Local Gainesville Attractions

Outside of football and racing, Gainesville is home to numerous annual and seasonal events. Enjoy all the fun things to do in Gainesville when you stay at the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel including outdoor adventures, world-class museums and impressive performances.

Nature-lovers will enjoy Payne’s Prairie State Reserve, the Kanapaha Botanical Gardens or visiting one of the nearby freshwater springs like Ginnie Springs or High Springs. Animal-lovers will love to visit the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo or the Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

Step back in time when you come during the famous annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire. Watch jousting knights, explore the medieval artisan marketplace and enjoy nine stages of mesmerizing entertainment.  

If performances are more your style, catch a show at the Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Stroll Gainesville’s historic district and shop the local boutiques.

With so much to do, it can be hard to keep track. Make sure to refer to our Calendar of Events and Local Area Guide for more Gainesville events.