Things to do in Gainesville

 

RESTAURANTS

 

Embers Wood Grill (http://www.embersofflorida.com)

In my opinion- the best restaurant in town because of its excellent service, professional wait staff, quality of the wine list, and the delicious food. I would tell you to tell them that I sent you (they are great friends and my art is around the restaurant), but you will get good service and food no matter what. They are located about 5 minutes from the condo (just south of the corner of Archer Road and 34 Street).

 

Blue Gill Restaurant: http://bluegillqualityfoods.com

Great seafood and southern cooking! Open for lunch and dinner- please check website for hours.

 

 

DOWNTOWN RESTAURANTS

 

Dragonfly Sushi (best sushi in Gainesville- go early because the wait can be long on weekends)http://www.dragonflysushi.com/home.html

 

Manuel’s Vintage Room (superb wine menu) http://www.manuelsvintageroom.com/

 

V Pizza- Great Italian style pizza!

http://www.vpizza.com/

 

Emilianos (Spanish food- delish!) http://www.emilianoscafe.com/

 

Hyppo Popcicles http://www.thehyppo.com/

 

Mark’s Prime Steakhouse (very good steaks) http://www.marksprimesteakhouse.com/page/33-4311.htm

 

Starbucks http://www.starbucks.com/ (zip code is 32601)

 

Paramount Grill (very fresh food) http://www.paramountgrill.com/index2.html

 

The Top (people love it- it’s more of an indie scene) 30 N Main Street, Gainesville, FL 32601; 352.337.1188

 

The Daily Green (fresh, organic food and smoothies) http://www.dailygreendowntown.org/

 

Harry’s Seafood Bar and Grillhttp://www.hookedonharrys.com/page/28-4172.htm

 

 

 

COFFEE

 

Starbucks is on SE 2 Avenue and SE 1 Street

 

Maudes is directly across the street from Starbucks

 

Volta Coffee http://www.voltacoffee.com

 

 

BARS

 

A full list is on: http://www.bozaza.com/HHSpots/alachua.html (but definitely check their websites before heading out because some might be closed down)

 

The Bull: https://www.facebook.com/TheBullDowntown/

 

Other restaurants within driving distance:

 

Others can be found on http://www.urbanspoon.com/n/150/17004/Gainesville-restaurants

 

 

Don’t have a car with you?

· www.instacart.com - A great service that will pick up groceries from a variety of groceries around town and will drop them off right at your doorstep.

· www.doorstepdelivery.com can pick up food for a large variety of local restaurants and deliver your meal to you.

· Gainesville has UberX (a car service that can be called through your Smartphone- the app is “Uber”) and there are taxi services in Gainesville as well.

· There is a bus stop very close to the Summit House sign on SW 16 Avenue. The bus system is RTS and a map of the routes can be found here: http://go-rts.com/schedule.php

 

​

 

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

 

Up-to-date programs can be found on: http://www.fun4gatorkids.com/

 

More sites: http://attractions.uptake.com/florida/gainesville/family/647605696.html

 

Florida Museum of Natural History (usually has children’s activities during the day, and has a great butterfly rain forest).http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/

 

 

Indoor Play park at Sun Country:

http://www.suncountrysports.com/

 

Westside Park is on the corner of 34 Street and 8 Avenue

http://events.gainesville.com/gainesville-fl/venues/show/1075731-westside-park-recreation-center

 

 

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

 

La Chua Trail: You are guaranteed to see at least 1 alligator, and sometimes as many as 100+. Also, wild horses, bison, a large variety of birds, and other animals can be seen (if they are close to the trail) http://events.gainesville.com/gainesville-fl/venues/show/370387-paynes-prairie-la-chua-trail

 

The Hawthorne Trail can be entered at multiple points- it's a 30 mile round-trip trail, but can be done in sections. Great for biking, rollerblading, running, walking, etc...

 

Paynes Prairie State Park is south on 441 in Micanopy: http://www.floridastateparks.org/paynesprairie/

 

Ichatuchnee Springs

http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/

 

Kanapaha Gardens

http://www.kanapaha.org/

 

Thomas Center

Beautiful old house with beautiful gardens and a nice fountain (city park, so free). Located just north of downtown Gainesville.

 

 

GROCERY STORES

 

Publix; Northwest 13 Street and North Main

http://store.publix.com/publix/cgi/selection?mapid=US&lang=en&design=default&region_name=&region=&place=32601&x=0&y=0&mapx=&mapy=

 

Trader Joe’s is at 3724 SW Archer Rd

​

Whole Foods  3490 SW Archer Rd

 

Lucky’s Market is at 1459 NW 23rd Ave: http://www.luckysmarket.com/location/gainesville-fl/

 

Ward’s Supermarket

http://wardsgainesville.com/

 

Fresh Market:

FL Gainesville 4120 Northwest 16th Blvd 352.376.1024

http://www.thefreshmarket.com

 

 

PLACES OF WORSHIP

 

http://www.yellowpages.com/gainesville-fl/churches-places-of-worship

 

Nearby Churches are Episcopal, Presbyterian, Methodist, and Catholic

 

 

DRY CLEANERS

​

http://www.craft-cleaners.com/

 

 

NATURE PICTURES GAINESVILLE:

​

 

La Chua Trail, Paynes Prairie

HOME Magazine- August/ September: http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=77646&pre=1 (pages 77-79)

 

Kanapaha Gardens:

HOME Magazine- October/ November: http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=84025&pre=1 (pages 37-39)

 

UF Campus Part 1

HOME Magazine- December/ January: http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=91289&pre=1 (pages 51-53)

 

UF Campus Part 2

HOME Magazine- February/ March http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=98489&pre=1 (pages 67-69)

 

Harn Museum Asian Wing

HOME Magazine- April/ May http://trendmag2.trendoffset.com/publication/?i=106242 (Pages 36-38)