Entry to the park is $2. Check out the park's website for information on tube rentals and shuttle.
The Cellon oak is Florida's largest live oak measuring 30 feet wide and 85 feet tall, with a crown spread of 160 feet. This ancient giant has been around for a few hundred years at least and is a great spot for picnics under its expansive bough. Kids and adults enjoy climbing the low-hanging branches and the back drop is great for memorable photos.
9 locals recommend
Cellon Oak Park
4100 NW 169th PlThe Cellon oak is Florida's largest live oak measuring 30 feet wide and 85 feet tall, with a crown spread of 160 feet. This ancient giant has been around for a few hundred years at least and is a great spot for picnics under its expansive bough. Kids and adults enjoy climbing the low-hanging branches and the back drop is great for memorable photos.
Rent a tube and float down a crystal clear, turquoise river that's 72 degrees year round. Enjoy one of Florida's most beautiful First Magnitude springs while you view turtles, wading birds, otters, and if you're lucky--the Florida manatee (typically winter residents).
179 locals recommend
Ichetucknee Springs State Park - Southern Entrance
U.S. 27Rent a tube and float down a crystal clear, turquoise river that's 72 degrees year round. Enjoy one of Florida's most beautiful First Magnitude springs while you view turtles, wading birds, otters, and if you're lucky--the Florida manatee (typically winter residents).
A wild walk in nature from the comfort of a raised boardwalk! You will definitely see wading birds and if you are lucky, you may seen an American alligator, wild horse, or bison. A short bike ride from our house and worth checking out!
21 locals recommend
Paynes Prairie Preserve North Entrance
4801 Camp Ranch RdA wild walk in nature from the comfort of a raised boardwalk! You will definitely see wading birds and if you are lucky, you may seen an American alligator, wild horse, or bison. A short bike ride from our house and worth checking out!
Designed to capture and treat stream water flowing to Payne's Prairie, Sweetwater Wetlands Park has managed to attract a large population of rare birds, including the limpkin, which feeds on the snail population within the park. If you want to see an alligator, this is the place! The park features gravel and boardwalk trails that loop around. If you are lucky, you may see the resident wild horse population roaming around from the adjacent Payne's Prairie State Park.
80 locals recommend
Sweetwater Wetlands Park
325 SE Williston RdDesigned to capture and treat stream water flowing to Payne's Prairie, Sweetwater Wetlands Park has managed to attract a large population of rare birds, including the limpkin, which feeds on the snail population within the park. If you want to see an alligator, this is the place! The park features gravel and boardwalk trails that loop around. If you are lucky, you may see the resident wild horse population roaming around from the adjacent Payne's Prairie State Park.
Gilchrist Blue Springs State Park
7450 NE 60th StKentucky's favorite spring!
Ginnie Springs is world-renowned for its collection of 5+ springs on the Santa Fe River with some of the best cave diving planet Earth has to offer.
219 locals recommend
Ginnie Springs
7300 Ginnie Springs RoadGinnie Springs is world-renowned for its collection of 5+ springs on the Santa Fe River with some of the best cave diving planet Earth has to offer.
Food scene
Swampy's is a piece of unique Florida river culture, with a swim up dock and large deck overlooking the Rainbow River. If you canoe or kayak down from K.P. Hole or Rainbow River State Park, you can tie up your boat to Swampy's dock, enjoy food and drinks on the deck and take your boat out all in one spot.
82 locals recommend
Swampy's Bar & Grille
19773 E Pennsylvania AveSwampy's is a piece of unique Florida river culture, with a swim up dock and large deck overlooking the Rainbow River. If you canoe or kayak down from K.P. Hole or Rainbow River State Park, you can tie up your boat to Swampy's dock, enjoy food and drinks on the deck and take your boat out all in one spot.
A short walk from our place, Crane Ramen is a locally owned and operated restaurant that hand-makes their ramen noodles daily. If you enjoy pork, we recommend the Shoyu bowl.
29 locals recommend
Crane Ramen
16 SW 1st AveA short walk from our place, Crane Ramen is a locally owned and operated restaurant that hand-makes their ramen noodles daily. If you enjoy pork, we recommend the Shoyu bowl.
Centered in the heart of downtown, The Top is home to Gainesville's thriving punk and hipster subculture. Their menu features vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous options that can please even the pickiest eater. The bar creates hand-made cocktails that are incredibly tasty and there are foosball tables and photo booths to occupy your time if you have to wait for a table. With extensive indoor and outdoor seating, this funky, vintage art decorated restaurant is worth a visit.
175 locals recommend
The Top
30 North Main StreetCentered in the heart of downtown, The Top is home to Gainesville's thriving punk and hipster subculture. Their menu features vegan, vegetarian, and omnivorous options that can please even the pickiest eater. The bar creates hand-made cocktails that are incredibly tasty and there are foosball tables and photo booths to occupy your time if you have to wait for a table. With extensive indoor and outdoor seating, this funky, vintage art decorated restaurant is worth a visit.
Tasty Thai food within walking distance of our place! We recommend the pad Thai, but haven't tried anything we haven't liked.
If It Is Kitchen&Café
1220 S Main StTasty Thai food within walking distance of our place! We recommend the pad Thai, but haven't tried anything we haven't liked.
Loosey's features live music throughout the week and has one of the best burger deals in town--Wednesday nights (meat) burgers are $5. Loosey's also has vegetarian burgers and other vegetarian options, an array of beer choices, and an outdoor patio. It's also within walking distance of our house.
19 locals recommend
Loosey's Downtown Gainesville
120 SW 1st AveLoosey's features live music throughout the week and has one of the best burger deals in town--Wednesday nights (meat) burgers are $5. Loosey's also has vegetarian burgers and other vegetarian options, an array of beer choices, and an outdoor patio. It's also within walking distance of our house.
Affordable Indian buffet within walking distance of our home! $11 gets you a re-fillable plate, naan, a drink of your choice, and dessert.
Tikka Express
1011 West University AvenueAffordable Indian buffet within walking distance of our home! $11 gets you a re-fillable plate, naan, a drink of your choice, and dessert.
Local restaurant with tasty brunch and outdoor seating! Within walking distance just off the bike trail from our home.
46 locals recommend
Afternoon
231 NW 10th AveLocal restaurant with tasty brunch and outdoor seating! Within walking distance just off the bike trail from our home.
Stop into Mosswood Farm Store for a pastry and coffee and relax on the porch under the old Florida oaks and Spanish moss.
12 locals recommend
Mosswood Farm Store and Bakehouse
703 NE Cholokka BlvdStop into Mosswood Farm Store for a pastry and coffee and relax on the porch under the old Florida oaks and Spanish moss.
Tasty, local family owned pizzeria in historic Micanopy! ~15 minute drive from our home and worth the trip!
50 locals recommend
Blue Highway a Pizzeria
204 Northeast Highway 441Tasty, local family owned pizzeria in historic Micanopy! ~15 minute drive from our home and worth the trip!
Vine is a Gainesville staple within walking distance of our home for fresh sourdough bread, pastries, and coffee.
21 locals recommend
Vine Sourdough Bakery
627 N Main StVine is a Gainesville staple within walking distance of our home for fresh sourdough bread, pastries, and coffee.
El Indio serves authentic, cheap, fast Mexican food with delicious salsa.
17 locals recommend
El Indio
407 NW 13th StEl Indio serves authentic, cheap, fast Mexican food with delicious salsa.
Local downtown ice creamery within walking distance of our home. Great for house-made ice cream, coffee, and vegan sandwiches. Karma Cream serves both milk and vegan ice cream.
21 locals recommend
Karma Cream
607 W University AveLocal downtown ice creamery within walking distance of our home. Great for house-made ice cream, coffee, and vegan sandwiches. Karma Cream serves both milk and vegan ice cream.
Satch Squared has awesome waffles and pizza, Ferenbachers offers homemade sausages, Humble Wood Fire had great bagels and vegan/vegetarian options!
26 locals recommend
4th Ave Food Park
409 SW 4th AveSatch Squared has awesome waffles and pizza, Ferenbachers offers homemade sausages, Humble Wood Fire had great bagels and vegan/vegetarian options!
Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Company
201 SE 2nd AveGreat sushi
Cry Baby’s
1 W University AveDrinks and burgers right downtown
Tom Kat Kafe
109 South Main StreetGreat vegetarian and vegan fare
The Leaning Pig
11 Southeast 1st AvenueYummy brunch!
Humble Wood Fire (4th Ave)
307 SW 4th AveWood fired bagels and pizza
Sightseeing
The Duckpond neighborhood features beautiful Victorian architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. The name comes from the duck pond, which has resident ducks and geese year round. Occasionally, a family of otters may visit. Feed the ducks using the food in the large metal trash cans located at the southern end of the pond.
18 locals recommend
Duckpond
The Duckpond neighborhood features beautiful Victorian architecture from the 19th and 20th centuries. The name comes from the duck pond, which has resident ducks and geese year round. Occasionally, a family of otters may visit. Feed the ducks using the food in the large metal trash cans located at the southern end of the pond.
Music/Art/Activism
The Civic Media Center is a DIY show space and reading room home to the Stetson Kennedy Library and Travis Fristoe Zine Library. Pop in for a DIY show, screening of a film, or an Art Walk event (last Friday of the month) featuring local artists. (We aren't sure why Airb
Civic Media Center
433 S Main StThe Civic Media Center is a DIY show space and reading room home to the Stetson Kennedy Library and Travis Fristoe Zine Library. Pop in for a DIY show, screening of a film, or an Art Walk event (last Friday of the month) featuring local artists. (We aren't sure why Airb
A Gainesville staple, The Atlantic has great shows most nights of the week.
11 locals recommend
The Atlantic Nightspot
15 N Main StA Gainesville staple, The Atlantic has great shows most nights of the week.
On Friday nights throughout the summer you can enjoy free music in the park!
28 locals recommend
Bo Diddley Plaza
111 E University AveOn Friday nights throughout the summer you can enjoy free music in the park!
Grocery Stores
Ward's is our local grocer and one-stop shop for local produce, meats, and cheeses. Ward's has a large natural foods section and has kombucha on tap! Located approximately 1.1 miles north of our home.
48 locals recommend
Ward's Supermarket
515 NW 23rd AveWard's is our local grocer and one-stop shop for local produce, meats, and cheeses. Ward's has a large natural foods section and has kombucha on tap! Located approximately 1.1 miles north of our home.
Chun Ching Market is the closest grocery store to our home. Chun Ching offers fresh and affordable produce, as well as specialty Asian food items.
Chun Ching Market 重庆超市
418 NW 8th AveChun Ching Market is the closest grocery store to our home. Chun Ching offers fresh and affordable produce, as well as specialty Asian food items.
Local Breweries
Cypress & Grove Brewery is within walking distance of our home and features locally brewed beers and kombucha on tap. Within walking distance just off the bike trail from our home.
55 locals recommend
Cypress & Grove Brewing Company
1001 NW 4th StCypress & Grove Brewery is within walking distance of our home and features locally brewed beers and kombucha on tap. Within walking distance just off the bike trail from our home.
First Magnitude is a family friendly brewery that features a large fenced in play area for kids complete with picnic tables and playground equipment. Inside the tap room they have games and picnic tables suitable for small or large groups. Usually a food truck is parked outside if you get hungry.
82 locals recommend
First Magnitude Brewing Company
1220 SE Veitch StFirst Magnitude is a family friendly brewery that features a large fenced in play area for kids complete with picnic tables and playground equipment. Inside the tap room they have games and picnic tables suitable for small or large groups. Usually a food truck is parked outside if you get hungry.
Museums
The Florida Museum of Natural History is a must-visit for anyone who loves natural history, fossils, archaeology, and paleontology. Admission is free to the museum, with the exception of a small fee for traveling exhibits. Take a photo standing in the fossilized jaws of the megalodon--the largest shark to ever live and a past resident of Florida! See the museum's collections of indigenous Timucuan artifacts and explore the inside of a limestone cave. Not to be missed!
134 locals recommend
Florida Museum of Natural History
3215 Hull RdThe Florida Museum of Natural History is a must-visit for anyone who loves natural history, fossils, archaeology, and paleontology. Admission is free to the museum, with the exception of a small fee for traveling exhibits. Take a photo standing in the fossilized jaws of the megalodon--the largest shark to ever live and a past resident of Florida! See the museum's collections of indigenous Timucuan artifacts and explore the inside of a limestone cave. Not to be missed!
The Harn Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the south featuring African, Asian, Contemporary, Modern, and Photography collections year round. Traveling exhibits change frequently--check their website for current exhibits.
124 locals recommend
Harn Museum of Art
3259 Hull RdThe Harn Museum of Art is one of the largest art museums in the south featuring African, Asian, Contemporary, Modern, and Photography collections year round. Traveling exhibits change frequently--check their website for current exhibits.