According to the city's website, activities in the city of Gainesville, Florida, located in Alachua county, include kayaking, spring and cave scuba diving, river rafting, golf, hiking and cycling trails, and exploring the University of Florida campus. The Gainesville area also offers numerous golf courses, museums, sports sites, shopping centers, historic sites, theaters and nature sites.
Residents and visitors in Gainesville have access to four golf courses: Ironwood, Meadowbrook, Turkey Creek, and West End. Ironwood, the nearest course to the city, has a driving range, is medium length, and is surrounded by lakes and pines.
Sports sites in Gainesville include the Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, the Gainesville Raceway, the O'Connell Center, and the Santa Fe Canoe Outpost. The Ben Hill Griffin Stadium seats 84,000 visitors, is home to the University of Florida football, and welcomes the Florida state football championship each December. The Gainesville Raceway hosts weekly drag races from April to December. The O'Connell Center seats 12,000 visitors, contains indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and hosts events such as concerts, career fairs, guest speakers, and graduation ceremonies. The Santa Fe Canoe Outpost offers canoe and kayak rides down the Santa Fe river.
Five shopping areas are located near Gainesville: Downtown, Haile Village, Oaks Mall, Thornebrook, and Tioga. The Downtown shopping area features a pedestrian mall, restaurants and a theater. Located near the residential area, Haile Village features restaurants, boutiques, spas, gift shops and a supermarket. The Oaks Mall features a themed play area for young children. Thornebrook has art galleries, antiques, specialty furniture and tanning spas located around open-air covered breezeways. Tioga features gourmet cooking shops and restaurants, and a fitness center.
Gainesville houses four museums in its vicinity: the Butterfly Rainforest, the Florida Museum of National History, the Harn Museum of Art and the University Galleries. The Butterfly Museum houses between 55 and 65 species of butterflies in a large screened enclosure. The Florida Museum of Natural History houses thousands of specimens and natural artifacts. The University of Florida uses the site's resources for research. The Harn Museum of Art houses art galleries, showcases films, and hosts interactive family activities. The University Galleries combines three art galleries near the School of Art and Art History.
Tourists in Gainesville can visit two historic sites in the immediate vicinity of the city: Haile Homestead and the Thomas Center. Part of the National Register of Historic Places, Haile Homestead is a former cotton plantation built in 1856. The Thomas Center features 1920s period rooms, history exhibits, and banquet rooms.
Gainesville is home to seven theaters: the Acrosstown Repertory, the Black Box Theater, the Constans Theater, the Gainesville Playhouse, the Hippodrome State Theater, the Phillips Center, and the University Auditorium.
Gainesville features several hiking trails, parks, and nature facilities including Dog Wood Park, the Kanapaha Gardens, the Morningside Nature Center and the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo.
