This was my very first gator encounter and my first time on an airboat, and honestly, it blew every…read moreexpectation out of the water. From the moment we arrived, the place had this incredible energy -- the kind of spot that instantly makes you think, I'd camp here in a heartbeat. The grounds were beautiful, the amenities looked top‑notch, and the whole atmosphere felt like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. And the staff? Absolutely phenomenal. Genuine, warm, and the kind of people who clearly love what they do. I hesitated to wander into the camper store since we weren't staying overnight, but now I wish I had -- the whole place had that welcoming, "come on in" vibe. I wasn't sure if the campground and airboat tours were run separately, but everyone we met felt like part of one big, enthusiastic team. Before the tour, the staff came out and gave us a fascinating crash course on gators -- and then we got to hold Luke the gator. Let me tell you, once you hold Luke, something changes. You walk away feeling like you've bonded with a gator. I'm not kidding -- I still catch myself wondering how Luke is doing. Then came the airboat ride. We loaded up, the engine kicked in, and suddenly we were flying across the lake. Our tour guide Kyle was outstanding -- knowledgeable, funny, confident, and able to answer every question thrown his way. For my first airboat experience, I was genuinely impressed by how smooth and skilled he was behind the controls. We spotted plenty of baby gators and even a mama gator. Sure, I would've loved to see a few more, but for the price, the thrill, and the overall experience, it was absolutely worth it. We were on the 12:45 tour, so the time of day may have played a role -- but honestly, I left feeling thrilled. If I could change one thing, it would be knowing ahead of time that tips for the guides are cash‑only. We weren't carrying American cash, and Kyle definitely earned a tip. Adding that note to the FAQ or confirmation messages would be super helpful for future guests. All in all, this was an unforgettable experience -- exciting, educational, and genuinely fun from start to finish. I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something unique, thrilling, and full of heart.

Great experience and very educational. Loved it. The airboat ride was very fun and the gator show…read moreafter the ride was neat.

This is an amazing evening. It's a great time. We take appetizers and beverages. The crew and band…read moreis always top notch. We saw the Cumberland island horses and several deer. The sunset was gorgeous. It couldn't have been a better night. I would highly recommend to anybody.

It was a great day on the water with the Amelia River Cruises & Charters company at the helm…read more It was my first time visiting Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach and wanted to get an overlay of the area and the river cruise seemed like the perfect thing to get an overview of the area. And I wasn't wrong! The tour lasted about 90 minutes (and it leaves promptly FYI) and takes you along the shoreline of Amelia Island - past the shrimping boats and past a Civil War era fort - before heading towards Cumberland Island National Seashore. This is where the true fun of the tour was for me. I had no idea really the history of the island and found it fascinating how the Carnegies and Rockefellers and more of the country's elite used this random Georgia seashore as their private escape. The history of both Cumberland and Amelia Islands is incredibly fascinating and the guides for both the Florida and Georgia sides respectively were well informed and personable. Plus - you'll very likely see a ton of great wildlife throughout including dolphins and wild horses and pigs. It's a great way to spend an afternoon in the area and a fabulous introduction to Cumberland Island National Seashore/Park.

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.

I just moved to the area and the Gainesville Food Tour was a great way to try several great…read morerestaurants and learn more about the city. Our guides, Caroline and Ryan, were extremely friendly, funny and well versed in all things Gainesville! The tour was also very accommodating to my friend's food allergy. Would definitely recommend this tour and will be trying it again in the future!

From the owner: We are excited to be celebrating a year of food and fun! Husband and wife team Ryan and Caroline…read moredecided to start Gainesville Food Tour after enjoying food tours all over the world.

Today I saw an otter get chased by crows that then crossed paths with an alligator only to end in a…read moregator/otter stand-off. The otter, then proceeded down the path to meet a family of sandhill cranes where the parents signal to the young colt to go across the footpath to safety while the two, especially the mother, stood between the otter and her young crane! Amazing! Amazing! Amazing!

This place was awesome if you like to walk trails and see birds, turtles, alligators, rabbits, deer…read moreand small fish. They also have wild horses and wild bison, but we didn't see those. The wetland areas and trails were neat with nice walking bridges and paths over the water. We saw a lot of small alligators, 1 baby alligator and 1 huge alligator. The way the walkways are built the alligators were right at our feet, there is a metal mesh fence to separate you though. This place is a must for anyone that likes nature, plus it was it was free except $5 to park.

Awesome for what it is. Devil's Millhopper makes for a lovely, quick walk and neat views from…read morewithin a huge sinkhole. The park features a maintained trail and great boardwalk steps into the sinkhole. It also has excellent informational signs throughout the park. The trail wasn't very long, so if you're looking for longer treks I do not recommend Devil's Millhopper. Although I wouldn't classify it as a "must see", it's great for what it is. It's a state park, so expect to pay a few bucks for parking.

Such beautiful grounds hiding within Gainesville! We had a wonderful time taking advantage of the…read moretrails and stairs to the bottom of the sinkhole! It's a great spot for those who - Want a nice, but non strenuous walk (about a mile around in circle. The stairs are a bit more but there are stops between levels) Wonderful shading with a sweet bird filled environment. Non busy area out of the hustle of life

Getting this activity 'on the books' was more than aggravating, to say the least. The tasting tour…read moresays that to text them is a quicker option for response to inquiries (for them.) It most definitely didn't seem that way! They DID get back to me via text, but it wasn't in a quick fashion. I'd say an semi-acceptable fashion (within 8-12 hours.) Regardless, we DID get our event scheduled for a private tour with (15 people.) It was quite an expensive 'private tour' of the night of lights that was explained to me as tho the grinch (driving one trolly) and Santa (driving another trolly) would interact with one another (more than minimally) and make the tour exclusive to all 15 of us. They would hop off one trolly and interact with the passengers of the other trolly, etc. In reality, it was NOT a collective tour. The grinch separated from the other trolly and it was essentially two separate tours. Approximately 3-4 times they interacted with one another (acting as tho one would hit the other's trolly, yelling insults at Santa, responding to the grinch, and stopping at the 'duck bar' for the ambush together.) The address to initially meet at is kind of hard to find, even with GPS, as well! There is NO indication of 'the tasting tours' business name on the store front at the address. It is a Cuban bakery.' YES, we all had a good time.... But I don't want the rest of you that book a 'private' tour to be mislead or pay for something you won't receive. *** I also find it distasteful that the company charges an unprecedented amount of money for the trolly rides and then has the audacity to send an email asking for further tip for the trolly drivers.*** Whether a patron tips or not is up to them, not a business owner requesting it!

Went on a Night if Lights carriage ride with Tasting Tours. Our driver was Carly and the horse was…read moreFred. We were given a bottle of white wine and a bottle of red for 4 people. The ride was outstanding and the driver, Carly, was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Have done Tasting Tours several times before and lived all of them. Wonderful time!

My friends loved the wine tasting cruise. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it! You get 3 whites and…read more3 reds, and they tell you a bit about each wine before pouring. The pours are just the right size, not too little and not too much. You have enough time to finish it before the next one is served, without feeling rushed. You also get a little charcuterie cone that is a nice compliment to the wine. There is also the option to pre-order a larger charcuterie box. The staff were all very friendly and helpful, and the scenery on the tour is great. We saw so many dolphins! The boat is spacious and not crowded, so it is easy to move about if you want to get up and walk around. This was the highlight of our St. Augustine trip.

We took a morning dolphin tour (9:00AM) and loved it! The boat wasn't crowded and we had plenty of…read moresitting room. Captain Mike, First Mate Katrina and Bartender Abby were all fantastic! They all answered any question we had (including Abby, who just graduated with a Marine Science degree) and were very knowledgeable of their craft. We were fortunate enough to go just a little way out into the ocean, away from the intracoastal waterway, and it was worth it- we saw a lot of dolphins. Overall, it was definitely worth the trip and I highly recommend!

I came here for the first time for a nature trail tour by a UF forestry employee. After the tour I…read moreleft with more knowledge about the vegetation and various tree varieties. It truly reminds you why this city feels so peaceful and rooted in nature. The combination of the nature trails, the historic farm, and the quiet, spacious grounds makes it the perfect place to slow down and breathe. I loved how well‑kept everything was, the trails are clearly marked, the farm area is clean and thoughtfully maintained, and the whole space feels safe and family‑friendly without being loud or crowded. The farm is such a unique touch. It really feels like stepping back in time, and the staff and volunteers do a great job keeping the experience authentic. The animals are well cared for, and the whole area has a calm, simple charm that's rare to find. The trails themselves are beautiful, a mix of shaded paths, open stretches, and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife if you're paying attention. It's an easy place to spend an hour or two without realizing how much time has passed. Perfect for solo walks, quiet mornings, or bringing someone who needs a grounding, gentle outing.

This 400 acre nature preserve overseen by the City of Gainesville in Alachua County with seven…read moremiles of trails through a diverse ecosystem of Florida pines, flatwoods, sandhills, and cypress domes. Also abundant wildlife and wildflowers. They feature a Living History Farm which recreates a rural 1870's homestead with historic buildings, a school and farm animals. These historic buildings were moved to this location. We enjoyed experiencing the pioneer life plus the cows, sheep and hogs on the farm. We were there for the Wednesday afternoon program but it is only from September to May. No fee to enter. The farm is open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4:30pm and the park is open every 8am to 6pm.