More than you had any right to expect…read more I am a fully grown adult and had no idea how the pencil--the lowly pencil--is a lovely metaphor for civilization itself. I didn't know how they were made (each is made from two pieces of wood) and how the wood from Florida was combined with graphite from Siberia by craftsmen in Germany. All fascinating stuff and more than anyone has any right to expect from a small town vacation-community museum. Also oysters, clams, and Donax bristle brushes. The Museum itself is well-kept and well organized.

This museum by the local Historical society consists of two buildings:,the Lutterloh building and…read morethe Andrews house. For the price of $3 per person you get to see both. All cases and exhibits and wall hanging are clearly marked, it's organized and clean. You do have to do a bit of reading to see everything as it's self guided. There are maps and artifacts from the early Native American inhabitants through the civil war years. Everything from the cross state railroad to the factories and medical/doctors services and tools are highlighted. You can see how the wood slats for cedar pencils was made; donax brushes were constructed from the palm fiber to finished product. A timeline is provided from 1700 to the current day. You can purchase many books and a few souvenirs as well. This is an easy walk in downtown -- perfect for an after lunch activity or between lunch and ice cream. Plan on about an hour depending on how much you like to read every name plate/tag.

Time travel back to 1857 and a real working farm…read more The parking area is out by the barn and kearning center theres a gift shop too! I bought a hand made bird house. The land is lovely, and Im sure the walk to the house is awesome but my knees werent up to it quite yet.

We were looking for an easy and close activity around Gainesville for our family. This working farm…read morewas perfect. We found easy parking under the shade of some trees and started at the visitors center where we learned about how the Dudley family donated their farm to the state to preserve it. We picked up a self-guided tour map and explored the farmstead. We enjoyed the turkeys the best. The Tom (also named Tom) was in full display. There is a little gift shop behind the visitors center and we had fun chatting with the staff. It was a delightful walk back in time.

Most haunted house in America. This was a cool stop I came with my friend and her 8yr old daughter…read more We got a tour of the whole house and it was very interesting. Such great history with some ghostly background. All the ladies here were very nice. Honestly wish I would have been here sooner and didnt put it off so long. Thank you guys

First some info- This is a historical place with about 140 years of history. There are 2 tours -…read morethe day tour and the night haunted house tour. The day tour is a walkthrough the architecture and history behind the building as well as the memorabilia that is part of the museum, and is conducted daily between 12pm-3pm costing $5 per adult. The night tour is a haunted house tour where a few volunteers walk you through the haunted history of the house, only conducted on Fridays and Saturdays costing $20. We went for the haunted house tour on a rainy night. Although the tour finished in about 40 minutes even if it was a 2 hour session, we were allowed to roam around the house for the left over time. The experience was certainly enjoyable and thrilling. As I am writing this review, I kind of feel sick in my stomach after experiencing this place. This was my first ghost tour. Many more to go. If I survive, that is. Can try!

I have been a big fan of Lightnin' Salvage since it opened way back when, and was completely…read moredevastated when it burnt to the ground after the last fire at Satchels. (I'll be honest, I may have actually shed a tear or two over it.) I was both excited and nervous to see what the new and "improved" LS would be like when it reopened (last week.) I was pleasantly surprised to visit tonight and see the spirit of the store captured with new whimsy and more AC than I've ever experienced at Satchels! The store portion is way smaller, but it's still just as fun. The space is more open and clean (without feeling sterile.) Anyone who has ever been there on a Friday or Saturday night knows just how needed that extra space is! The dining portion, while may technically be less tables, feels way more open. The tables are new and filled with collections (which are appreciated, especially since they lost the collection museum in the fire.) There is a sewing pattern table, a Polaroid table, a I phone screen table, a key table, a match book table, a cassette table, a bike chain table, and a couple more I couldn't view due to guests. The bar is flocked with completed puzzles and more whimsy. For those not familiar with Satchels or Lightnin' Salvage, Satchels is Gainesville's most local, funky, and delicious pizza joint, and LS is the fun shop in the back where you can meander through collections and interesting new yet vintage style toys; or simply have a drink while you wait for your table to be ready. There was a order at the counter component for food in the past, but in all my years of going I never took advantage of until tonight. Tonight I took advantage of it because 1. There was zero wait vs the (not bad for Friday at Satchels) 20 minute wait inside Satchels 2. I wanted to scope the new digs 3. I wanted to enjoy the live music 4. I wanted to enjoy the magic of their new AC. I know I've mentioned the AC twice now but this is probably the first time I've visited Satchels on a summer night and not sweat! The AC is amazing! Overall, It is not the old LS but it has many different great qualities. LS offers a cute and quirky store, nice bar area, it's own ATM (its cash only), and the ability to order Satchels pizza and salad more quickly. The food does come in to go containers and does lose a little of its magic in that, but it is still the same tasty food that put Satchels on the map.

Fantastic showcase of reuse of discarded items. They make fences out of old floppy disks, tail…read morelights, or foosball characters. Bocce ball court out back, there's definitely nothing that won't catch your eye. It has almost grown into the "amusement park" realm. While you might expect rides from an amusement park, this just captures your attention and amuses you. It is a wonderful display of visually restructured materials. I just wish I lived in Gainesville to watch the metamorphosis over time. I'll be back semi-annually, and I'll always go back to see how it has inevitably changed. There is also an irreverent gift shop with lots of fun stuff, and they also have live music on certain nights. Love Satchel's and Lightning.

Nice selection of different items no Gems Minerals or Rocks…read morehmmm free though paid for the butterfly exhibit 13 each very nice small but very nice worth it no discounts offered

The first time I visited this museum was in 2017. It was awe and there's so much to see here and…read morenew things to learn about. This facility also includes a butterfly garden, which is very interesting. I have managed to visit every year. There plenty of parking at this facility, to include a parking garage as well. If you love museums and live in Florida, I highly recommend visiting this museum.

This museum for creativity and invention established in 2018 and located in a corner of Depot Park…read morein Gainesville inspires future inventors, entrepreneurs and visionaries. Open four days a week Thursday to Sunday 10am to 4pm. Admission $15 for adults, 5-17 $10, college students snd seniors $12.50 and under 5 is free. Established and named after Robert Cade, the lead inventor of Gatorade, reflects his view of combining science and art in a manner of purposeful creativity. There are exhibits on inventions and technology that came from University of Florida. The museum caters to people of all ages and young children. STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) workshops are available where attendants can meet living inventors. A little gift shop located at the front lobby. Parking is free.

We were back in Gainesville, and since it was a cold, rainy day, we decided to h go again using our…read moreNorth American Reciprocal museum membership. In exactly one year, they had changed and updated practically the whole museum except the Cade/Gatorade section which was partly updated. I was impressed. This is a great museum for kids of all ages ,and adults too, especially if they are interested in STEM, creativity and inventing. Plenty of fun, hands-on learning and inspiration for future careers.

Gorgeous grounds and a huge huge variety of plants and flowers. Wow what a great place and…read moreexperience for those that are inspired by well maintained gardens healthy plants and trees and well groomed paths to follow and enjoy

We love visiting botanical gardens when we travel. However, much of the beauty in gardens can be…read moreseasonal. Early March is not a good time to visit much of this particular garden. The herb area, azaleas, camellia, bamboo, plus some of the water features were nice, but overall there wasn't very much to see. We were glad there were plenty of rain shelters in the garden, as they were needed during our visit.

While visiting Gainesville today we stopped by the Harn Museum of Art. This is a FREE admission…read moremuseum which we love. This place is great and they have so many great pieces. Didn't take many photos because I was involved in the moment with my wife and friends and amazed at all the nice art work they have. We stopped and asked the security officer a few questions. One was how long do these art pieces stay out for viewing and also do they transfer them to other museums around the country. He said they rotate out art work about every few years so it keeps things fresh and no they don't transfer pieces. All pieces stay in house. If you are ever in the area you must stop by the Harn Museum of Art! Also next the year Florida Museum of Natural History will reopen after a full renovation and you also must see that!!! Definitely recommend you visit this!

The Harn Museum of Art is one of my favorite places in Gainesville when I want something calming,…read morebeautiful, and grounding. The galleries are thoughtfully curated, the space feels open and inviting, and there's always a good mix of contemporary pieces, cultural exhibits, and rotating collections that keep things interesting. Their Art After Dark events on Thursday nights are such a nice bonus, the museum feels even more alive, and it's a great way to enjoy art in a relaxed, social setting without it feeling overwhelming. Perfect for a solo night, a date, or something different to do after work. I also love the outdoor garden area; it adds to the peaceful vibe and makes the whole experience feel refreshing. I always leave feeling inspired and reset.

When I learned about the Mayan excavations in the area, and the possibility that the dugout/boat on…read moredisplay in the museum may be of Mayan origins, I knew that I would end up here eventually. Many years passed until I finally had the opportunity to visit. I was not disappointed. The location of this park is very urban, but once you enter the park you feel like you are in a magical land, with the river, the sun, the moon, the marshes greeting you. The pottery found looks strange to me, I see an extraterrestrial and a spaceship. One of the rock pillars also has a similar extraterrestrial face, and one of the hands in the pottery has tattoos on it. I don't know what happened here, but I "feel" something here, and I like it. This place feels like sacred ground. I hope that I can visit again and again.

Beautiful park, the rangers were very knowledgeable and helpful. It was a warm day, but the breeze…read morewas nice and they have a lot of places near the water to sit and relax. The top of mound was gorgeous.