When visiting Gainesville, FL, there are many places you can go. If you have kids, visit Depot Park. It has a splash pad for hot days, and a great playground. There’s also the Cade Museum of Creativity and Innovation. If you’re not into museums, you can visit the Depot Park campus.

Kanapaha Botanical Gardens

If you are looking for a unique and beautiful place to spend an afternoon, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is one place to check out. The 68-acre garden is home to Florida’s largest display of bamboos, the largest herb garden in the Southeast, and a butterfly and children’s garden. You can also enjoy a picnic in the park or a guided tour.

The Gardens also feature an exceptional gift shop. Here you can find unique items to take home or gift to family and friends. They also have a dog-friendly policy and welcome your four-legged friend! Located in Gainesville, Kanapaha Botanical Gardens is one of the places to go in Gainesville for those with pets.

The grounds are open year-round and there are several events taking place. During special events, dogs are allowed on leashes. The park has a picnic area near the entrance building. The facility is wheelchair accessible with restrooms and rest stations.

Bluefield Estate Winery

If you are looking for a fun and unique way to spend an afternoon or evening, then consider visiting the Bluefield Estate Winery in Gainesville, Florida. This family-owned winery specializes in creating wines made from locally grown blueberries. They also offer tours, tasting menus, and u-pick blueberry picking during blueberry season. Visitors can also purchase bottles of their locally made wines.

The winery’s tasting room is located east of downtown Gainesville and offers a casual atmosphere for tasting wines. The tasting room is open Thursday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on the weekends from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you are looking for an affordable, memorable experience, Bluefield Estate Winery is a must. The owners have been making wines since 1982 and have won several awards.

Another place to go in Gainesville is the Dudley Farm Historic State Park, which will be a National Historic Landmark in 2021. It was established in the early 1800s and features old farm buildings and nature trails.

Ichetucknee Springs State Park

Ichetucknee Springs State park is a 2,241-acre Florida State Park, designated as a National Natural Landmark. It’s located just northwest of Fort White and is centered around a 6-mile stretch of the Ichetucknee River, which flows through wetlands and hammocks to the Santa Fe River.

It’s home to nine crystal clear springs. Visitors can go swimming and snorkel, or simply enjoy the surrounding nature. The park also has great vistas and wildlife viewing. It also has many animals, including white-tailed deer, otters, and great blue herons.

Ichetucknee Springs State park offers world-class swimming and canoeing. The park’s waters are consistently 72 degrees due to limestone filtration. A six-mile stretch of pristine water offers a unique summer pleasure.

This Gainesville attraction offers an outdoor experience that appeals to families and kids alike. It’s ideal for a day out, and it’s accessible by shuttle. During the summer months, the park is overrun with visitors. Some weekends draw tens of thousands of visitors. If you’re planning on tubing, be sure to plan ahead. The park’s Upper Launch can reach capacity within a few minutes.

Whether you’re looking for a place to go in Gainesville or are traveling through, this park has something to offer everyone. The crystal-clear waters of the Ichetucknee River are famous for its clarity.

Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring

While it’s not technically a cave dive, you can take a dip in the Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring. The spring water comes from an extensive cave system. While you don’t need any cave-dive training to go diving in this prehistoric spring, you should bring a snorkeling or scuba gear.

The water here is 33 million years old and is filled with tons of fossils. The museum on the grounds of the spring features exhibits on Pleistocene Age animals. You can also try your hand at night diving. If you’re not afraid of heights, Devil’s Den might be the perfect activity for you.

The Devil’s Den was first discovered in 1890. Despite its name, the spring doesn’t actually contain hot water. The steam that rises from the spring’s bottom is actually mist. The temperature of the water is 72 degrees and the surrounding air is cold. This creates a mist that can sometimes be seen in the winter months.

The Devil’s Den Prehistoric Spring is another place to visit in Gainesville. This spring was formed through a geological event in which the carbonate bedrock roof collapsed and revealed a subterranean river. Due to this natural phenomenon, the spring water can vary drastically. At times, it can be dangerous for beginners to enter without snorkeling gear.

Harn Museum of Art

The Harn Museum of Art in Gainesville features more than 10,000 works of art. Its collection is displayed through rotating exhibitions and art loan programs. It specializes in African, Oceanic, and modern art. Its collection also includes pre-1850 prints and Ancient American and Asian works.

The museum is part of the University of Florida and is open to the public. Its mission is to promote the arts and integrate them into academic life. With more than nine thousand pieces in its permanent collection, the museum includes African, Asian, and American art. It also organizes educational programs and public lectures.

Visitors can visit the museum seven days a week, excluding Mondays. Admission is usually free or by donation. Parking is available on the premises. The museum’s website has a list of current and upcoming exhibitions. It also has a café and store.

Depot Park

Depot Park is a place to go in the Gainesville area if you want to enjoy the outdoors. It is a large park with a splash pad, a playground, lawns, and a beautiful pond. There is also a promenade.

Visitors can enjoy Depot Park year-round. It has a visitor center open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free to enter. During the summer months, it hosts free concerts and special events. The park also provides ADA-compliant picnic areas and a playground. If you want to learn more about the local ecosystem, you can visit the Depot Park visitor center.

Depot Park is located at South Main Street and Depot Avenue. It is open from dawn to dusk and has free parking. Leashed dogs are welcome in the park. If you’re looking for an outdoor activity to do in Gainesville, Depot Park is a great choice. You’ll find it easy to get there with Moovit.

The Depot Park site was once a contaminated area. It was remediated in the late 1990s. The former cement plant and gas plant posed environmental risks. In order to remediate the site, the Gainesville city government hired the firm ECT. ECT identified the various sources of contamination on the 32-acre site and prepared a remediation action plan. They oversee the clean-up process.

Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation

The Cade Museum for Creativity and Innovation is located in Gainesville, Florida. This institution’s mission is to educate and empower future entrepreneurs. It provides hands-on learning and innovative exhibits that inspire and motivate young people. It teaches students to think like entrepreneurs and develop new products and ideas.

The museum will feature rotating exhibits and activities each season. Each exhibition is based on a central theme, which changes every six to nine months. This theme is also showcased in the museum’s rotunda, where professionals and creators talk about their careers. The museum hopes to have a new professional give a presentation every weekend, including UF professors and experts from the Northeast.

The museum will also have special events planned to celebrate its fourth anniversary. The museum will host a birthday celebration on May 21 and serve cupcakes on its porch. This celebration will be the culmination of its four-year anniversary, which is an opportunity to celebrate the museum’s success and its mission to educate and empower the next generation of innovators.

The museum is named for Dr. James Robert Cade, a former professor of renal medicine at the University of Florida. He was also a musician and a dedicated philanthropist. His legacy will live on through the museum.